My dog is a monster! He chews up everything?

Sounds like he needs more exercise. A tired dog is a good dog and if he doesn't have an outlet to expend his energy in a productive way (like running, fetching, swimming) he is going to take it out on your shoes. In the meantime, he should be crate trained. If you are away for extended periods of time, I would definitely recommend a dog walking service. Interacting with other dogs is a great way to tire a dog out physically and mentally.

Good luck!

Olivia

Pet Nutrition Specialist

Nutro

Train him!!!!!!!! You can teach him to stay off anything you don't want him to get on. Teach him to leave your things alone, not chew items that are not his, and teach him to calm down (that is usually due to lack of exercise or mental stimulation..it's frustration that causes hyperactivity in dogs)

Here are two training sites that can show you how to fix all these behaviors;

http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/

http://www.dogtrainingbasics.com/

Did you think they come from their mothers wombs trained? YOU need to train him!

Take him to obedience classes, and ask your instructor for book recommendations.

Small dogs tend to be very quick witted, teach him tricks. This will be fun for you and will keep him entertained. You could even look into agility or another doggy sport to do with him.

Walk him 2-3 times daily, for as long as possible...two hours is not unreasonable for a very active dog like he seems to be.

If he's a year old as you said to someone else, he's just a baby really. It could take another year or so for him to calm down but you need to teach him boundaries.

Also, it's far better to praise him for good behaviour than punish bad. Unless you catch him in the act telling him off will not help...if you actually find him chewing on something, tell him off (do NOT strike him or scream at him, just say NO in a loud tone, try a Pet Corrector which blasts air and makes a loud noise, very useful for distracting them from what they are doing) but if you find something already destroyed there's no point in telling him off.

I personally do not believe in crating dogs, I think it's a bit cruel, but perhaps confine him to one room where he can do little damage when you are out, until he starts to calm down a bit.

he's probably chewing because he's bored and has pent up energy. are you giving him enough exercise/mental stimulation???

every time he chews on something, say no in a stern voice and re-direct his attention to a toy of his. when he chews on his toy, praise him. make sure he has a bunch of toys and always praise him when he's playing with them.

put the garbage bins & shoes somewhere we he can't get them.

Sounds like a dog that isn't getting enough exercise to me. So, with all that you mentioned, you never wrote a thing about taking this dog out on leash, exposing him to the world around him other than his yard and giving him some very badly needed exercise.

A dog that is tired from exercise and training, is not going to do damage and be obnoxious.

Dog is not "hyper", this is a word thrown around by owners who just do not bother to exercise their dog and then wonder why the dog has eaten the couch.

Get off your duff, get a leash on that dog and get out for at least a good 45 minute walk. Oh and not a stroll, an actual walk at a nice quick pace.

As with "picky dogs" I will reiterate, dogs are not born "monsters" or anything else but are made by their owners. Any bad behavior is not the dog's fault but the owners.

1. "He chews up everything." Puppy/dog proof your home and don't leave anything around for him to chew!.

2. "He is well fed." Feed only good quality grain free food and/or raw in a set amount according to body condition and exercise.

3. "He chews up shoes, and anything he can get his paws on.

He digs in the small garbages and eats things like Pads and anything else." Refer back to #1.

4. "We buy him big bones and he eats them in one night." Get Bigger and harder bones that do not break down so easily and or antlers.

5. "He is very hyper." Exercise him more, both mentally and physically.

6. "He gets on the table and eats my food!" Train him! Do not allow this to happen! Put him in another room when you eat and do not leave anything on the table when you are done. (same thing applies to anything on the counters.)

7. "He is a monster." No, he isn't, you made him that way now correct it. It will take twice as long to correct it as it did to make him that way so have patience, time, energy and consistency, or seek professional help.

8. "What can we do?" Refer back to the above suggestions!

He is not a monster just isn't get the physical and mental exercise he needs which is not his fault but your i am affraid. We make our dogs what they are. You need ot look at meeting his high energy needs and giving him trainning.

Do you walk him enough? Play with him enough?

When he chews your shoes and you catch him redhanded, tell him no and take away the shoes and offer him a toy instead. Or just don't keep your shoes in the same room as your dog. My dog isn't allowed in the hallway unless we're going somewhere.

Close garbage cans, duh. If he still tries to get in tell him no and lead him away from the garbage. Again, offer him something to chew on/play with.

If he gets on the table, tell him no immediately. Do you eat before your dog? Because you should. It sounds stupid, but it's true. (No, i don't got this off a stupid website, i've been told this by people that train police dogs). Always enter and exit a room before your dog. He should also learn not to go into the car or outside without your permission/command.

Maybe join a dog sport with him, like frisbee, if you like to. If he's really that hyper you need to take a loooong walk or run with him.

Your dog just sounds bored. He acts like mine when he's chewed up all his toys or i forget to walk him/don't have time - yesterday (don't worry, we got him new ones today).

get him a football to play with in the yard, it might break after a while but they're happy with a deflated one too :).

With certain toys (balls, ropes, etc) he can only play when i want to play with them. That way the toys stay fun for him.