How do I get my dog to stop chewing things when I leave the house?

Think it’s about training her to find something else to chew on, like a…well, chewing thingy? Kinda like a scratching pole that cats use?

Better crate.

She has pleny of toys that she loves playing with. It could be seperation anxiety.

If poops is 18 months or less, you are out of luck w/o a LOT of time spent training him/her. I have 2 big labs and they both chew, but on approved things. It took the younger one a year and a half to stop chewing on nearly everything in the house. I had a queen sized very old beautiful ornate bed frame. The foot board had a spindle look to it. He chewed it (neary) completely up, one end to the other.

I think you are right. She is lonely and misses mom. Look at human babies, they put anything in their month and gum it. With no teeth they can’t chew things up and we never leave babies alone in a room except in their crib. Soon they know the crib means sleep. Same for dogs, after while my labs go into their respective crates to sleep. I haven’t even closd the doors in months.

Good luck

not that you haven’t tried this, i bet, but praise, praise, praise—every time the chewing is on the approved object. ignore the bad behavior and simply separate your dog from the unapproved object. do this with consistency. if you are not in the room at all when this bad behavior happens, follow karen pryor’s advice to the best of your ability. if it is separation anxiety, there are ways to deal with that as well, by making less of a ‘to do’ when you leave the house=less anticipation=less anxiety once you;re gone. multiple practice departures followed by returns at staggered intervals can serve as a sort of ‘peek-a-boo’ that teaches your dog the same lesson intended for babies: “even though you can’t see me, it doesn’t mean i’m gone forever.”

There are sprays you can get at pet stores to discouraging munching on furniture and personal stuff. I think it’s Bitter Apple or something. It doesn’t stain and it works wonders. You could also try a different crate, or the kitchen with baby gates set up with plenty or rawhide and chew toys to keep the dog occupied.

BUT, what it sounds like is that your dog is having anxiety issues, separation anxiety specifically. You can call your vet for some help on that. Or buy a better crate.

I have a crate. She is bending the bottom of the crate up trying to escape. She pulled the whole front of the cage in and when we came home she was waiting on the coutch (she’s allowed up there). She has plenty of things of her own to chew. She doesn’t even pick my stuff up if I’m home. We can’t leave her in the kitchen because she chews the spindles on the windows.

Try the apple stuff. And call your vet. :)

So your saying to pretty much bitter apple my whole house??? She’s not interested in furniture. Just items.

chew on her stuff when she leaves to go for a walk

Seriously, get a better crate.

That sucks for you. You may just have to leave lots of items you don’t really care about where it can get to them. Already chewed up one of your favorite shoes? Leave the other one out. You could always put a muzzle on your dog. My dog had to wear one for six weeks and he got pretty use to it. You may have to modify it though. I would only do that as a last resort.

@Jena: It’s not that big a deal, it’s a spray. Just spray it like Febreze. Or you could put her in one room and only use it there. Doors exist to keep things in and out. :)