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German Shepherd Chew Issues
We have two GSD. Max, our black and tan is a year and a half old. We have had him since he was 5 weeks old and trained him ourselves. He is very well behaved and rarely ever acts out. Our other shepherd is named Percie. She is solid black. We adopted her in August. We believe she is Chow/GSD and around 1 and a half years old as well. She chews EVERYTHING!! Is this normal for a dog her age? I mean she chews our siding, doors, our 16k+ side by side seat, my husbands waders. My husband is at his whits end. He told me to find her another home because due to her destructive side we can't keep her. She is very sweet and super loyal. I just think that she just gets upset when we leave for work. Any suggestions on what to do to make us leaving for work easier on her? I am super attached to her too and it would break my heart to find her a new home.
Re: German Shepherd Chew Issues
Crate training will help to keep your belongings safe and her healthy.
There is some great information in our FAQs (you can find them in the green header at the top of the main pets board).
we have a wireless fence sysytem for our dogs. We live in the country on five acres. I have considered crating her but I am gone to work for 8 hours. Thats a long time for a dog her size to be in a crate.
She'll be fine in a crate for 8 hours. You can also get someone to come let her out midday if you're worried about it.
Definitely crate. She has not earned the right to have freedom of the house if she's being destructive.
Also, GSDs are very smart dogs. She needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to tire her out. Bored dogs are destructive dogs.
Definitely read all the FAQs. Get chews for the dogs so they have something they're supposed to chew on. You and YH owe it to your dogs to train them not to chew your things and to set them up for success. You don't just rehome a dog because you didn't teach it any better and are now pi$$ed it's being destructive.
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
If she likes to chew I would definately invest in some heavy chewer chew toys. (I think Kong makes some for "heavy" chewers. Also - as PP said - GSD's need lots of exercise and stimulation. "A tired dog is a good dog".
I am not sure from your post if the dog is kept indoors or outdoors - but a fenced in dog run for outdoors is great, it confines the dog to a certain area but still enough room to run around and if you don't feel comfortable crating the dog indoors perhaps you can block off an area for her to be in. Make it "dog proof", remove all items you don't wish to be chewed, etc.
I'd just like to add that it can be very dangerous leaving a dog outside unsupervised all day long. Especially in extremes of temperature or unpredictable weather. Would you want to be stuck outside all day when it might start pouring or snowing?
An electric fence system is no guarantee of safety either. Dogs can easily learn to dash through the charged area (especially if something on the other side really gets them going!), and once they're through, they're gone. Most won't try to recross the barrier area. It's also not going to keep anyone/anything else OUT of your yard. Another dog could enter your yard and end up injuring one of your dogs. The same goes for unscrupulous people out to do no good. I've heard too many stories lately of dogs being stolen right out of people's yards.
You really need to work with exercising and mentally stimulating the dogs when you're home, and crate training them (giving special crate-only treats or stuffed Kongs makes the crate a very happy place to hang out!) until they have earned freedom and are no longer destructive.
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
If she's only doing it when you're away, I agree with pp and think crate training would be your best bet. We have a white GSD who is 9 months old and he's crated while we're at work. He does fine with it. I would get some of that bitter apple spray too to put on your sliding glass doors etc. We had to use it on our hand towels for awhile because he would steal them and play with them. Is she tearing apart what you have for her to chew on? We can't get nylabones, he can chew right through them. We've had good luck with antlers and bones I got from the butcher, kong frozen with pb in it, a buddy ball, and his cotton rope.
I also agree with pp about getting her good and tired so she behaves better. We are always trying to learn a new trick and he loves to play the shell game and go for long walks. I also find a trip to the dog park to be the best and quickest way to wear him out.
Good luck!
We have a 3 year old German Shepherd mix and she still loves to chew. She knows what she is allowed to chew and what she is not. But when she was younger I got her a smoked moose antler. It worked like magic and she still has it. It was about $35, but it was the best toy because it actually lasts.
I agree that 8 hours is not too long for your dog to be in the crate. At her age, she will be just fine. While crating her will keep your things safe, it will also keep her safe until she learns what is and what is not acceptable for chewing.