Yesterday was a seriously bad day. Morse bit my 8 year old's finger and made it bleed - scratch round the nail bed - when playing with a sock, refused to come when called for his walk so no walk, then excavated the garden, ate my day lilies and a cotoneaster bush and finally ate 12 new baked fairy cakes when son thought he was asleep in his basket. He is pushing his luck on an hourly basis and I feel I need eyes in the back of my head, despite upping his training when out and going for playtime at home. When I go to bring in washing etc he jumps on couches and rips up his bed - it's not as if he ever gets away with it! And he STILL tries pulling on the lead, jumping up on visitors and leaping at other dogs! These things will pass and thank God dog adolescence is only 8 months - wonder if he's catching it from uppity tweenage daughter and testosterone charged Goth-boy?

:D
What breed is he ??? This is the adolescent stage I am told . :)

Morse is an English Pointer, altho a kind collie lady we meet on walks is always trying to spot what he is crossed with - this week it's foxhound - as she can't accept he was in the pound! Actually I can see the funny side of the cakes now:)

I know the feeling - I'm fed up with my two this week. Its only Monday and the damage since yesterday is:

a picture frame (£120 quids worth)
the slats on the bed
the dog gate on the stairs has been pulled off the wall
the plaster in the hall (again)
several pens
a small wooden train
the window ledge (where willis had been lying on the sofa casually chewing the ledge)

WHY do they have to chew EVEYTHING in sight. They ate my sons tweenies umberella the other day. Short of spraying everything in bitter apple, I don't know what to do

Wasn't the sofa the first casaualty? Well at least I know somebody is getting it tougher! Maybe I can borrow Willis and co to get rid of horrible Xmas pressies.:D

oh yeah - the sofa was first, along with every item in the house having chew marks on - all the furniture. Willis was bad, but now its double trouble.

Blimey Chloe :(
I feel blessed now as Gus really is an angel ( so far) and Staffies do tend to have a reputation for being chewers .

Honestly, you cannot leave anything anywhere in this house without it being chewed up. Most of the time I can cope with it, but then it gets too much.

I know what you mean. Yesterday I had to get out before someone died so I went off to theMuseum of Modern Art and had a walk along the Water of Leith. Funny how I kept thinking Morse would love this bit, and seeing people out with their dogs eventualy drove me home to mine. My husband went into Silverback mode when I left, so they all looked happy to see me - all shining cheeks, waggy tails and tidy house. :)

If I need to do something & cant watch my pup I pop him in his cage. Thankfully usually one of the kids, or my hubby is there so hes not left on his own. I feel so much safer knowing he cant cause any damage. He was trying to eat the settee, but I found a small sprinking of chilli powder put him off that. I hope I havent got all this to come, Id be sobbing if he caused that much damage.

Hmmmm Chilli ... must try that mind you when he ate the plaster we were told to use mustard and he LOVED it so much he had seconds!

Don't have a chewer but yesterday I spent 4 tedious hours on the living room floor organising a huge pile up of bills, bank statements, photos and other magpie collectable stuff while Lascaux lay next to me, being good.

Got it all into obsessive compulsive orderly piles, walked out to get tea, came back and the rotter was rolling vigorously on his back shuffling up all the piles, making Chewbacca noises ... took another hour to get it straight

EDIT - otherwise my sympathies to the chewees! The above is trite compared to a house muncher!

I have learned to suspect Master Morse when he lies next to me like a sporting print, and I bet Lascaux has a similar gleam in his eye......mind you being a loving dog I bet he thought he was helping you to play again!:)

Now I feel guilty for seething quietly to myself when I popped home just now to check on my bundle of fun and found that the little blighter met me with black face and paws!! :( Hed managed to get his teeth into a pen and had chewed it to bits on my bed - luckily it was only a felt tip and he shouldnt have poisoned himself. If thats all I have to worry about though, Ill count my blessings!! :D

Hi Isla how is your course going? The kids return to school tomorrow - how about arranging a walk along the Water of Leith fro the Murrayfield end my e-mail is Alisonb@blueyonder.co.uk or ab011e3842@blueyonder.co.uk

Hey - course is going well but Ive got to the point where I have to write my essay questions...Ive done one but the other 3 are hard work...especially when Logan thinks that books and pens are for eating!! :( Walk sounds like just what I need. Will drop you a mail!

I think he was trying to show me how to herd papers properly, lol!
He also likes to sit on sewing patterns as I am about to cut them out...

Na, mustard's too tame.

