Chewing, chewing, and more chewing!?!

[Wally31]

My boy is a year and five month now and we had been leaving him out of the crate at night for about four months and he did fine until recently. For some reason he has started chewing on things again at night? I'm not sure why? I come out in the morning to take the girl to school and he is sitting there chewing a sock or another clothing article. He is also really happy to find a pen and crunch it up into little bits. Tonight my girlfriend called and said she caught him, yelled at him, and pushed his butt over to get the sock and put it up and he reached around and growled at her wrapping her arm with his mouth. He didn't bit but he was showing he was not happy. She said she slapped his butt (light slap I think?) and put him in his crate for the night.

I have gotten on my girlfriend and the girl about picking stuff up so there is nothing for him to get and that's like talking to a wall. Yeah it's annoying, I can crab and crab and crab and they stare at me like I'm stupid. I will obviously keep complaining but It will do no good, I'm sure some of you have been there. What can I do to train Tuck not to chew things up? Problem 2, how do I cut out his agression if he does get yelled at or moved for doing things he shouldn't do? Any suggestions will help. Thanks

Wally

[dmoniz]

I would say he has proven he is not ready for being out of his crate, at 5 months old he is probably teething and looking for something to chew to relieve the pain. I would put him back in the crate at night for a couple more months and try again.

As far as the growling when corrected, rottweilers are very particular about fairness and respect. He needs to respect you and your girlfriend before he will accept your corrections. In order for him to respect you, you need to respect him. If he has something he isn't supposed to offer a trade with something he can have. Show him what is appropriate. If you're not already, get into an obedience class and make sure both you and your girlfriend attend and participate in the training. Make sure he fully understands what is expected of him before introducing corrections.

[Luvs]

I would definitely start crating him again. The best way to ensure he doesn't get anything he is not supposed to is to crate him and keep everything picked up.

Have you taken him to any obedience classes? If not, then you need to enroll him in one ASAP!! It sounds like he doesn't respect your girlfriend!! He should not be putting his mouth on her arm for ANY reason!! That is totally unacceptable!!

[debbiej]

yep, classes, absolutely. and back into the crate for a while.

[ecburt]

I agree..back in the crate at night and reinforce the obedience...what about more exercise? ..I question the teething..should he not have all his teeth by now?? I've found that chewing and the need for (more) exercise (ie walks) go hand in hand.

[dmoniz]

Originally Posted by ecburt

I agree..back in the crate at night and reinforce the obedience...what about more exercise? ..I question the teething..should he not have all his teeth by now?? I've found that chewing and the need for (more) exercise (ie walks) go hand in hand.

You're right I went back and re-read, I thought he said 5 months not a year and 5 months!!!

[pdelaney40]

the chewing.........Roxy has chewed up 5 tv remotes! I even put it up on the tv center and somehow she gets it! usally i'll leave the tv on the cartoon network for her when i'm at work( i know i'm probley wacked ) but yesterday I went shopping and " forgot" to leave the tv on for her! ( my bad) and she ate number 5! but; she knows what she does cause when i get home....awww Roxy what did you do?.......She runs into her create! (lol !) The only part chewed on was the power button! So; I guess it's off to the store to get a new one!
Oh and by they way........She will be 1 dec. 21st.......

[Ilovemypuppy]

Originally Posted by pdelaney40

the chewing.........Roxy has chewed up 5 tv remotes! I even put it up on the tv center and somehow she gets it! usally i'll leave the tv on the cartoon network for her when i'm at work( i know i'm probley wacked ) but yesterday I went shopping and " forgot" to leave the tv on for her! ( my bad) and she ate number 5! but; she knows what she does cause when i get home....awww Roxy what did you do?.......She runs into her create! (lol !) The only part chewed on was the power button! So; I guess it's off to the store to get a new one!
Oh and by they way........She will be 1 dec. 21st.......

If you will start your own NEW thread and not hyjack an existing one..someone will probably answer your questions.

[pdelaney40]

Oh I was just making a reply; Didn't mean to step on any toes :( sorry

[Anne]

Originally Posted by Wally31

My boy is a year and five month now and we had been leaving him out of the crate at night for about four months and he did fine until recently. For some reason he has started chewing on things again at night? I'm not sure why? I come out in the morning to take the girl to school and he is sitting there chewing a sock or another clothing article. He is also really happy to find a pen and crunch it up into little bits. Tonight my girlfriend called and said she caught him, yelled at him, and pushed his butt over to get the sock and put it up and he reached around and growled at her wrapping her arm with his mouth. He didn't bit but he was showing he was not happy. She said she slapped his butt (light slap I think?) and put him in his crate for the night.
Wally

I guess if people in the house keep leaving things around where they shouldn't be a bored dog will certainly find ways of entertaining himself. Is this dog getting enough exercise? Is he being walked? Is he having playtime with his humans? Does he have any obedience training? A tired dog will sleep at night.

Your girlfriend needs to learn a few things about correcting a dog too. Yelling, pushing him aside and hitting the dog will achieve nothing good and furthermore this is unfair to the dog.

Obedience training should both improve the behaviour of the dog and teach your girlfriend and appropriate way of handing the dog. I suggest you book into a training class before the situation worsens.

[chrisseh5]

I am going through the same problem with my Brutis right now! He has ripped up our bathroom floor, 4 video game remotes, 10 books, on average 2 rolls of toilet paper a night, the kitchen and bathroom garbage, and anything else that might interest him. We tried to keep all doors clothes and baby gate the kitchen off.
After the amount of ongoing damage he creates we are FINALLY getting him a crate. I know the benifits about having one but always figured that hes part of the family and deserves to sleep in our room with us. OK ya dumb thought cause now I realize he is still part of the family who will sleep in our room but in a nice cozy crate where we can actually get sleep and not wake up to a destroyed house. I think keeping him in the crate and in my case for quiet a while more will be our way to correct this problem. Someday we will try him out of it again but not for a good long while..lol. I also want to say this an awesome board with so many good questions and even better answers and advice.