My puppy is eating my couch.?

Question

I have recently adopted a pitbull puppy while I was at the shelter one day, brought her home to met my older pitbulls and everything was fine until today when I came home and my couch was torn to shreds, now I know it wasn't my older dogs because they never ever did this before. I picked up what I could and went upstairs with my older male just to come down and see the stuffing all over the place again. What can I do? Can I crate only her and have the other dogs loose? My older pits never needed to be crate trained so I never really worried about it....until now? And until I get the crate how do I let her know it was bad?

Answer 1

Do you have chew toys for her to chew on ? You have to teach her the couch is not a chew toy and you have to show her what she did and tell her that's a no no.

Answer 2

well all puppies like to chew because they are Teathing but if your really worried maybe ask a vet she what he/she has to say.This website looks good even if it says german shepard but i looks like it could help!

Answer 3

Your puppy is very young so she is curious about the environment. Dogs don't have hands like we do, so they learn through their mouth. The best way to teach a young dog is through the use of positive reinforcement techniques. Here are some things to try:

1. Redirect your puppy onto a chew toy

If she is biting on something she shouldn't, non-mark her (No/ack, ack) and put a toy in her mouth. You don't need to shove it in, just put it there for her to bite on. Keep repeating this and she will learn what is ok to chew on and what is not.

2. When you are not around to supervise, put her in a long term enclosure (large pen), or a safe room (e.g. kitchen). Put bedding, a water bowl, and puppy pads in the enclosure. Also put in lots of chew toys. Frozen Kongs are really good. I leave my older dog to roam around while my puppy is in her pen, so it should be fine.

3. Spray bitter apple on your furniture.

Answer 4

Yes, definitely crate train her.  She will not be mad that the other dogs are not crated!  Remember, they think like dogs, not humans!

You must be sure that the puppy is well exercised before you leave her alone.  She will be less likely to get into things.  But puppy's will be puppy's, they do love to chew anything!

Answer 5

Petsmart! Has a spray that you put on your couch and other furniture to keep the dogs off of it.  

Answer 6

Sorry, but the crate is not punishment and you can't let her know it was bad because it's too late.  Dogs aren't like people and live in the moment.  You just have to move on.

And, I'm sure all dogs joined in while shredding the couch.  

Yes, you can crate her and not the other dogs.  Just keep her crate in another room where its calm.