Protecting sofa from land shark puppy. Advice?

[Pickles91]

Any advice on products we could use to try and stop our 9 week old puppy from chewing on the sofa? He has lots of teething toys and we try and keep him busy when he is awake, but the sofa is suffering his little needle mouth. I was thinking maybe the clear corner things that are meant to deter cats from scratching? All the anti-chew sprays seem to have rubbish reviews from what I can see.

They sell cat anti scratch tape - it's clear and double sided. Stopped my new cats scratching! I bought from Amazon, it's about 3 inches wide so you can layer it up I found.

All I recommend is to keep eye on puppy and offer good tasting things to chew on . Keep them busy .

We put ours on a lead when he got bitey so that he couldn't do any damage.

If he's getting seriously bitey/can't be reasoned with then the likelyhood is he's overtired. Pop him in a crate, fling a blanket over him, and let him sleep til his brain is less wired.

@Motorina thanks! It’s usually first thing in the morning for about an hour. He seems very excited to be up and start chaos. He is mostly very good the rest of the day ☺️

This is what we did with our puppy. If he couldn’t be supervised, he was crated or on his lead and attached to someone.

Thanks! He is always supervised or in his crate/pen. He barks and howls the whole time he is in “puppy jail” but hoping he’ll get used to it and calm down the more he goes in

I agree with that, you just have to react and calmly distract your puppy with something else. It's also a good opportunity to practice dropping things for a treat, for when he starts chewing every little thing he finds on the street.
In extreme situations, if something was dangerous to chew (think cables or electric outlets, my puppy used to try and lick inside them when he was about 3 months old), I used to spray perfume on the surface. The smell is too strong and then it's no longer fun.

Just want to add, crating a puppy whenever you can't supervise them will inevitably lead to either a) them following you everywhere because being alone means being created and bored and then b) seeing the crate as a punishment, not a supposed safe place. Could also cause separation anxiety.

If you keep leaving him in there while he's distressed, all he'll learn is that being alone/in his crate is a scary thing.

Thank you all for the advice!

I will clarify that he is never put or left in his crate when distressed or for any length of time other nighttime, as it’s where he sleeps. He hangs out with us in the house most of the time (I’m a SAHM and DH WFH) and we are offering chew toys and positive reinforcement to try and move him away from furniture (a work in progress…) ☺️ He otherwise only goes in his crate for meals or for the odd nap. If he needs to be left for shorter periods, like when we bathe DS, he goes in his huge playpen with his bed and toys (he chooses to play in here with an open door a lot of the day), and if we have to leave him for less than 5 mins to, he is free to wander the puppy-proofed rooms.

Supervision and strict training is the only way. It’s hard, very very time consuming but so worth it - takes away the need for crating or playpen etc

Sounds like you're already doing a good job. You just have to stay positive and keep training him. It can get frustrating (just wait for the puberty) but it will pay out.

Another thought: ich he has lots of toys just lying around, then they stop being interesting and he will always be looking for something more "fun". Keep 2-3 toys lying around and rotate the others. Hide them somewhere and then take them out as a treat (wash them in between uses, so they seem more "new"). He'll be much more enthusiastic about the toys.

If he barks and howls then you’re not crate training correctly. look at dog training advice and support on FB.
Don’t let him in the room with the sofa when he’s in this mood. Let him run his madness off in the garden or chew something he’s allowed in the kitchen.

Good point! I’ve just gathered all but a couple up and put them away for treats when needed

Thanks! We have only just started crate training (only got pup a week ago) but working on it! Currently he happily has his meals and sleeps in there. We definitely need to work on the pen too, so he is happier to be left in there when necessary. I’ll look at that group ☺️

It’s brilliant Pickles. For lots of stuff. Good luck.

I've got an 11 week old pup so share your pain!

Like you, we've crate trained so when he's overtired and being a knob he goes in there. He's usually asleep within 5 minutes!

What room is the sofa in? Our pup is only allowed in the lounge for a short time in the evening. He'll cuddle up on my lap or at my feet in front of the fire. The rest of the day he's in the open plan kitchen with his older brother. I wfh so can keep a close eye on him.

Would suggest you simply limit the access to soft furnishings... 🤣

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/granicks-bitter-apple-chew-deterrent-236ml-%28online-only%29

We used this, many years ago, when my 13 year old was a puppy. It was very effective. So much so that I think I still have the original spray. I sprayed it pretty much anywhere he showed interest. If you do try it, patch test your sofa. Mine was fine, but you don’t want it to stain.

He got through the ‘chew anything stage really quickly - apart from his beds. I think I bought one a month for the first year , but then I didn’t spray them!

@PinotPony We have a sofa in our kitchen, living room and bedroom 😅