I have a GSD that is now 12 months my problem is i want to stop using the crate for when i am out of the house. We are going to the CLA game fair  and i want to be able to leave her out of it as we will be out all day, but someone will come in to walk them ( i have two the other is nearly 7 yrs) she loves her crate and is happy to stay in there but i do not want to leave her in the all day i.e 9am -6pm.

Can anyone give me advice on stopping the chewing of things, i have no door to my living room so she will be able to get to anything she likes. My only other option is to leave her in the back garden with plenty of water for the day.
The last time she was left for 30 mins she recked a digital camera (got it fixed on the house insurance) 6 books, 2 cushions and various other little things. What can i do between now and the end of July to get her out of the chewing things.
She has various toys and a kong to play with

12 months is a difficult age for a GSD as they are often going through a second 'teething' phase as the teeth settle in the gum.  I assume your dog walker will be coming mid way through the day to walk them - breaking the day into two 4 hour chunks?  Can you not leave a second lot of toys to replace the 1st lot, with another stuffed Kong etc. to amuse her for the second part of the day?  The only other way would be to use something like bitter apple spray - but I have a feeling she'll just keep on searching until she finds something that isn't sprayed :(

if you havent got a door, would you be able to put up a dog/baby gate? its a cheap option.

I agree if you have someone coming in to walk them the day will be broken up...I would be scared to rush something like this to give her free roam because she could get a hold of something that could really harm her....A baby gate is a good idea but if she is anything like my dogs they will just knock it down or jump it if it is something they really want...Since this is something you do not do all the time (stuck in kennel) I wouldn't worry about 1 day, at least then you know the dog is safe, better safe then sorry. Great idea like the other poster said to have toys to be switched to keep the dog occupied. If it is a nice day first you could have dog in crate, then outside then crated again this way the dog isn't crated the entire time and gets some free time to stretch so to speak. With toys to keep the mind busy each time, I'm sure your dog will be fine and have fun :)

Sorry I can't help but when are you going to the game fair?  I'm there on Sunday.

all three days we only live 30 mins away so it is easy for us to get to. Tried gates but she can clear them with easy. As she loves chewing the other thing i was think of was giving her a big rawhide chew, i know peoples views on this are not to leave there dogs with chews, but there is always a danger with toys and other objects, at least i know that with a chew she will spend ages eating it.
we are going to try and take her for one of the days but leaving the older one at home as she cannot cope with the exercise.

Have you ever seen a dog with a piece of rawhide chew stuck in the roof of its mouth????  One of mine did just this, luckily while I was at home - but she was so panic struck she'd had ripped her face to pieces in minutes :(

no i have never seen a dog with rawhide stuck to the roof of there mouth which is why i am happy for mine to have it.

I shall be manning the scurry at some time over the period but I'm not sure yet when I've been pencilled in. I'm hoping for Sunday afternoon which will give me time for a quick walk around in the morning. Unfortunately I can only spare the time for one day. :(

I never give raw hide chews. apart from the possibility of it getting stuck in the roof of the mouth it has happened for a gog to chew off a relatively dry piece and to swallow it whole. The hide then absorbs moisture in the stomach, swells and can then cause a serious blockage.

Best wishes, John

If I wanted to give my dogs a rawhide chew I would be there watching them and there would be no other dogs present, to cause the dog to eat it hurriedly. 
Sally

Hi Co28uk,

What about a Nylabone for your dog to chew while you are out?  Mine love theirs and will happily gnaw away at them for hours :)  I'm with the others on rawhide chews, I wouldn't even give them when I was around due to the dangers associated with them, but have found Nylabones to be a safe alternative which the dogs enjoy :)

Lesley