[bigds01]

We have a just about 5 1/2 month old boy that is perfect in every way except one, he is chewing up the area rugs. We try to distract him, give him toys, etc. but this dog loves tearing apart area rugs.

Important to note that the two he has destroyed were brand new, so it is not like they were soiled.

Any advice? This is getting to be expensive.

 

[Nicole74]

I took all my rugs up when we brought Bailey home. Bailey will chew them up too if I had them down.

 

[Finn's Fan]

Management. If he's free in the house and you cannot watch him every minute, tether him to your waist so you know where he is and can keep an eye on what he's doing. Also, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take up the rugs until he's out of his chewing phase.

 

[BeauShel]

Take the rugs up until he is grown or keep him tethered to you so once he starts chewing you can redirect him. How much exercise is he getting? Maybe get him a good hard chew toy that he can chew on when he starts chewing something he shouldnt.

 

[NapaValleyGolden]

I sprayed my area rugs with Bitter Apple and Cody hasn't touched them. He also does not have free run of the house.

 

[lgnutah]

They do seem to get fixated on a certain thing and it is hard to break that habit.
Brooks had a thing for some loose brick pieces on our fireplace hearth when he was little. He would claw at the cracked area and get out little pieces of brick and then chew on them. Finally I just put something big over that place so he couldn't do it anymore.

 

[Wyatt's Mom]

Wyatt (5 months) chewed on one jute area rug and we caught him in the act, so we scolded him right away. We also scolded the rug (a friend with a golden-doodle told us about this technique). It seems to have worked so far (it's been a month or so), although we did notice he's been pulling up bits of fabric on a braided rug by the door now. My philosophy is, if I don't know where he is I better find out soon! Good luck!

 

[jessl123]

I went through the exact same thing with my 10 1/2 month old - I have lost a few kitchen rugs in the mix, but now if he's going to be in the kitchen alone, then the rugs are thrown out in the breezeway. That's the only way to make sure they stay safe from Brophy!!