Neat Tabasco sauce. :O

Crates are brilliant - when you can get one to fit your dog. Mine outgrew the biggest crate you can get, and now the house rabbit lives in it :rolleyes: ;)

Watch the bunny Chloe! MY chum's rabbit chewed through her telephone cable:D:D

thast why mine lives in a crate ;)

Chloe

I think that Willis and the MB have beewn swapping mails again to say that thay have led us into that sense of we are turning the corner and starting to grow up !! In our dreams !!! MB is being right pesty puppy as well at the moment !! It is daddies shoes at the moment !! It may have something to do with that she is on restricted excercise as she has strained a ligament in her back right knee.

Lucy

I agree, I think after reading about Morse's and others chewing moments, Bobby (Staffie) is pretty good. Nothing in the house (yet afterall he is only 18 weeks!) just tends to run off with socks and leave them in the lavender bush..I think he's trying to tell us something about our feet! Other chewing moments have been normal and nothing destructive..oh except he has a taste for both of my director clothes..especially linen! and as I have been informed the two pairs of trousers he has chewed (but it when un-noticed under the desk, so I don't think it is entirely Bobby's fault) were cheap at £150 a pair!!!!! luckily for me, their dalamation as been far worse and so far he has got through 8 beds, several shoes, cushions etc etc!

When you said you were met by a dog with black paws and feet Isla it made me chuckle. Shortly after we got Meg I came home to find my son and his mate frantically cleaning the (very light coloured) carpet and a boxer with black bits instead of white! She'd managed to chew half the fake coals in the fire (and the only reason the guard isn't up at the moment is coz it's summer, it's going back up soon!!!!). The lads had hoped to have it all sorted out before I got back, although quite how they were going to hide the black and red doglet I don't know. And Meg hated the bath :(

Nightmare!! :( Definitely one of those times where you keep repeating "deep breaths and count to ten" while at the same time wondering why the urge to scream isnt going away!! :D

Blimey!
I thought it was bad that my 16 week old puppy destroyed my glasses- lenses like coke bottles and she bit one in half! Now have new pair of glasses at cost of £190! Apart from that, and the holes in the garden, she's not too bad, though she has now started teething, so who knows what may happen!
Liz

My mantra is These things will pass - been saying it for 15 years since having kids and it delays meltdown by just long enough for kids and dogs to seek shelter!:)

This makes me feel a bit worried. My pup is 4.5 months (English Pointer)... If I can't monitor her, I have her gated in the kitchen or in the yard. But, I wonder if this is not going to help me in the long run...because of less time in the living areas of our home will she not learn manners (so to speak). But on the other hand, I can't not afford to replace my furniture either. And, it would only take minutes especially with her teething now.

What are your thoughts?

Feel as though i got away lightly in this dept. Buddy has only chewed one shoe, a booked on loan from a friend which i obviously had to replace. Oh and the corner of a wooden storage box that he used to sit on as a pup and a couple of leads (walking variety not electric). Not bad in the last 17 months.
Oh but he has pee'd on the sofa a couple of times.
Budmag

The idea is to leave around lots of things she is allowed to chew and praise her for using them. I'd never allow Master Morse access to upstairs unless I was physically present in the room at all times to enforce the rules about who is allowed on seats and that raking the waste bin is not allowed. I dont see anything wrong in controlling his access to the house and feel prevention is better than cure. All dogs are different and you may find yours is not interested in eating the furniture- she might like to bark at the TV instead! Whats your pup called and what colour is she?

Our 4.5 month English Pointer pup is lemon color. We get so many compliments on her. She is only my second dog. My first was a pup when I was a child so I don't remember all this puppy stage. I go from hugging all over her to questioning whether I am sane to have gotten a pup. She does want to chew on my furniture...so I am constantly watching her. And, I love to watch her dash all over the yard, but I want to get her to the point she will calm a bit in the house. Do you think energy level while in the home will calm a bit as the months go on? What is your experience?

