My dog keeps chewing the rug by the back door. She has toys to chew on. What should I do to discourage this?

Pepper is a bad idea. You want to discourage this behavior, not hurt your pet. If your dog is young she maybe cutting new tooth. If your dog is old check her mouth for any redness. Some times dogs get hair trapped between the gum and tooth and its painful for them. By chewing on something soft they're trying to remove it with the least pain which a rubber or plastic toy can cause. If her tooth are infected, it's best to take her to a vet.Infections in her mouth could lead to liver problem because of swallowing infected bacteria.Some vets run yearly specials on teeth cleaning to encourage owners to keep their pets teeth healthy. If her teeth are fine give her an alternative.Try tying a knot in an old white cotton sock. White, because if her gums are bleeding you can see it and the knot, to help her distinguish her new toy from your good socks. Play tug a war or fetch a few times with the knotted sock and she'll get the idea. Also you might want to take your rug up at first so she gets used to only the sock. Also if she still likes your rug as a chew toy try putting a few drops of white vinegar on it. Dogs can't stand the smell and it won't hurt them. Good luck.

You could try removing the rug for a few days and replacing it with a chew toy by the door. She may forget about it after a few days. If your parents catch her in the act, they may want to try giving her a little squirt of water and telling her a firm "No!"

Every dog needs some type of training. The first class I ever took a dog to was https://tr.im/8mL4l

It's a very basic kind of class. They will help you with your dog, and show you how to work with your dog at home.

They'll also answer any questions you have about your dog's particular problems and how to handle them. The most important thing in dog training is to be consistent and work with your dog at home on the lessons. The PetSmart class teaches sit, down, come, and the very basics every dog needs to know. They will also help socialize your dog. You are unhappy with an untrained dog, and believe it or not, the dog is actually unhappy to. You need to take your dog now, as the older he gets, the harder it will be to correct your dog's bad habits. Plus the classes are fun for you and your dog. My dog went from that first PetSmart class on to advanced obedience classes. You might also contact your local humane society. The one in my area offers obedience classes with a very good trainer at a reduced price.

try buying some bitter apple spray or other type of spray from your pet store that discourages this kind of behavior........it should work.

more dramatically use a mouse trap on the rug when u leave.....it will make a loud snapping sound, possibly snapping the dog......but will only be temporary......after a while u should be able to get away from this by just leaving the mouse trap on the floor without setting the trap

Try putting cayenne pepper on the rug. You can vacuum it up after your dog gets the point.

As far as more secure...try spending more time playing with her. Or get her a companion...a second dog would work.