Biting and Digging

Question
QUESTION: I have a 3month old JRT and he's really smart and well behaved but we will in an apartment and he has a habit of digging up the carpet and has chewed part of a door frame. Is there anyway to stop him. Is it cruel to put a muzzle on him?

ANSWER: Hello you can Never leave a dog unatended with a muzzel on when he gets upset and trys to get it off he will tire himself out and try to pant which he wont be able to do and will DIE. At three months old he should be crated when your not home...he will be much safer and so will you belongings. ~ from my website~ Kennel or Crate My dogs prefer the wire open style crates as it allows for more air movement and viewability. This item is to aid in house breaking the new puppy or dog and also to keep the puppy or dog safe when your not at home, It's also useful for traveling with your pooch. My tip; The crate must be large enough for the adult dog to go in turn around without bumping the sides and rocking the crate and must be large enough so the pooch can stretch out without hitting the ends of the crate. Crates and kennels are available at all petstore and can be found for less at Walmart!

TOYS!, Every pooch needs a good selection of toys to play with roll around and chew on to be really happy...a bored pooch will eat your chews and designer rug! I highly recommend Durable Nyla Bones...my dogs love these and they last a very long time for the price you pay, Also I recommend a Kong toy, my dogs personily don't play with them much but you can stuff them with goodies and leave them with your pooch in his or her crate while your out it keeps the dog happy and keeps them from whining or barking because of bordem. I recommend you steer clear of very soft latex toys that feel flimsy even for small toy dogs or puppies they can still be tore apart and eaten and are best avoided. I recommend also having a sturdy rope toy or two plus some strong plush toys with squeakers.....never leave a dog or puppy with toys you Think he or she can chew up..Nyla bones and Kongs are safe to leave with your pooch when your working or shopping anything else will likely be chewed. On another Note there are Flexible Nyla bones too for small puppies that are teething these can be chewed quickly and shouldn't be left unsupervised with your pooch and I don't recommend flexible Nyla bones to large puppies or large dogs at all.



Chews, I use rawhides my dogs love them and I've never had a problem with them but some people feel they are unsafe and shouldn't be given. My advice is give only rawhides when you are there to watch your pooch...very young puppies shouldn't be given rawhides because they will likely make there gums bleed because of lack of adult teeth and a puppy needs to save room for its very important full meals and shouldn't be filling up on rawhides/bones. Nyla bones the durable ones are also a chew and if you are wary of rawhides there is nothing better to offer. You can also find bison knuckles or cow bones based/cooked or sterilized and white so you can stuff them...these are all fine to give but beware with an very large dog they may be able to get chunks of the actual bone off and choke or puncture there throat or stomach tissues.

http://www.freewebs.com/dustycovens/index.htm

Also yuo can sue bitter apple spray(from petstores) on door frames or area's of the carpet he might be prone to chewing on



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: HI,

SOrry, i think i asked more questions in the wrong section!
My puppy is a male, perfectly happy and healthy, potty training is still in progress but he is getting better in this area.

But my partner is getting to the end of his tether. I think my puppy does bite and chew cos he's bored, he's left alone for 9hrs, I read that a dog shouldnt be left in their crate for more than 6hrs. How much room does a puppy need during the day? He has all the toys you've recommended and isnt keen on the kong either, his favourite is his teddy bear and his balls.

Is this digging and biting a puppy phase or something that stays with them throughout their lives?

Thanks,
Fran

Answer
Hello, Well my jakc russell digs like a well jack russell Jacks are diggers...they will ruin a garden in minutes or fill a lawn with pot holes because they were bred to dig and go down holes so this is what they do digging carpet isnt good you should let your puppy go dig outside from time to time if yor yard is not something you want dug up get a childrens sand box put a few inches of plain potting soil in it....no cemicals and let him dig away he will love this and will calm his digging indoors. My jack russell bites in play but doesnt acctaully bite he play nibbles non of my other dogs do this I havent seen an adult dog doing this like he does before maybe its the breed maybe its just my dog. They need to be let out every few hours 9 hours is way too long come back and luncha nd let him out for a few minutes at lest and feed/water him play with him a few minutes if this cant be done a dog sitter or walker is in order or a new home...no dog deserves to be left allday in a crate without companionship and noone to at lest let him out to pee. And no yuo havent asked in the wrong area I just briefed you on crating/chew toys is all.