Chewing

[my kids]

Hi all, I am the guy that just lost my buddy Drake all most two weeks ago. I sure miss him and have his ashes and urn next to his mate in my living room.
What I am really here for is I have a two year old female rottie will be three in July. She goes nuts when I leave and howels and carries on. She does not go to the bathroom in th ehouse but I have leather fruntiure in the living room and I put sheets down on the couch and chaise because the furniture all though nice to keep clean is hot to lay on. Kaya my female has taken to at times eat the sheets. Huge chunks. I worry because she does pass the sheets or wakes me up and throws the sheets up. She has also chewed my cotton blanket on my bed when I am in the shower or if I am busy in the other part of the house and I forget to pull the baby gate to the bedroom door. I have to use baby gates because I have a cat that sits and yells at closed doors. She wants to beable to come and go through out the house. Does anyone have abg ideas of what I can do. I have tried training her and she is very smart but seems to have seperation anxiety when I leave. She does not always do it all the time. It may be safe for two to three days then I come home to a huge chew spot. I boght new ones to put out when I have people over but most of the time I keep what she has chewed out and in use. I hate to crate her again. I want to trust her and want her to trust me but, I can;t have her keep this up for my sake and her sake and health.

[lengel]

Crate train her. It's not just about peeing in the house. It's about giving her a space where she can succeed on all levels while you're away.

[Shelby427]

she clearly has not proved to you that she has earned free roam of the house. You need to crate her or confine her for her own safety. Why do you hate to crate her? It's the safest place for her. If you don't do something about this, she will eat something that will cause a blockage and you will be so angry with yourself.

Crate her to keep her safe.

[my kids]

Thank's guys for your in put. the problem is she has even chewed a huge hole in the side of the crate. I at some point thaight she wanted to show me that she was ready. I believe it's a bond issue. I am no expert for sure but, it's always my stuff she chews. What I mean is I bought the sheets and the blanket to use and she has never chewed anyone elses things. I am afraid she will hurt herself with that hole by trying to get out of the crate. I really think she has a troubled soul. I got her as a gift from my sister as a baby and she has always pulled away from me. I mean she could fit in my hands and I would have her snuggle up next to me and she would move away every time to across the other side of the bed. It did not matter how much I brought her back next to me. The weird thing is then when I get ready to leave she has the seperation anxiety. I am trying my best to prove my love to her in so many ways.

[AngelBunny]

How much mental and physical exercise is your dog getting? In my years of Rottie ownership, the dogs that are worn out from thinking and being physically exercised, kept on a schedule, live in a household where rules are always enforced and immediately so, and are surrounded by people who do not leaves decisions to be made by their dogs, are the dogs who are the most content, the least destructive, and the most relaxed.

If you want to trust her, you're going to have to place her in situations where she can be trusted. Clearly, all the freedom she has is too much for her. As things stand now, you're setting her up for failure by your failure to crate her.

If she's not crate trained, get one and start crate training her.

[misstifa]

I agree with Angel Bunny you are going to have to crate the dog. If you crate the dog is does not mean that you dont love the dog and the dog will not feel less loved because of it. My dog has been crated since day one. He has earned his freedom around the house but also knows him limitations and his schedule. I have purchased every toy for him and he has not destroyed anything in my house but he is still not ready to roam free when I am not home or if I am busy doing other things around the house that take all of my attention (he still has a problem eating the cat poo).

At least try the crate it wont hurt.

[my kids]

I have tried all your ideas about crateing her (Kaya). It has not been easy. I had to try and fix the crate she has as she chewed the hard plastic and could get her head through it. She has grown closer to me. I notice she is sleeping closer to me and laying on the floor right by me. I will keep using this method and see what happens. Thank you all for all your ideas. I guess I really knew it was going to come to that but, was hoping she would grow out of it. I have never had a Rottie that still chewed at this age. I have always had good luck in the training them with in a few days to potty outside and stop chewing with in a few weeks if not sooner. They all have their own personalties as we know and it sure shows. I think when I am ready to get a new boy to fill the void of loosing Drake I want a German rottweiler. Kaya is more american and I love her but, I want the big boy again. Thank's again. for all your kind words and taking the time to give me all your ideas. that is why this site is my favorite

Randy

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by my kids

I have tried all your ideas about crateing her (Kaya). It has not been easy. I had to try and fix the crate she has as she chewed the hard plastic and could get her head through it. She has grown closer to me. I notice she is sleeping closer to me and laying on the floor right by me. I will keep using this method and see what happens. Thank you all for all your ideas. I guess I really knew it was going to come to that but, was hoping she would grow out of it. I have never had a Rottie that still chewed at this age. I have always had good luck in the training them with in a few days to potty outside and stop chewing with in a few weeks if not sooner. They all have their own personalties as we know and it sure shows. I think when I am ready to get a new boy to fill the void of loosing Drake I want a German rottweiler. Kaya is more american and I love her but, I want the big boy again. Thank's again. for all your kind words and taking the time to give me all your ideas. that is why this site is my favorite

Randy

Get a new crate! Why would you continute to use one that she has damaged and could possible hurt herself with? Get a new crate that doesn't have a hole in it.

All dogs are different, your other dog may not have been a chewer, that has nothing to do with your current dog. She may need to be confined her whole life, if she's a chewer. I have a friend who has a 9 year old lab, who still chews and eats things. The dog has been through several OB classes, they are strict with him, but to no avail, he still chews.