Destroying our house!!!

[englishMASTIFFS1016]

We have two EMs...the female is just now 6 months old and the male 5 months. They have great attitudes and we really don't have many problems with them. They have done great with potty training and are wonderful gentle dogs. Lately though we are encountering a problem that is causing issues in our home. They have decided to start chewing on our furniture and climbing on the couch. They know that they aren't supposed to do either and only do it when we are gone, or asleep at night. This has not been a problem until just recently---maybe the last 2 weeks. We are at a loss for what we should be doing, but recognize that it must be a failure on our parts in proper training. We knew that they would chew on some things when we got them and considered that an acceptable loss, but this is getting quickly out of control. They have chew toys and we now rotate out toys periodically so they don't get bored with them. Please help! We do not crate them at night. They started in the laundry room and now that the potty training has been mastered they are allowed to roam the living room, dining room and kitchen. We have started putting them back in the laundry room at night to keep them from damaging everything, but during the day we do not want to leave them in such a small area for hours at a time. We do not want to crate them while we are gone, or at night as we want them out listening for noise and watching the house, but have no idea what else to do. Like most families we are very busy, but do make sure that we make time to play with them every night. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE HELP!

 

[Smart_Family]

I don't really know what to tell you if you refuse to crate them. They should be crated while you are gone and if they are destroying things at night they shouldn't be allowed to roam the house.

 

[englishMASTIFFS1016]

If they are put up during the day, we are talking 4-5 hours at a time....that isn't too long if it is 4 hours, a break at lunch and another 4 hours and then all night? And is the behavior something that will be fixed with crating, or just something we have to do forever. They don't really have much benefit as any type of protector/guard if they are shut in a crate all night.....that's why we wanted them to be able to roam around.

---------- Post added at 10:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:32 AM ----------

If they are put up during the day, we are talking 4-5 hours at a time....that isn't too long if it is 4 hours, a break at lunch and another 4 hours and then all night? And is the behavior something that will be fixed with crating, or just something we have to do forever. They don't really have much benefit as any type of protector/guard if they are shut in a crate all night.....that's why we wanted them to be able to roam around. And it is only a recent problem....are there any other ideas that might help? We can definitely just put them up, but we want the problem solved if possible.

 

[englishMASTIFFS1016]

If they are put up during the day, we are talking 4-5 hours at a time....that isn't too long if it is 4 hours, a break at lunch and another 4 hours and then all night? And is the behavior something that will be fixed with crating, or just something we have to do forever. They don't really have much benefit as any type of protector/guard if they are shut in a crate all night.....that's why we wanted them to be able to roam around. And it is only a recent problem....are there any other ideas that might help? We can definitely just put them up, but we want the problem solved if possible.

 

[Smart_Family]

Well lets put it this way : right now you have two puppies who like to chew and destroy things. If you don't do something to change it (like putting them in the crate while you are gone) then you're going to have two dogs who will probably be 150-200lbs chewing and destroying things which is fine, if you don't mind spending money to replace everything they destroy. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I'm curious as to why you got not only one but two puppies when it doesn't seem like you are home that much? Is it possible to get a dog walker/sitter who could come spend time with them during the day or to take them to doggie daycare?

 

[englishMASTIFFS1016]

Ok, that makes sense. I am gone for about 8 hours 3 days a week...other than that I'm home....besides normal trips to the grocery store and soccer practice....things like that. So are you saying that you think that this may just be part of the normal I'm a puppy so I eat everything phase? When they first came they did eat everything....but we taught them NO and gave them alternative chew things, so they completely stopped. We definitely do not want them to grow into huge chewing machines, that's why I'm on here looking for help before they get too big. We did plan ahead and get furniture that can be replaced if it does get destroyed, so we do at least have that benefit....however that would just allow them the opportunity to destroy more new furniture if we do not correct the behavior. Our town doesn't have any type of doggie daycare or training programs or anything. The closest place is 2 hours away, so that isn't really an option either unfortunately.

 

[stephanieb]

Lemon Juice. We don't crate either. We don't have a ton of chewing but there has been some as to be expected with any puppy, but I have found that if I put lemon juice on things I really don't want eatten (like the couch LOL) they seem to leave it alone. Hope this helps.

 

[angelbears]

It takes training, for some using a crate is part of that. It sounds like separation anxiety to me. Are you redirecting this behavior? Just like Smart Family I am not being critical but dogs have to be trained. If you can afford a trainer that would be great, if not there are good books and plenty of websites that can help you through this. I'm afraid one post just will not be enough information to help you. Just like kids they have to be taught what is right and wrong, some kids are very easy, some are a little hard headed.

 

[Smart_Family]

You can try lemon juice as the poster mentioned above or the no chew sprays they have but for some dogs even that won't stop them. I know it's hard raising more than one puppy at a time (I had three at a time once!) but it does require a lot of work. If you have no access to trainers like you say then you need to be the one to work with them everyday on training. The older they get the harder it will be to break habits.

