My 6-month-old puppy is chewing the wallpaper and walls while I'm out!

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Hi everyone, any advice? My 6-month-old puppy is chewing the wallpaper and walls when I leave her alone. I take her out for walks before I go... and I leave plenty of chew toys out for her... Kong toys and so on... what can I do? <\/p>

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    • Docline
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    I remember that, to save the word 'no' for other situations, I used to stop any mischief in its tracks by just saying 'Naughty!'. With a stern look and a raised finger, the message got across loud and clear.
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    ?
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    Thanks so much for your advice, didou13.
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    Didou13
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    Catch him in the act and give a firm "NO" with a stern posture. Then, as you lower the tension (which should be controlled, not aggressive), redirect him to his toys in his bed.

    Grabbing a dog by the scruff of the neck is very harmful and completely inappropriate for the situation. Tapping him on the nose isn't something he naturally understands.

    Training is all about teaching and explaining. You should always aim to guide your dog towards behaviour that is acceptable to you while still allowing him to express his natural needs.

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    Hi again, I'm just popping back to ask for another bit of advice?

    What's the best way to tell him "no"?

    Should I just use my voice, or tap him on the nose, or scruff him by the neck?

    Thanks in advance

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    ?
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    Thanks so much for the info, I'll keep that in mind.

    Have a lovely day, thanks.

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    Didou13
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    Regarding the cat's food bowl (or any food that might end up on the floor), why is it such an issue if you already know what the solution is? Simply train your dog not to take anything from the table, the sofa, and so on. Unless you work on a proper "leave it" command, I don't see how else you can handle bits and pieces left lying around on the floor. Puppies explore their surroundings with their paws and their mouths; they put everything in their mouths just like a human baby would. Also, when they’re teething, they need something to chew on to soothe their gums, and wood and plastic are the ideal materials for them. Why is that considered "naughty"? The real mistake would be not training the dog to use their teeth on appropriate chew toys that you've provided, wouldn't it? Oh, and if you’re leaving a puppy pad out while you’re actually at home, how on earth do you expect him to become house-trained??! It’s perfectly normal for him to pee right in front of you if that’s exactly what you’ve trained him to do.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi everyone, I’ve got a 3-month-old English Cocker Spaniel and I feel like the older he gets, the more mischief he finds himself in.

    When I’m out, he chews on the wooden edges of my cupboard, the armchair, and the chairs.

    Most importantly, he’s still not house-trained. I leave puppy pads out for him but he only uses them half the time. He still pees right in front of us as if it’s perfectly normal.

    And the last big problem: His Lordship eats the cat's food whenever we forget to put the bowl up out of reach.

    I’m looking for any little tips or advice you might have.

    Thanks! 🙂

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Evening, my tip is to leave the radio on for her (half music, half talk) – it works a treat with my little Cocker!

    Good luck

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    Jador
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    How do you actually act before you leave? This is a major indicator of what your dog will do once you've gone... If you’ve set up a departure routine—getting ready, putting toys down in front of them, giving them a fuss and talking to them before you head out—you’ve got it all wrong. You’re creating a huge amount of stress for your dog, who senses that a bad time is coming and that they’re about to be "abandoned". The best thing to do is to completely ignore your dog for at least half an hour before you leave. No eye contact, no talking, and no strokes. No games, no excitement... Put them in a small room; it’s often much more reassuring for a dog than being left alone in a whole house or flat where they’ll get worked up searching for you in every room. Keep enrichment toys out of their sight—for example, if they’re staying in the kitchen, put them out behind a closed door so they don’t see you do it. Set up a bed and only open the door when it’s time to leave the dog in there. A simple "on your bed" as you open the door is plenty. No "goodbye", no "be a good boy"... Practise this in short bursts (2 minutes, 5 minutes...). When you come back, open the door without giving the dog any attention or worrying about any potential damage. Wait five minutes, then give them a fuss, a game, or a walk... Clean up any accidents or mess out of their sight.
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