Oh boy I remember this ! Morse came from the pound at 6 months and leaped about like a kangaroo at first. I used to be so glad to see my husband come in from work to take him out. I think i said before its the emotion that I find tiring. Getting a pup was worse than having a baby as I thought about him all the time, we had to retrain him as hed been kennelled and our vet said kindly " An exuberant breed the pointer!".Pointers need mental and physical exercise and I knew I wanted to go outside lots when I asked for a big lively dog Yes he has calmed down lots and we keep him busy. I get up at 6am and take him for a walk and training/play time for an hour - 5 minutes training, lots of sniffing and exploring and playing all mixed as I was doing too much exercise. We play hide and seek - people or pigs ears which he loves and point the bird but dont chase, and if we see other dogs its fun time. Home for breakfast and the kids will groom him and play if he wants to - hes most lively in the morning, he trots about the garden and digs ( Ive given him a bit ) and sleeps over lunch then when Gothboy comes home from school he goes to hang out with them in the park. Dad takes him out after tea for a long off lead run and play then hes home for his tea and into bed with teddy. Morse loves all our coming and goings and looking outside from the garden, his kong, and learning things - how to open cupboards today! Youll get more confident in handling her, maybe go to pup classes, and her energy will delight you. Id have another pointer any time theyre so gentle and afectionate, and full of fun. Lemon sounds beautiful. Morse is black and white merle and grows another spot every day.:)

We have not done a lot of off lead running. We have heard many many times this breed likes to run and run and very often not return. So, we have been a bit limited to running in fenced areas. We are in obedience training for 5 weeks now. I love that and so does the pup. We very much want to "release" her, but I am not sure if she'd return. She will not yet stop on a dime at our call which worries me about roads and such.

Havent heard they wont return just that they get distracted.. mind you if you have doubts stay in the fence and away form roads until she comes back every time. I find Morse can understand my tone of voice and when its really urgent will stop. NO was enough to stop him chasing bikes. He also knows that come means treat, play, not just back on the lead. You can use a long line to ensure she never disobeys your summons - just dont do what I did and get tangled in the trees.

How about heeling? We take this pup on a walk morning and evening for 20-25 minutes. Good grief, I think she will never heel for more than 3 seconds. I am causious to use treats because what I about the times I don't have a treat handy and want obedience... We are using gentle leash corrections...which has been very effective in other issues.

do you want him to heel or is he just pulling on the lead?? If hes pulling then the kindest method to stop that is just to put him on the lead, start walking and as soon as he pulls, stop dead. Stand still until he has stopped pulling and then carry on. At first youll feel like youre getting NOWHERE (literally!!) but stick at it and they pick it up. I use a trigger word if he starts to pull - I say easy - so he knows that Im about to stop if he doesnt slow down. If you want to get him to heel then Id advise clicker training but heeling is one of the hardest things for a dog to do and it prevents them from sniffing about and enjoying their walk so other than for things like walking in crowds and crossing the road, I wouldnt recommend using it. :)

I agree with every word Isla said. When I see my pals dog walking to heel everywhere I think " Why do we not do this?" and the answer is because the other dog is 3 years old and mine is 10 months. Ill settle for loose lead walking as well both be happy and if I say HEEL he knows I have a good reason for it. Shes a baby so dont worry - I used to always worry about Morse being spoilt or getting out of control now Im more relaxed cause we have a good bond, I know more about dogs and him ( thanks to people here and in the wider world). You use tons of treats and praise training a new behaviour and vary it as the dog progresses - like rewarding an attempt at a sit, then a sit, then a quick sit. But I feel if the dog obeys I shouldnt take it for granted just like when Gothboy does as hes told I always say thankyou. If I havent explained this well get Isla back! Personally I dont have aproblem rewarding kids/dogs for being good - I dont work without pay after all.:)

I am curious about how much your English Pointer weighs now. He is 10 months right?

For those with chewers you might want to try the sprays they make for horse who bite their stables etc. Go to your local Horse tack shop/riding supplier and ask what sprays they have for "Crib Biting". Their are various makes and they are called things like "Crib stop" etc. They are foul tasting, believe me I have put some on my tongue when I had a horse that used to Crib.
Its worth a try, they are normally about £3-5 so if it works its better tan the £200 table leg!!!

Hi

I just loved reading these posts. I don't mean that unkindly, I feel for everyone. It just made me feel so much better. Our eight month GSD ate the carpet off our bottom stair on Thursday! So, we have started a new design trend in having a bare bottom step, painted in burgundy to (try) and blend in reasonably well with the carpet for now. She has also twice taken one of the dining chairs, removed the seat base, and chewed it to shreds. so I have had to re-cover all 4! (Also put in longer screws to hold the seat base to the frame!) Have kept lots of the material so if I have to do it again, I'll only have to re-cover one! I have to say though that the chairs now look far better (I took the chance to change the colour). So I consider she did me a favour (I must be losing it). She is chew MAD at the moment, but generally is a really good girl and coming along great.

I lover her to bits, and like everyone else here, I look forward to the end of adolescence!

Kat