So I have an 8mo old daschund. Overall, he's been fairly good. Didn't do anything that a newborn puppy shouldn't be doing. Just recently he has started to chew my wood furniture and tear up carpet. He has numerous chew toys and I realize it is part of their breed to dig. But there has to be some way to train them not to be this way. I need any advice possible. Thank you

Two things, first its a normal part of puppyhood to start chewing stuff around the house. Maybe he just realized that the furniture is nice to chew on! You can try to spray some bitter apple spray on things around the house. Also just be consistent with you training and consider crate training your pup.

Second, maybe the puppy know its wrong but he is just testing you so you have to be consistent.

where might i find that bitter apple spray? In all honesty, i'm not sure why he is doing what he is doing. I am not with him right now. I am vacationing in Seattle while my cousin is sitting for him in Houston. It could be all sorts of reasons I'm sure. I'm away, he's testing my cousin. Its a puppy thing. He's mad i'm gone. etc,etc. In all cases, I need to remedy it. I think I will need to start crating him, however the next problem with that is that he whines and whines and whines. I just feel bad for my neighbors cause its not like I have thick walls.
thanks again

[Piti Longstalking]

Is your dog desexed? If not, you may want to consider it. Desexing is not meant for behavior modification, but any part hormones may have in this can be minimized by desexing.

Have you considered crate training?

What's the dog's daily schedule like?

My personal opinion is that if you have let him be free for 8 months he certainly won't like being crate trained. Are you away from home alot during the day?
I'm surprised that he is just now starting to chew and stuff. Mine did that ALOT younger. He may need more interaction with you. When you see him start to do it just tell him no. He is old enough to know what no means. He should stop {in front of you anyway}. You could either put him in a crate while you are gone OR the bathroom {they can still gnaw the cabinets in the bathroom} OR babygate off a portion of a room where you are comfortable with him being when you aren't there.

My puppy started to chew soon after we got him, so I went in search of a remedy. I came up with a spray, which is totally safe for wood, called bitter apple. You just spray it on, and it gives the dog an incredibly bitter taste when they go to chew something. It worked wonders! My puppy only tried to chew a couple of times, before he realized what a bad taste it was. I also heard cayenne pepper works great, but the bitter apple was the best thing for me.

So where can i find this bitter apple spray? please tell me they make a costco sized bottle as I want to spray my whole apartment. lol

Originally Posted by CATorres

So I have an 8mo old daschund. Overall, he's been fairly good. Didn't do anything that a newborn puppy shouldn't be doing. Just recently he has started to chew my wood furniture and tear up carpet. He has numerous chew toys and I realize it is part of their breed to dig. But there has to be some way to train them not to be this way. I need any advice possible. Thank you

would you show here your daschund nice picture?

Sure, let me see if I can figure it out. I do have some in my profile on this site.



did that work?

Try also giving him a toy he can chew on instead of your furniture.

Toys, toys and more toys. I can't seem to find the "right" kind of toy. They do keep him entertained, but only last for no more than a week. If it is a plush toy, those are his favorites, he tears them open and stuffing is everywhere. If they are rope kinds, plastic kinds, he evently tears those up. Bones work, but he gets bored of them quickly.
I've even tried the Kong. Which is advertised to be the best toy and assures its future buyer that it would be the animals most favorite. WRONG! my dog could care less for that thing. What a waste of money!!!


So, Millsandbones, I agree...toys are great...I think however I am coming to the conclusion that he's just a puppy and its a phase.

You can get Bitter Apple at any of the major pet store chains. You also might be able to get it from your vet.

As far as toys go, don't give him all his toys at once. Keep a basket of toys and switch them out every day or two, so he won't get bored.

You can stuff that Kong toy with biscuits, peanut butter, or the Kong bait that comes in a can, like canned cheese spread. That will keep him occupied for quite a while. He'd probably enjoy one of the activity balls that you put their dinner in (if you're feeding kibble). They have to work at it to get the kibbles out, one at a time.

When you catch him chewing on something inappropriate, correct him and substitute something he is allowed to chew. And when I say correct him, I just mean tell him NO, physically remove him from the area where he's chewing, and give him a chew toy. Tell him he's a good boy for chewing the toy.

More exercise would also be a good idea. A tired dog is a good dog.

Well said. Thank you for the advice.

well train your dog to know what are DO's and DONT's

Originally Posted by jv17

well train your dog to know what are DO's and DONT's

That's so easy to say. The problem being sometimes people need suggestions on how to go about training their dog the "DO's and DON'Ts". It's not like you can sit down with them over coffee and explain "You can do this, but you cannot do that."

Originally Posted by vetgroomer

it's not like you can sit down with them over coffee and explain "you can do this, but you cannot do that."

hahahahahaha

Originally Posted by vetgroomer

That's so easy to say. The problem being sometimes people need suggestions on how to go about training their dog the "DO's and DON'Ts". It's not like you can sit down with them over coffee and explain "You can do this, but you cannot do that."

Oh if only it were that simple!! I love that example, I'm going to have to remember it.

Just correct it when ever you catch him chewing and give him other stuff to do so he doesn't get bored and start chewing.