Hey everyone. i just joined today, but not for my own dogs.
My aunt has two dachshund puppies who just wont stop chewing her leather couch. They laugh at bitter apple spray, so i suggested putting a towel with some tobasco sauce in the holes that they've already chewed. It works, but only if she replaces the tobasco at LEAST every day, or they'll move to a new spot on the couch! She doesn't let them out unattended, and they have lots of other chew toys that she gives them to discourage it, but nothing is working.

I tried another forum, where they weren't too helpful and kept throwing the same above information at me. I'm not new at dog behavior/training, and I know it will take time and patience. I know a lot of it will be the positive reinforcement and such, but what i'm trying to find is a product or home made concoction that you've found useful in discouraging the actual chewing. Clearly they like the taste of the leather and are absolutely RELENTLESS in getting to the couch. Besides the training and reinforcement, is there anything you've found useful??

Your Aunt has ZERO control over her household. None! You need to let her know I said that. And she needs to start admitting fault here.

Originally Posted by rockangel

i'm trying to find is a product or home made concoction that you've found useful in discouraging the actual chewing.

Well you should stop looking because you won't find something. Dogs eat their own stool to regain nutritional balance... think about that. When it comes to bitter apple and those products, I always tell people there is a 10% chance it will work.

Dashounds need 2 hours of exercise per day. This means going for a walk on the leash. They also then need at least 1 hour of human verse dog play time and interaction. Then another hour throughout the day is displaying leadership skills such as scheduled meal times, sitting before food play outside etc...

AND THEY NEED TO BE CRATED AT ALL TIMES WHEN NOT SUPERVISED. My dogs love their crates. I don't even have to shut the door anymore. If I'm not home they know it's crate time, they lay down, and fall asleep until I'm home. You need to get these little guys on the same page.

Once a chewer, always a chewer. One of my dogs for example just loves to push the limits. If I'm not on her 24-7 she would be a nightmare. We taught her "in front of me" "leave it" "enough" commands and of course crate her when unattended. She is the one dog that needs to be in front of me at all times or else I know she's destroying something. Some dogs are just like that! They love to push the limit. She knows it's wrong, but she'll at least try sometimes. But now all I have to say is "excuse me... in front of me" and she'll crawl back to me with that "yes yes I know... sorry" look

I wouldn't say your aunt has zero control. Puppies are difficult enough, not to mention chewers. My dog is a big chewer as well and NOTHING (as in products) stops her. I believe in positive reinforcement as well, but sometimes you do need to correct. Has your aunt tried using a spray bottle to spray the pups when they start to chew the couch? Or a can of pennies to shake loudly? If she finds something that will stop them, she should use it and then praise immediately. If I were her I'd use the 'leave it' command when I spray/make the noise, and then reward. As you've said, it will take time and patience, tell her to hang in there