Help - My dog is destroying our house!

[RykaDawn]

How do I get our dog to quit using everything in our house as her personal chewtoys?
My husband and I have bought her numerous toys and other things to chew on. She loves them, but still chews everything in sight. She's destroyed our couch. Not satisfied with that, she's now chewed holes in our bed deep enough that the springs are exposed. On both sides! After the first time she did it, we disciplined her by rubbing her nose on the spot and spanking her. We then flipped the mattress over. I got home after a long nights work to find her chewing a hole in the other side. My husband doesn't realize she's doing this, and he's sleeping in the bed while she's doing it.

HELP!!!!!! She's driving us nuts.

[badger]

How old is your dog? If he was very young, I'm guessing you would have said puppy. Has he ever had any training?
Maybe he's bored.
In any case, you've found out now that hitting is useless, even counter-productive. And mean, although I understand your frustration.
There are lots of knowledgeable people on the board who can help you with this. So stay tuned.

[Mom_Of_Two_Dogs]

After the first time she did it, disciplined her by rubbing her nose on the spot and spanking her.

Please do not do this again; this won't help stop the behavior and has the big potential to cause the dog to become fearful.

Have you considered crate training? It sounds like this dog needs a "job" to do, maybe consider agility/flyball to focus her energy on?

[mafiaprincess]

Originally Posted by RykaDawn

I got home after a long nights work to find her chewing a hole in the other side. My husband doesn't realize she's doing this, and he's sleeping in the bed while she's doing it.

How young is this dog? If you can't watch it. It needs to be in a crate or xpen. Leaving the dog free isn't going to fix itself and if you can't catch the dog in the act of doing something wrong.. you can't do anything about it. The dog doesn't understand.

Sounds like it's bored, and is given way too much freedom.

[rainbow]

I agree with mafiaprincess....she's bored and has way too much freedom.

If you can't leave her in a crate when you are gone then try using a baby gate to keep her in the kitchen or other appropriate room.

And, please don't discipline her by spanking and rubbing her nose in it....a firm no will do when you "catch" her doing it.