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Post # 26 - Maltipoo Won't Stop Chewing Things
- By The Team
- •
- 22 Oct, 2016
- •
What to do if a Maltipoo is chewing things and deterrent spray does not work
Question:
My female Maltipoo is one year old and she still wants to chew most of the time especially the wicker chair! I have tried using sprays to deter her from chewing but nothing seems to bother her. She has one sometimes two walks daily. Many different toys and quite a lot of attention.
Please can you give any advice.
Julie
Answer:
Hi Julie; What a great question; this is certainly something that you'll want to get under control, since chewing can so quickly become a terrible habit, and it will get harder each day to control this.
At 1 year old, we can rule out chewing due to teething, however dogs of any age can have very strong chewing urges. And as you've explained, this can lead to chewing on furniture or just about anything that is within reach.
Here are some tips. Please keep in mind, that while some may seem very obvious, many owners have not implemented these steps to stop chewing, so it is important to follow as many as you can:
1. The #1 most important step to stop destructive chewing is to limit access to the objects. If a Maltipoo were chewing on shoes, pocket books and other objects, of course these would need to be placed up high onto shelves or other areas where the dog cannot reach (removing the object from the dog's reach).
In the case of furniture, of course, this cannot be done. So, you must do the other option, which is to remove the dog from the object. It's really key to note that a dog that has any sort of behavior that is out of control (peeing inside, chewing on things, etc.) should not have free reign of the house. Just this one element alone will resolve the issue.
We always highly recommend obtaining a quality canine indoor pen or alternatively, using gates to keep a Maltipoo in one room. Your dog can learn to be very happy in his area, it will have everything that he needs: quality bed, food, water and toys. And of course, when you are home and can supervise your Maltipoo, he can stay right by your side (keep him on leash if you must) so that he can be stopped before he heads off to chew on something.
2. Though you did say that you have used some deterrent sprays, it is true that not all sprays work for all dogs. One may work great for one Maltipoo while another dog may not mind the taste at all. Using the method of limiting your dog's access to furniture that he likes to chew on should take care of things; however, for other Maltipoo owners reading this, we wanted to point out that apple bitter spray does work effectively for about 50% of all dogs.
3. Though you have mentioned that your Maltipoo has plenty of toys, it is important to reassess toys as a dog matures. What may have met his needs a few months ago as he was coming out of the teething phase may not be what he needs now. Maybe now, he'd appreciate toys that call out to him (animal noises, voices, etc.) or toys that challenge him to do some work to release treats, etc. It may also be a matter of offering a more durable texture that really works his jaws that perhaps current, softer toys are not offering.
Therefore, looking over toys every 3 months or so and being sure that a Maltipoo's toy collection is meeting his needs, is a great way to ensure that he does not go elsewhere either due to chewing urges or due to boredom.
Love, Hugs & Maltipoo Kisses,
The PetMaltipoo Team
My female Maltipoo is one year old and she still wants to chew most of the time especially the wicker chair! I have tried using sprays to deter her from chewing but nothing seems to bother her. She has one sometimes two walks daily. Many different toys and quite a lot of attention.
Please can you give any advice.
Julie
Answer:
Hi Julie; What a great question; this is certainly something that you'll want to get under control, since chewing can so quickly become a terrible habit, and it will get harder each day to control this.
At 1 year old, we can rule out chewing due to teething, however dogs of any age can have very strong chewing urges. And as you've explained, this can lead to chewing on furniture or just about anything that is within reach.
Here are some tips. Please keep in mind, that while some may seem very obvious, many owners have not implemented these steps to stop chewing, so it is important to follow as many as you can:
1. The #1 most important step to stop destructive chewing is to limit access to the objects. If a Maltipoo were chewing on shoes, pocket books and other objects, of course these would need to be placed up high onto shelves or other areas where the dog cannot reach (removing the object from the dog's reach).
In the case of furniture, of course, this cannot be done. So, you must do the other option, which is to remove the dog from the object. It's really key to note that a dog that has any sort of behavior that is out of control (peeing inside, chewing on things, etc.) should not have free reign of the house. Just this one element alone will resolve the issue.
We always highly recommend obtaining a quality canine indoor pen or alternatively, using gates to keep a Maltipoo in one room. Your dog can learn to be very happy in his area, it will have everything that he needs: quality bed, food, water and toys. And of course, when you are home and can supervise your Maltipoo, he can stay right by your side (keep him on leash if you must) so that he can be stopped before he heads off to chew on something.
2. Though you did say that you have used some deterrent sprays, it is true that not all sprays work for all dogs. One may work great for one Maltipoo while another dog may not mind the taste at all. Using the method of limiting your dog's access to furniture that he likes to chew on should take care of things; however, for other Maltipoo owners reading this, we wanted to point out that apple bitter spray does work effectively for about 50% of all dogs.
3. Though you have mentioned that your Maltipoo has plenty of toys, it is important to reassess toys as a dog matures. What may have met his needs a few months ago as he was coming out of the teething phase may not be what he needs now. Maybe now, he'd appreciate toys that call out to him (animal noises, voices, etc.) or toys that challenge him to do some work to release treats, etc. It may also be a matter of offering a more durable texture that really works his jaws that perhaps current, softer toys are not offering.
Therefore, looking over toys every 3 months or so and being sure that a Maltipoo's toy collection is meeting his needs, is a great way to ensure that he does not go elsewhere either due to chewing urges or due to boredom.
Love, Hugs & Maltipoo Kisses,
The PetMaltipoo Team
More Q&A:
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Owner is concerned about odd behavior of being hesitant, scared to walk into certain rooms. Is hesitant to go down steps, shakes when in the room.
An owner had a terrible scare when his Maltipoo turned blue, with clenched jaws. The dog stopped breathing, but was okay 5 minutes later.
Do you have a Maltipoo question?
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and we'll answer it here in this Q&A blog. Please keep in mind that certain issues require that you immediately contact your dog's veterinarian. While we update this blog regularly, please do not wait for us to post your question if it regards a concerning health issue.