Alright, I am a first-time independent dog owner. In my family I've owned several different dogs over my life [Rot/lab mix, rhodesian ridgeback/boxer] & have never had issues with housebreaking a dog or dealing with chewing. Now that I have a dog all on my own, I'm experiencing everything. Chewing has to be the absolute worst habit and I have no idea how to break her. Isis is, overall, a fantastic dog. She is smart and learns very quickly what she can or cannot do. She doesn't push boundaries much and is very obedient. I rarely have to raise my voice to get my point across. Instead of going on a big spiel I'll just break it down like this:
I work anywhere from 4-8hrs and she's left alone for that time frame. I realize she is acting out because I've left her and/or she's bored. She has a plethora of ball toys which she loves, but if I'm absent it's anything-goes. This morning made the third morning I've woken up and she has chewed on the arm of the chair she sleeps in - this is what baffles me most. People tell me rawhide bones are a sure-fire way to go, but I'm leery of her choking [which I why I'd rather be present when she enjoys them than leave her to it]. I can't exactly rub hot sauce on everything in the house, even though on a small scale this does work. I bought her a good sized crate & left a plastic bowl for some water to come home & find she either drank or spilled all the water & chewed up the bowl. I love her to pieces but how on EARTH can I stop this horrid habit?!
One last thing: her age is something I'm not 100% on. When I rescued her, the shelter told me she was 1yo. Her chewing & other behavior leads me to believe she's not quite there.
I work anywhere from 4-8hrs and she's left alone for that time frame. I realize she is acting out because I've left her and/or she's bored. She has a plethora of ball toys which she loves, but if I'm absent it's anything-goes. This morning made the third morning I've woken up and she has chewed on the arm of the chair she sleeps in - this is what baffles me most. People tell me rawhide bones are a sure-fire way to go, but I'm leery of her choking [which I why I'd rather be present when she enjoys them than leave her to it]. I can't exactly rub hot sauce on everything in the house, even though on a small scale this does work. I bought her a good sized crate & left a plastic bowl for some water to come home & find she either drank or spilled all the water & chewed up the bowl. I love her to pieces but how on EARTH can I stop this horrid habit?!
One last thing: her age is something I'm not 100% on. When I rescued her, the shelter told me she was 1yo. Her chewing & other behavior leads me to believe she's not quite there.