Eating everything

ferragus · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:17 am Post subject: Eating everything

Trinka is a great dog but recently she has learned how to open doors in the house and so far my total damage from this is upwards of $3000 (yes thousand not hundred) because she will open the door and chew up whatever she can while I am in the bathroom, cooking dinner basically if she's left unattended for more than 15 seconds, I've tried the bitter apple and sprayed everything even tried the yuck she just licks the stuff before eating it then proceeds to chew it to pieces and they are not limited to small things last night was the last straw when she decided to crunch on the 40" plasma... I'm at ends meet the water squirt bottle does nothing she tries to drink the water,don't want to spank her and don't want to have to crate her every time I get up to do anything, please help me this is my first weim and I'm lost. I talked to our trainer and trainer said oh she's only 7 months or so she's still a puppy and just going through her chewing phase....

sterlingsmom · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:22 am Post subject:

awww..I'm sorry you're going through such a tough adolescence with your pup. I went through this with BOTH of mine. Is she crate trained? You cannot leave her unattended for ONE SECOND! Sterling spent time in her crate when I couldn't keep both eyes on her (ie. when I was cooking dinner or in the shower) and Colt was so bad, I literally TIED his leash to my beltloop whenever I was home...this went on for a couple of months! They DO grow out of it, IF you curb the behavior...and that means being on top of them every second. Also, the squirt bottle only works with my guys if I squirt them in the butt, not the face...I guess it's the surprise factor...I still have baby gates up throughout the house, and I HAVE to know where both of mine are at all times, which lately hasn't been a problem anyway, because they love to be wherever I am in the house Very Happy

ferragus · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:39 am Post subject:

ok will try the squirt bottle on the butt but as far as crate trained yeah she does fine,cries a little for about the first min but then settles down and willing heads to her crate at bed time and goes in or waits for me to open the door but it's good news to know she will grow out of it, but it's been driving me banana's

Cathy · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:42 am Post subject:

Marley was like that too, but she grew out of it. I think that was about the age that we started giving her bones regularly.

I would find some way to prevent Trinka from opening doors, and give her something to keep her busy (bone, kong...) I keep all the doors closed, and there is a window between the kitchen and living room, so I can always keep an eye on her.

They really do require constant attention at that age. Hang in there.