Puppy chewing - Help!

[fostr mama]

I do dog foster care and have an 8 month old black lab mix that has recently started chewing on the furniture. As in two sofa arms, a chair cushion and the arm of a chair. All upholstered. She didn't do this for the first month she was here. What's she trying to tell me?? She has companion animals (2 husky cross dogs who like her and 2 cats who put up with her) bones, chewies, toys, doggie door and big fenced abck yard. Help!

[ZenTrainer]

I think she is saying "Put me in a crate before I chew through an electrical wire."
Chewing is developmental and often doesn't start until between 6 and 8 months.
She also might be relaxing and feeling more at home.
In my opinon chewing is non negotiable. Dog's chew. The only thing you get to pick is what they chew on.
So keep the dog in your sight at all times or in a crate, or outside (with no access to dog door).
And still your backyard won't be safe! I had a 9 month old lab chew through my cable cord the other day.
It's just too much responsibility for these little ones to be on their own. A border collie is not an adult until they are 2 years old.
So at about 18 months or so if they have stopped chewing things in front of me I will leave for a half hour. If my house is still there when I get back I slowly work up in 30 minute increments to 3 hours.
When I can leave a dog for 3 hours and they don't eat my house, I'm set.
I also provide tons of good stuff to chew - especially sterilized bones.
If the dog is chewing the wrong thing I just redirect "Oops!" and give them something the CAN chew.

[emilie]

I was just reading how rawhide and greenies are not safe for dogs to chew. Which makes perfect sence to me now. What are good things to chew. My BC will chew anything just about. He is great at only chewing appropriate things, he leaves the kids toys alone for the most part, but I am running out of new things for him to chew on. He likes ropes and cloth I am just worried about him swallowing pices of either.

[HOHAMBULLS]

Kong toy's

[RobDar]

...ask a vet what is the strangest thing you have ever removed from a dog and what breed was the dog....most will answer Labrador. LOL! Retrievers are mouthy buggers!
My wife's Lab when she was a child swallowed a bath towel. No one is quite sure how she pulled it off.
The most successful methods I have seen used is the trade off method. Keep one toy or treat or whatever that the dog REALLY LIKES as a special trade. When the dog is chewing on something it should not, repremand the dog and trade it for that special treat or toy.
again Zen is right...keep the dog in sight. It is just like when we get a hunting dog into the rescue that needs house training, we close all doors and rooms it can go into to get out of sight. You cannot effectively train the dog if you cannot catch him/her with "their hand in the Cookie Jar" so to speak.
Crating the dog...for its own protection...is a good idea as well.
A friend of ours who competition hunts Treeing Walker Coonhounds gave us about the best suggestion we have heard of....
Get twisted rope toys appropriate to the dogs size. Take the rope toys and soak them overnight in a 50/50 mix of beef broth and water (or just water if you prefer) and put them in the freezer. When the dog is chewy...trade him your couch for the frozen rope toy. The cold soothes teething and the beef broth keeps their interest. The disadvantage is that the rope toy needs to be washed after it thaws and each time the dog is done chewing on it.

[ZenTrainer]

Hard white sterilized bones. You just can't beat them, they last and last and last. Every crate at my house has a hard white sterilized bone and a tennis ball. Just the straight bone not the one's with the knuckle on them.
Most of the dogs here like rope toys, I just toss them when they start to fray. I just got some ropes with tires on them and they are lasting. Four Paws makes some very sturdy toys, rubber rings and such. So does Big Dogs (yes, the clothing store). I get the small soccer balls, basketballs and footballs at Target. I am the one looking for the soft ones while everyone else is looking for the hard ones! ;-)
Soccer balls last the longest and they really love the footballs.
If your dog doesn't like the plain white bones, loan it out to another dog for the day and then give it to your dog!

[ZenTrainer]

Oh, and I don't reprimand for anything.Especially not for developmentally appropriate behavior. I am teaching so I want an open learning environment for the dog. I redirect.

[suki]

Oh, and I don't reprimand for anything.Especially not for developmentally appropriate behavior. I am teaching so I want an open learning environment for the dog. I redirect.

Amen!!!
I wish there were more folks who felt this way!!!
nice to read!!!!:)