To crate or not to crate....

Bella is chewing stuff like mad just now. She is ten months and has never seen a crate. As we have moved into rented for a few months we cant afford for her to chew things.

So far she has gone for the door, wall and telephone cable. At the moment it is all stuff that can be covered up but the fear is that she could do some proper damage to the house or even her.

Problem is that Bruno is fine and I'm not sure about crating her with him in the same room as her. Would that wind her up.

I know it's just a phase but there is only so much damage she can do.

The other thing I have seen posted is use vicks do I'm off to asda tonight and going to smear the kitchen (which is where the are kept during the day) in the hope this works.

Just wondering what folk think about just crating her.

She has plenty chew toys so it can't be that.
She gets an hour forrest walk with me in the morning then is in the house for a couple of hours before a dog walker comes and takes them for two hours then back home for another couple of hours so it cant be exercise. The damage is caused in the afternoon cos the dog walker says there is never anything when he comes.

Thanks in advance

Crating has worked wonders for us but darcy has been crated from day one, the best way to do it would be to introduce it gradually, and make it a place of comfort not punishment, hopefully the Vicks will work, we used bitter apple spay which worked for us but hasn't for others

Hiya,
Yeah, we are wishing we had crated from day one. Bella was that small when we got her she slept in a heated cat bed that was made into a den. She does seem to like that kind of environment so i'm thinking she may like a crate.
It's whether she would get annoyed watching Bruno strut around like man of the house! ha
Thanks

Try putting the heated cat bed in the crate along with some of her very favourite treats but leave the gate open. It's worth even hiding some treats in there for her to find for herself as this makes it an exciting place to go. It is important that she regards the crate as a safe comfy place before you contemplate closing the gate, and the crate must never be used for punishment.
I crated Bacchus from day one using the above method and although he now has the run of the house, at 1 year old, this is his favourite place. When I am preparing his bed-time Kong he is in there waiting for it.

Hiya,

I've left Bella in the kitchen with all the areas she may go for covered in Vicks. I've heard that works so fingers crossed. I'm home in half an hour so will let you know.
If not then crate it is.

The B's wrote:Hiya,

I've left Bella in the kitchen with all the areas she may go for covered in Vicks. I've heard that works so fingers crossed. I'm home in half an hour so will let you know.
If not then crate it is.

At least ther will be no blocked noses in your house:lol:  

Seriously, let us know how it goes.

The Vicks worked! Although she did find a spot that we hadn't thought of! The kitchen was reeking of Vicks tho. Poor Bruno, he's done nothing wrong.haha

Morning all,

The Vicks is still doing the trick. No chewing since it's been put down and I haven't had to reapply. Long may this continue.

Glad to hear the Vicks worked for you. The chewing is most probably just a phase though and Bella should grow out of it.

Yeah, i'm hoping so. It's certainly not boredom or lack of exercise that is causing it so just put it down to still being a pup. We bought some puppy teething gel as well at the weekend to help her in case it's a bit sore for her.

I have found crating great, but again started from day one.
If you put her in just a few minutes at a time and pop out then back, increase time gradually, and I am sure she will be fine. Glad to hear vicks is working it did for me and my monster. 

Hey it worked for us with eddie he also been in it from day 1 he even walks to his crete when some 1 knows on door or on command so i can rate it good look