2 things are against you

First is most likely teething as a pup with new teeth will chew anything to get rid of the felling.

Second is stored energy.

What is your daily exercise routine?

Levi was the same and i thought the amount of walks he was getting was enough but it wasnt we do about 15k a day now plus a good amount of time playing with other dogs and his fits of going mad in the house are down to a total of about an hour a day.

Dont get me wrong im not saying run your pup to the ground but it certainly sounds like he could do with a bit more to drain some of the energy away.

 

His daily exercise routine is not the problem. This was right after a major energy drain, outside running for a long time.

Teething yes...I guess, though like I said, if I were to tether him in the midst of this he just passes out as though he didnt need to chew one bit. That's why I suspected that this time it may be an attempt to grab my attention, and that maybe I've taught him this is a great way to get it.

 

How old is your puppy?
You have to watch your puppy with an eagle eye. He is not allowed to be around the couch unsupervised.
Redirection with toys is good, even better when you offer to play with him with the toys like a mini game of light fetch to keep his interest. He sounds bored with the toys so you might want to rotate them or buy more (to also rotate).
Also you can spray bitter apple or something similar on the couch or wrap the sides in no bite tape. Some dogs enjoy these products, but it is at least something to try. You can also totally take away access to the couch during this training phase, either move it or make it inaccessible with an exercise pen around the couch.

Also you mentioned after he gets tired he wants to chew more. Sometimes some puppies will act out a little bit when they are overly tired. This can be anticipated and planned for though as it can be predictable. Some puppies will also get hyper after a fun free romping session and want to come inside and continue to play. It could be either of those depending on your puppy.
If you keep up these tactics of constant supervision and redirection with things of value it will go a long way in helping provided he is properly exercised mentally and physically. Remember to keep on training, socializing, and exercising your puppy mentally and physically and this too shall pass. You will look back and smile at the memories someday.

 

Thanks for the tips, dobesanddragons. I've got some bitteryuck, and thankfully it is water soluble so I think I'll spray it all over the couch corners when I get home! I'm also start cycling the toys. He has plenty, but the tend to all be out and about at all times.

 

Hey uh...any special advise for stopping a dog from chewing his bed or is the advice all the same here? He doesn't actually have a bed yet, but my parents got him one for over at their house...and all he does it try to chew it apart....and he's got toys over there that are new and strange to him, but it doesn't help. He just want to try to tear into it.

Once I grab him a bed or a mat or whatever I hope to start getting him to go chill there, often...but I'm anticipating the same problems...it's like every two minutes I had to go over there and physically stop him from chewing the bed, stick a toy in his mouth and hope he stays on it...but he doesn't.

 

Maybe he wants a softer toy? Petstages Mini Fleece Play Pillow - Toys - Dog - PetSmart something like this?

You have to remember he's a pup. He'll learn what you teach him

 

That link didn't work but he's got all sorts of toys. Hard, soft and in between. Even so, I'm off to buy some more toys for him this evening so I'll keep my eye open for a mini fleece play pillow, if it's tough enough.

 

So guys/gals...at 7 months is Jack really still teething/setting? I woulda thought that would be done by now, but correct me if I'm wrong.

I still get the distinct impression that Jack goes to this one corner to get a rise out of me, like he's acting all cheeky, makes a crazy sound and stuff too. Just wondering at what point some of you would say you no longer though it was that he didn't know he shouldn't chew it...and assume something else...don't ask me what.

I dont really want to toss him in his crate every time he does this, but I'm finding it rather frustrating. I really don't want to start smacking him when he does this as I've used positive methods all the way, but fack...frustrating. He discards alternative toys I give him when he does this too.

 

Have you gone through training classes yet?

If he's discarding toys to go after the couch, your toys are not high value enough. You may also very well have taught him that a good way to get a toy is to chew on the couch. Does he respond to no, or leave it?

 

You may also very well have taught him that a good way to get a toy is to chew on the couch. Does he respond to no, or leave it?

Oh and...this is moreso what I'm talking about...either to get a toy, or to get my attention.

 

Please don't get the wrong impression. This dog is not chewing up my couches night and day. Hardly at all, actually, but it's a behaviour I don't want to see.

Yes, I've gone through a couple training classes and Jack has, by all accounts, done very well. He's an obedient little guy, happy to please, very affectionate, very smart. Even walks are coming along nicely. I just wanted to come back to this thread to voice my concern that I really think he does it not out of a desire to chew something but to get my attention.... Thoughts?

And yes, he knows Leave It, though it is one of the last commands that I focused on. In truth, Leave it is a work in progress. I've generally only used it for food though, not couch corners.

 

Yes I think you are correct, he's doing it to get attention.

I'm assuming prior to him doing it you are not interacting with him?

Have you tried using a spray bottle? Say nothing, just spray. Absolutely no attention from you. Try not to let him see you do it either.

 

Also, I would teach him a GOOD way to get your attention. For a dog, any attention is good. If you're mad, yelling, screaming at him, (I'm not saying this is the case, just giving an example) that's better than not paying attention to him. So, you can teach him a POSITIVE way to get your attention. Like sitting. Teach him that sitting is a good way to get your attention. Then, he will understand that chewing on the couch is not as good as sitting nicely.

 

Okay. How would I go about doing that? Just tell him to sit when I see him put his teeth on that corner of the couch?

 

^Okay, well I'll try, but I'm not psychic, and it can happen pretty fast.

 

It might be helpful for you to start teaching him to settle on a mat. I find it to be one of the most valuable things we've trained with Shanoa (and it's still a work in progress). There are a lot of resources online for how to do this, and it's one of the foundation behaviors in Control Unleashed.

Does he have mentally stimulating toys to play with during these times that he's bored and demanding your attention? I'd try things like feeding his kibble out of a puzzle toy (something like a Buster Cube, Kong Wobbler, Tug-a-Jug, etc.). A Kong stuffed and frozen so it takes a long time to work through can be great in the evening, or a frozen knuckle bone. It just sounds like he's bored and doesn't know what to do, so he's trying to get you to play with him.

Also, they do eventually outgrow this stuff and settled down I thought we'd never get there with Shanoa, but she's really maturing into a great dog.