Looking for Ideas

[George Streepy]

Looking for ideas on how to keep a dog from chewing on everything. Lets see, I have lost a few houses, about 10 name plate collars, 2 GPS collars, 6 shock collars, 3 telemetry collars, 3 no bark collars, and about 6 water buckets. Over $800 in damage from the same dog.

I have tried the easy things like sour apple spray, a muzzle, a boot, etc. I even had the feed store order some of the nastiest spray they could get. I sprayed collars in the garage and the mist got into my mouth and eyes. The stuff is nasty. I had the bottle out in the yard, looked over and the dog had chewed the top off the bottle and was lapping the stuff up! This is one of the best young dogs I have ever owned but he is driving me nuts. He is just over a year old so I hope he quits eventually.

Short of pulling out his teeth, does any one have a method that works well?

Thanks,
George

[wanchese]

i was gonna say pull his teeth. my brothers lab does that, and we havent been able to get him to quit, we tried everything but so far nothing has worked. the only thing he wont mess with is a pickle

[Big Horn Posse]

When I was a kid we had a Springer Spaniel that chewed on everything. My dad put tabassco sauce on the stuff he was chewing on and he stopped. Might work, might not. Cheap fix if it does work for you.

[Benny G]

This is interesting George. I had a dang good young dog that had a habit that I just couldn't, or didn't want to, deal with. Short of ruining both me and the dog, I got rid of her. I have found that just because I might not like a particular habit, it might not be that big of a deal to someone else. There are far too many good dogs, and good dog prospects to keep one that makes me crazier than I am.

[George Streepy]

The thought of getting rid of the dog has crossed my mind several times. Everything else is good, he is a real nice friendly dog that hunts very well for his age. I get tired of removing every collar before the dogs go in the box. I have changed some of my routines to accommodate him. I had some chewers a few years back, the sour apple stuff worked real well. I don't think the dog has the sense of taste. That other spray should have done it, it would keep a goat from chewing on something. On the bright side, he has helped the collar repair people get through this economic downturn.

Thanks everybody.

[Nolte]

Can't help you George but I got a couple that sound simliar. The one female only chews on the inside of her dog house and her water bucket. I put in a metal bucket and that stopped and haven't cured the box yet. I first tried to replace the inside with 3/4 inch plywood coated in diesel fuel and she went right through that. I've been patching it up ever since but am either going to put diamond plate or steel mesh it inside.

My other dog used to chew a lot until he completely ground off his canine teeth on top and bottom. He's got a stainless steel mixing bowl for a food and water dishes. He doesn't chew in the box, but was hell on the dog house.

The easiest fix is another ear hole, but if it's showing good stuff hunting that is not a great option.

I'd keep the collars off until it's time to dump and keep him in a separate box. I'd also kennel him up at home with just a barrel, those are easy to replace.

[inchtowntracking]

I am not a pro when it comes to dogs but what about getting him a bone or something he can chew on. That way he isnt chewing on everything else.

[Brady Davis]

George you probably do this but I've had some who chew and I try to keep plenty for them to chew on in the kennel that are chew toys. The KONG chew toys that you can shoot the flavord stuff in they love. It helped mine to quit. Or at least quit chewing on things other than chew toys

[reed]

A lot of times they do this out of boredom, or pent up energy. Maybe try roading him a little more than the other dogs. I have also had luck with the tabasco sauce, or maybe something hotter.

[pegleg]

put the dog in a large pen with trees it won't stop the chewing but will redirect the habit to non cash items

[George Streepy]

At my house there is an intact female and a not able to get pregnant kennels. I have the parts to make his own kennel but haven't done it yet. Most of the problem is in the woods, not while their running, but when transporting them from one spot to the next. I let the dogs out and he has managed to chew up a couple. He will chew the collars in half, and the other dogs let him. I can try the tabasco thing, the problem I have had is the wet around here washes that stuff off pretty quick. I took little kid socks and wrapped the shock collars so it would hold the bad taste longer, he just chewed up the sock too. He does it even after hunting hard all day. It is nuts. I get to worrying that all the plastic will mess up his guts. I'll probably need to give him his own kennel, and divide the box, at least it will limit what is getting chewed up. I have had a lot of dogs and never had this problem, at least not this bad. I am putting in the fences for a big area right now. Thanks everyone.

[coadycurbow]

Mr. Streepy, I have never had one to chew off other's collars, that is crazy. That would upset me too. I'm sure you have thought of this, but how are his teeth? He may have some sort of pain. (Kind of like a baby cutting teeth).

I'm grasping at straws, but seems like he is chewing more than the norm.

[elkhuntress]

What I suggest is something I tried with much success with one of my old horses that was a bad cribber, I rubbed bar soap on everything! worked like a champ!He really hated irish spring LOL, I also have used on a different horse something called chew stop??? its a supplement that I fed everyday and it worked well on that particular horse, this is just ideas I used on my horses and I hope it might work for you on hounds as well, good luck tho

[Mr.pacojack]

Sounds to me like you might need to hunt him a bit more.

[George Streepy]

Mr.Pacojack,

I hunt him as much as the law and the boss lady allow. We don't have year round hunting in either state that I hunt. Next time I see him chewing on something I will let the wife know it is because I don't hunt him enough. That is the type of answer I can believe in.
The dog gets hunted hard during the time of year that won't get me locked up. He really has been an easy starter and performs real well in the woods. His good out weighs the bad for sure.

Coadycurbow,

I will have to check him out a bit. I am worried that if I open his mouth some Tritronics will fall out, then I may be tempted to pull them teeth.

Thanks Everyone