Carpet chewing

Question
Hi, I have 2 shelties, Brandy, an 18 month old girl, raised from a
8 week pup and Angus, a 5 year old male rescue who has been
with us for 6 months. About a week ago, Angus started pulling
up the carpet near the stairs and hearth, ( where there are no
baseboards),
and chewing it. He is otherwise a very gentle, well-behaved dog
and made an immediate fit in our family with Brandy and our 2
cats. The dogs and cats all have run of the house. Angus does
not like going outside. We have to coax him out to do his
business. Once he is outside, he's fine. He loves walks and car
rides. He does not play with any toys, doesn't fetch. Any
suggestions why he has started digging and shewing the carpet?
The carpet is badly damaged and will have to be replaced. I just
want to make sure the problem is solved before I spend money
on new carpet! Thank you for your help and advice. Genevieve  

Answer
Hi Genevieve,

This issue is very near and dear to my heart!  We have taken in Jinx, an abused 2 year old blue-merle who has eaten a dozen of my 3-year old's fisher-price little people.  Last Friday she ate a huge piece of my perscribed headgear for my snoring at a cost of $120-UGH! (Anyone want to buy some Sheltie Fur gloves?  Just a joke but you definitely understand I'm sure.)

Here is what we have done.  First we started catching her in the act and punishing with the item she chewed.  Taking the item and pushing it into her nose, using her punish-nickname of "MA'AM" (as in yes-ma'am) like this: "NO MA'AM, BAD DOG"

Now she knows she isn't supposed to do this, so she knows she's in trouble when she does it.

Next we have kept close watch on her when not in the crate and provided chew toys.  This girl can chew a bone made for a Great Dane in under 30 minutes.  It's a nervous expression of some kind in our girl's case.  I believe that she will always need extra time and extra attention from where she came from.   The chewing is just one symptom.

For your situation do the same things we did plus add something to the carpet that your Sheltie won't eat, like dried hot peppers or baking soda.  Do that and provide lots of positive chewing alternatives.

I have seen similar trepadation going outside in my girl.  Once she is out she is fine, but wants me to see her go potty.  Fortunately our other two boys are a good influence on her.  More time is what is most needed, and patience on our part.

BTW: you can remove carpet from your closets to match the eaten parts.  Just don't ask me why I know this.

'sneezes
Dave