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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Don't know what to do about dog's furniture chewing

26 replies

Twiceover · 27/10/2023 17:52

Every time I sit down in the dog starts chewing the kitchen chairs. Every time I sit in the living room, she chews the sofa. It's so wearing.
I'm happy for her to sit with me, I'm happy to give her attention, I'm happy to play with her and I try and divert her with a toy but she just goes back to chewing the furniture. So I just put her out of the to stop the chewing and we sit separately.
I don't know how to stop her destroying the furniture otherwise!
She's a 13 month old cockapoo.

OP posts:
NorthernSpirit · 27/10/2023 17:55

Chewing is a sign of boredom (to combat it) and can also relieve anxiety or frustration.

Is the dog getting enough exercise, stimulation?

Brain puzzles could help.

Make sure the dog has plenty of exercise.

Try an ‘anti chew’ spray In furniture.

Newuser75 · 27/10/2023 17:59

Exactly this.

Make sure the dog isn't getting attention (positive or negative) for the chewing either as that may be enough to reinforce it.

Try and train an incompatible behaviour such as go to bed with a chew/toy.

SeaPool · 27/10/2023 18:01

I try and divert her with a toy but she just goes back to chewing the furniture.

I think you could be making the problem worse. If every time she chews the furniture you pick up a toy and start playing with her you're rewarding her for chewing with a game, attention and a toy.

You need to catch her NOT chewing and then reward her with the fun and attention.

You could also buy her a really robust chew/chew toy which you keep specifically for when you sit down. You sit down, she gets to chew the toy. (not the furniture).

I agree with what the PP says about making sure she has absolutely bags of exercise so that by the time you sit down she's weary and relaxes.

margotrose · 27/10/2023 18:14

Do you give her natural chews and chew toys? Dogs need to chew. If you don't give them appropriate toys then they will find their own.

Original poster
Twiceover · 27/10/2023 18:25

Thank you. I did wonder about exercise as tricky to fit it in when wfh. She is a nervous walker - although getting better I think - and difficult to find anywhere locally where she's happy to walk for any distance. Hates all the local parks and won't set foot in them!

OP posts:
NorthernSpirit · 27/10/2023 18:40

From your 2nd post - it sounds like the dog thinks it’s higher in the pack than you.

Dogs (like small children) don’t get to dictate where they walk. You are higher in the pack - you decide.

You must make sure you’re exercising the dog & giving it stimulation. I have a Hungarian Vizsla - she gets 2 good walks a day (the first for over an hour). Without them she’s not had enough stimulation and will play up.

Original poster
Twiceover · 27/10/2023 18:43

She has lots of different chews and chew toys and we spend time playing with her during the day.
I think she does associate chewing the chairs with attention though. I can't just ignore though as the sofa will be (even more) wrecked

OP posts:
twistyizzy · 27/10/2023 18:44

Furniture chewing is a symptom of boredom/ frustration. How much exercise does she get and what training/mental stimulation do you do with her?

Zippedydoodahday · 27/10/2023 18:48

Is she getting at least an hour of exercise a day? Using her brain with puzzle toys, training etc? If not illy need to get on that fast before the situation escalates into more behavioural issues.

Have you tried giving her a chew root? They're a similar texture to a lot of furniture so can be a good distraction.

Janiie · 27/10/2023 18:50

Twiceover · 27/10/2023 18:25

Thank you. I did wonder about exercise as tricky to fit it in when wfh. She is a nervous walker - although getting better I think - and difficult to find anywhere locally where she's happy to walk for any distance. Hates all the local parks and won't set foot in them!

You just need to persevere. Take treats with you so she associates walks with positive things, she should be getting 2 good walks a day. Dogs do become destructive when they have excess energy.
Maybe try a dogwalker? If yours goes out with other dogs it may build her confidence but in the meantime the best chews I've found are antlers, they keep ours occupied ages.

Original poster
Twiceover · 27/10/2023 18:53

She gets about 20 minutes walk in the morning, 40 minutes at lunchtime and about 20 minutes in the afternoon/evening. I could do a longer walk in the morning when wfh if I gave up running/the gym.

We have various brain stimulation toys. We could do more training with her. She's v treat oriented and likes to do things with us.