 

[englishMASTIFFS1016]

I know it is a huge undertaking....just like having to babies at the same time. I know that the majority of it falls to me......just looking for guidance and hopefully reassurance that it will end. They are really great dogs with wonderful personalities, we have just hit a rather large bump in the road as ours tend to be on the very stubborn side at times.

---------- Post added at 11:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 AM ----------

Thank you all for your advice.

 

[englishMASTIFFS1016]

Thank you all for your advice.

 

[angelbears]

Some do, out grow it but it does take work now to help get them to that point.

 

[aphayes96]

In my experience with our dogs in the past, Mastiff and non-mastiff... our dogs needed to earn the time out of the crate. We crated only when gone or at night. The crates were in our bedroom and they adjusted very well to this... didn't whine past the first week and even went in alone to chill out on their own. Grady our EM is 7 months old and we haven't had any major chewing issues and I largely attribute that to the crate. I wouldn't see it as a permanent thing... just part of the training process. Once Grady is around a year, we will start giving him freedom little bits at a time... say for when we will be gone for an hour or less, we'll leave him out and see how he does. Any destruction and we'll back up the process until he can be trusted fully in the house. Our last dog Samson was done with the crate by about a year and a half and was sleeping in our bed after that. So the crate doesn't mean forever... just a training tool. Puppies will be puppies and the run of the house just isn't an option for us with Grady. It has worked for every dog we've owned. That'd be my honest advice. Grady is in his kennel for 4-5 hours max at a time and I'm home most of the time but he doesn't seem any worse for the wear. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!!!

 

[Oak Hill Farm]

Crate those babies! Or put them back in the laundry room. Your dogs are not old enough for the responsibility you are giving them. It's like asking an eight year old to "watch the house" this evening. Most people are not home all of the time with their dogs. Most people are working to make a living, that usually is done out of the house. You are not eternally damaging your dogs (either mentally or physically) by crating them. Most dogs SLEEP all day while you are gone anyway, with maybe occasional spurts of boredom. As long as you are offering them plenty of free exercise every day and plenty of interaction and training when you are home, they will be fine. You need to give them time to mature (no deadline here, each dog is different). My ACD has never had a problem since 4 months old, my CAS is 25 months and I would still not leave him unattended in my house for more than a few minutes. You also have the power of 2. They're like kids, they "goad" each-other on.

 

[englishMASTIFFS1016]

Ok, does anyone recommend a particular brand of crate?

 

[chuckorlando]

We've never crated any dog. Wish would have for traveling reasons but just have'nt. Either way it's a training issue. The child exampleis great. If your dog has ONE word that means stop, it helps alot I think. Kona is ok with NO but ENOUGH works better. The spray might be worth a shot. Budda ate a brand new bottle of no chew spray. So that was a waste of money for us

 

[stephanieb]

We've never crated any dog. Wish would have for traveling reasons but just have'nt. Either way it's a training issue. The child exampleis great. If your dog has ONE word that means stop, it helps alot I think. Kona is ok with NO but ENOUGH works better. The spray might be worth a shot. Budda ate a brand new bottle of no chew spray. So that was a waste of money for us

Have to laugh. Ours thought the no chew spray was an appetizer. Mentioned it to a friend who said try Lemon and it works like a charm.

 

[ruby55]

I've read this whole thread & what I didn't notice you mentioning was any exercise. A tired dog is a happy dog. When you have 2, you're asking for trouble if they don't get exercise & stimulation. I agree with everyone here; crate them. My sister in law had no choice but to crate her lab for 7 hours a day as soon as she was old enough, with the exception of weekends & 1 day a week when she had someone come in to clean her house, who also just happened to love dogs. Molly's a very happy dog, since she got to go outside as soon as someone came home & chase her rubber retrieve toys. They'll be fine but you must exercise them in addition to crating them.

 

[Cgchad]

I am going to beat the horse with the crate training. In a very short time you will find that this becomes their room. They will go in there whenever they want to lay down or what ever. My kids have been taught that when the dogs go in there, they are off limits.

The only draw back is, if you have a pretty normal routine. They will trick you by going in without being told, hoping you forget to lock the crate. I had a lab that was an expert at that, to the point that I put a note on the door to remind me to check.

By the way, Midwest makes a really large crate for giant breed dogs, with 2 doors so its easier to find a place to put it. You can see it in a few of the pictures I have on here.

---------- Post added at 08:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:33 PM ----------

Have to laugh. Ours thought the no chew spray was an appetizer. Mentioned it to a friend who said try Lemon and it works like a charm.

Mine got a hold of my gear belt the other night (they love to chew nylon for some odd reason), in the process they punctured my can of pepper spray. I still haven't figured out how they got to it, since it was in the closet with the door shut.

Sad part is I think they like spicy foods now.

 

[Cgchad]

Double posted