What can I do about my 8 month old dog tearing stuff up?

Answer by  nikki86 (21)

Has he been sterilised yet? Some vets claim that puppies settle down following the operation but that wasn't the case with my cocker spaniel. She is now almost three years old and still very excitable! The good news is that she stopped chewing and digging up the garden between the ages of one and 18 months. Hang in there!

Answer by  champaign9497 (11977)

Either put it in a crate or wait for it to get older and stop teething so it will stop tearing things up. There really isn't alot you can do about it other than maybe put something on whatever the dog is getting into that is spicy hot or that will deter the dog from coming back to it.

Answer by  sooz (644)

Make sure the dog has plenty of toys, especially chew toys to play with. The dog should also get a lot of exercise. A bored dog is a destructive dog.

Answer by  lovebug2421 (189)

Puppies tear up things because they are bored or they are upset at being left home alone. Put your dog in a cage or in a room that he can mess up. Give him some toys and rawhide bones. This is only a phase that will go away as your puppy grows up.

Answer by  Domdom (113)

It's hard to say without knowing how much time you are putting into play time, training, and exercising your puppy. Some dogs, such as working breeds, need daily activity and stimulation like obedience and agility training or running or they will continue to find their own entertainment into adulthood.

Answer by  tamkees (3203)

The chewing won't stop until around age two, so you have to redirect. Try putting some kibble in a Kong, cover the opening with a thick coating of peanut butter and freeze. It'll take Fido a long time to get to the center and constructively satisfy his urge to chew.

Answer by  katharine (3981)

Tearing things up is part of being a puppy. Make sure he has plenty of acceptable chew toys and crate him when you're not there to watch him.

Answer by  mcr666 (362)

When you find your dog tearing things up, keep a misting bottle of water on hand and spray your dog. Give him the firm command of no.

Answer by  Roland27 (16334)

Puppies like to chew. You need to make sure you give your puppy designated chew toys and encourage him to chew on those instead. Pick up anything that you do not want your puppy to chew on.