OP posts:
Original poster
Twiceover · 27/10/2023 19:00

We did also try a dog walker but she hated it and it really made her anxiety on walks much worse. She's improved massively on walks since we stopped it but maybe we should try a different one now she's a little bit older.

OP posts:
Newpeep · 27/10/2023 19:05

She’s a very clever and active mix. She needs structured training as well as exercise IME.

If she is anxious then it’s likely anxiety. You need to give her something to chew BEFORE she starts and look at her day as a whole. That mix can be very challenging and really do need a job to do.

twistyizzy · 27/10/2023 19:08

The problem with these mongrel breeds is that you have no idea how much cocker spaniel they have etc. Spaniels are working breed so need a job to do + poodles can be high energy/anxious.
You really need to start harnessing her brain with training etc.

Riverlee · 27/10/2023 19:14

Bitter apple spray was the best spray we used to deter chwewing.

Aworldofmyown · 27/10/2023 19:19

Definitely bitter apple spray. Sadly it does sound like you have inadvertently trained the dog to chew the furniture, easily done you need to break the habit.

margotrose · 27/10/2023 19:33

Twiceover · 27/10/2023 18:25

Thank you. I did wonder about exercise as tricky to fit it in when wfh. She is a nervous walker - although getting better I think - and difficult to find anywhere locally where she's happy to walk for any distance. Hates all the local parks and won't set foot in them!

If she is as fearful as that, I would genuinely consider getting a behaviourist in to help.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 27/10/2023 19:45

Chewing is often a symptom of anxiety in dogs, cockers are hugely prone to it. There’s not point tackling the symptom, it will get redirected to something else undesirable. I’d definitely speak to a behaviourist

Janiie · 27/10/2023 19:55

Some dogs do just like to chew no matter what. Antlers op, they really do keep them going ages.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 27/10/2023 19:59

Also you say you struggle to fit it in with WFH? Are there days the dog is not getting walked? If so that’s a no. Work on the anxiety and then get a dog Walker

Guiltyfeethavegotnorhythm0 · 27/10/2023 20:02

I feel you need to go back to thinking you have a very young pup again , spending lots of time with them . Dozens of toys for chewing , rawhide , beef bones , tracheas and beef tails and actively encourage chewing of these things by spending lots of time playing with them with these chews . It is going to take a lot of your time to get her out of this habit of chewing your furniture and onto chew toys .
When my my pups were young we spent an absolute fortune and time in the early months getting them to know what is for chewing and not for chewing .
Now she has a few chew toys in her toy box and the high spending and time spent encouraging her to chew these specific toys is mostly done and knows what to chew . Good luck .

SeaPool · 27/10/2023 20:09

I think your dog could really benefit from some help from a good dog behaviourist. It would really help you too as you'll learn lots of techniques to help her.

She's a really young dog to not be having proper off lead park romps.

In your OP you say you're shutting her out - do you mean out of the room?

Shopper727 · 27/10/2023 20:12

As well as the other stuff people have suggested I put white vinegar on anything my dog put his mouth on (that he shouldn’t hVe) did put him off the only things he’s interested in now are shoes and socks

Ylvamoon · 27/10/2023 20:48

While I agree that your dog needs more stimulation/ a job it can also be that she's teething. The back molars can break through anytime between 6- 12 months - so it's possible!

I have a very nervous cookerpoo, she's a lot better since I started agility and teaching her some tricks.

Our latest endeavour is skateboarding!
One of my dogs favourite games is "find the sausage/ cheese/ ball / teddy, ...!

Just a word of caution if you want to teach tricks, start off with the easy stuff like sit & down stay ... roll over, fech, hold a object... YouTube is definitely your friend!

seeyounexttuesluv · 03/11/2023 11:42

Mine is same age mixed breed, male who is a chewer of everything especially furniture, cushions nd walls! Very active brain and physically, gets training games, lots of sniffy walks in interesting areas and running around the garden like a loon. He prefers to chew things that are not toys/bones. We discovered he loves chewing sticks, so we bring in sticks from our buddleia bush for him to strip and chew instead. Non toxic, causes abit of a mess but keeps him occupied at least and saves the furniture.