Remind me when the chewing phase ends again?

[dr.girlfriend]

It's been way too long since I've raised a puppy!  Marley is pretty awesome overall, but she's definitely one of those "can't take eyes off her for a second" pups.  She particularly loves wood -- I thought she was chewing her rawhide the other day, and it turns out she found a place our hardwood floor was cracked and was chewing chunks out of the floorboard!  The dog trainer recommended white vinegar, but she seemed to find it delicious, and was licking it off the floorboard and my fingers.  I'm off to buy Bitter Apple stuff today.  She also has a particular affinity for computer cords.  She sneaked all the way under the bed to try to nibble on that yesterday.  So remind me, how long does this last?  Months or years?

[midnightmare81]

It depends on the dog. Try hot sauce or chili powder.

[grover]

Our lab chewed everything until about 13 months. We had to crate him on work days after he chewed through the rungs of a kitchen chair (we did a trial period of no crate after he figured out how to Houdini out of it). At 13 months I started summer break so I was home and when I went back to school this fall we've done crate in the am and left out in the pm. Bitter Apple spray didn't work for us because he liked the taste. He's also learned that if he wants our attention to get us to not ignore him he just has to put his teeth on the coffee table.

[mmp]

Three years for a lab. All other dogs, two years.

[cmeon]

Our dachsies were pretty non-destructive by a year, I doubt our ~8mo Pyr/Lab pups will be slowing down anytime soon. We just block off the spots they really like to chew- we've been able to avoid any major damage until last week (we're going to eventually have to replace a corner of baseboard). Bitter Apple does nothing, I mean NOTHING for any dog I've tested it on (including these guys). I believe that there are puppies out there that will avoid it, just not mine. We just blockade off trouble areas and add new Nylabones into the mix frequently.

[finally]

Apple chewed EVERYTHING she could until she was over a year however...she is now 2 and has decided that soft comfy things like my comforter are a delicacy. I don't like to give her soft toys because she goes right through them. I will have to try Bitter Apple on the hole in my comforter that is getting bigger and bigger. I just put a blanket over it but she pushes it away to get to that spot.

Good luck!!!

[hamster]

LOL. Our lab chewed on shit for probably 8 months or so? The bitter apple was very helpful. We still keep it around just in case he gets a wild hair.

Nylabones were a great way to properly redirect the chewing.

[mrsd2006]

Hot sauce or chili powder? Sounds kinda harsh to me. None of my dogs have been big chewers (all labs/lab mixes). Not the norm, I know. All have loved to chew on antlers. They last a really long time.

[dr.girlfriend]

Figured I'd update: I seem to have lucked out, she hates the bitter apple. If I spray it on something she takes one lick and then walks around snuffling sadly. So far we're doing pretty well with spraying the things that she goes after (usually wicker like hampers and storage baskets and wood like chair rails)and redirecting her to a chew toy, but we definitely have to be "eyes on" her all the time!

[riverpestie]

Never? HA!
I had a lab mix for 7 years and he was already 1 - 2 when i adopted him from the shelter and he never stopped chewing on important things. A lot of it had to do with his separation anxiety, though.

[pooh8402]

for my golden, it was about 2-3 years. we kept him crated when we weren't home until he was at least 3, maybe 4, so he wouldn't destroy stuff. he didn't care about bitter apple, hot sauce, chili powder, any of that stuff. he'd chew right through all of it. even with his own toys available.