Chewing EVERYTHING!

[fritz'mom]

How can I keep my boy from chewing on everything he can get in his mouth? The only advice I have been able to get on this so far is to keep everything out of his reach. The problem with that is, I have 3 kids. (Enough Said :rolleyes:) I thought he would have outgrown this by now, he turned a year old in March. I feel like I am constantly saying "drop it Fritz, Fritz no".

Any advice?

Thanks,

Jennifer

[jelly8bean]

Just keep redirecting and have plenty of chew alternatives available. This will pass, but hate to say it, over one is not grown up yet. My first dogs were a dobie and a rottie/lab mix and they hung outside while I was at work for the first year (I rescued them at 6 and 9months). They ate a picnic table - really! I have also heard of using the bitter apple spray that you can get at petsmart or whatever.. but I don't think that works very well if they are really determined. Just keep your corrections going it will take eventually. (actually it seems they learn not to eat one thing and move on to another). Some have called it dragon killing.. ie the Dobie ate the shoe because there were dragons hiding in it.

[Big Dogs]

Knowing that you are a mother of three and knowing that is a full time job in itself is fritz crate trained and does he have an outlet, such as obedience training, walking, fetch? Jelly8bean is correct he is still in his infant stage he will not be a juvenile delinquent until he is 2 - 2 1/2 years old. At this stage bordem is your worst enemy and like a toddler every thing goes in there mouth. Redirection is the key and supervision is a must which I know is hard with kids. It will get better but I will caution you on one thing unsupervised out side tends to create diggers and at this age and size he could create an in ground pool for you.

[fritz'mom]

Thanks for the responses from both of you. To Big Dogs, yes, Fritz is crate trained. We do have issues with him being crated while we are at home, he doesn't like being separated from his family when he can still see us. He usually does pretty good being out during the day with us, but every now and then he goes on a terror strike. :) I have been working with him a little more the last couple of days on what obedience we have done, and also keeping more toys out for him. He seems to be doing better. I just had one of those moments the other day, I'm sure you can relate. Everything happening all at once makes for Mommy not being very happy!

[Big Dogs]

mommy not having a good day is a bad day for everyone at our house. Glad to hear he is doing better.