ARGH!!! Hes chewed my flooring to pieces!

Hi all, ive never had this problem with any of my other staffies before and im on the verge of having a major fall out with Diesel because he has decided it would be a great idea to chew my flooring! Both of my staffies have more than enough execise everyday, over 3 miles walking twice everyday and they have got toys and chew toys and bones coming out of there ears lol. Everytime he gets told off for doing it, he picks up either a bone or toy and kind of parades around waging his tail then he brings me whatever hes picked up and drops it at my feet and goes to his bed. Has anyone else ever experienced this behaviour before? P.s heres a pic of my floor

yes but not from a staffie. I had a german shepherd that chewed the plaster off the walls and managed to eat the skirting too. A crate would be the answer i think.

how long does it take for the walks? maybe you need to up the exercise or do it at different times. chews are not very rewarding, you chew it thats it. the floor, you get to rip it up and get pieces of it. Much more fun.

I would try a kong or some other sort of treat thing that uses the brain a little. I'm not a fan of crates and would seek a method of prevention other than sticking them in a small cage.

I don't have a problem with crating, how long is he left alone?

Chiara wrote:I don't have a problem with crating, how long is he left alone?

They are only alone at night. As soon as we are up, around 6am, they are with us and dont go yo bed until around 1am so around 5-6 hours they are alone

You could try a crate if it happens through the night that would keep him out of mischief. he has had a real good go of your floor

ours are only crated at night and while Wendy works 2 hours in the morning

A crate could help but it might also be a teenage issue or seperation anxiety

Obi has done exactly the same. He has eaten the Kitchen floor tiles and ceramic tiles underneath, the wall, the kitchen table and chairs and he started on the kitchen units.

We had to get a crate in the end. He's only alone for 5 -6 hours 3 days a week. He goes in his crate in the morning when I leave for work and he gets let straight out once someone is home normally my husband. We don't use his crate any other time as he sleeps with us in our room. It's worked a treat no more floor etc has been eaten. Obi is 8 months now and we started using a crate when he was about 6 months

Sorry i should of given a little more info on him and his past etc.. He is a rescue dog and I've had him nearly 2 months. He was not given enough attention due to former owners having big family and other animals. He's also covered in scars from 2 British Bulldogs, which was upsetting to see when I first saw him and his left leg was dislocated at his elbow and it never got put back into place so the bone has healed and has grown around it. He's not in pain with it and the vets have said that to correct it, it would be purely cosmetic as he's not in pain and still walks and runs ok, and the procedure can be very painful for him, so I'm not going to put him through it if its not necessary as don't want him in further pain. He has been spoilt rotten with me and I do have every toy, Kong's and Ruff n Tuff etc. I do change the treats in the Kong's as I don't want him getting bored with it. When out for walks, we are out for roughly 3 hours in total per day, then on the way home we stop at the fields and they have what I call "fun time" which is when I get the balls out and the ropes etc so they have a very physical lifestyle. My children also take them, how long they walk for I'm unsure as my children are probably talking to their friends lol.

Whenever Diesel does something naughty, he knows that he has done it as when I walk in the kitchen in the morning he looks at whatever it is he has done wrong, looks back at me and puts his head down and walks back to his bed. That's when he will pick up a toy or bone and start parading it around me, he will walk around me around 4 times, it looks like he's nodding his head when he's doing it, tail is wagging like crazy, he then drops whatever is his mouth then goes back to his bed. It seems like he if offering me his toy or bone as an apology for being naughty. He does this "routine" every single time he thinks he has done something wrong.

They are definitely not board and they get every bit of attention they want. I also socialise them with other dogs very regularly as I believe that for this breed, with its bad reputation for being a violent and anti-social dog, that socialisation from a young age is the best way forward.

Any advice on this behaviour is greatly appreciated

I have no experience with a rescue so I can't offer any help but i'm sure there will be someone along soon who can help you.

I had a different problem with my rescue Staffy (not doing her business on the lead) After advice from a couple of people on here I got a crate....problem solved within days !! Crating is a great thing as long as it's NOT used as a punishment. Mattie now has her "Own space"

I've never thought about crating before but I am considering it as he's chewed even more of the floor now. My mum in law uses crates with her poodles, just for bed time, and she has never had any problems with chewing or toilet training etc. I am deffo going to give it a thought.

Was talking to a friend of mine who again has only ever owned staffs and she thinks Diesel may have a OCD with this. Has anyone experienced OCD in there dogs?

shellie25 wrote:I've never thought about crating before but I am considering it as he's chewed even more of the floor now. My mum in law uses crates with her poodles, just for bed time, and she has never had any problems with chewing or toilet training etc. I am deffo going to give it a thought.

One more thing try Puredog stagbar antler chew....these are the best and toughest on the market. A bit expensive but I'm guessing cheaper that a new floor !!! You can get them on E Bay, also my new crate cost £29 on there, shipped (within 48 hours) rather the £60 in Pets at Home !!

Sounds more like seperation anxiety to me. They like to be around people and can act out if left alone if they haven't been built up to it slowly over time. I would advise a crate in your room if the behaviour is only happening at night.

Usually behaviour like this is caused by either poor diet or lack of exercise. In your case you are exercising a little too much. They should only be walked on lead for 5 minutes per month of age so in your case 30 minutes twice a day. Off lead running around doesn't count. The rule only applies until they are 18 months or so and than they can exercise all you want.

jstaff wrote:Sounds more like seperation anxiety to me. They like to be around people and can act out if left alone if they haven't been built up to it slowly over time. I would advise a crate in your room if the behaviour is only happening at night.

Usually behaviour like this is caused by either poor diet or lack of exercise. In your case you are exercising a little too much. They should only be walked on lead for 5 minutes per month of age so in your case 30 minutes twice a day. Off lead running around doesn't count. The rule only applies until they are 18 months or so and than they can exercise all you want.

I can only walk them at certain times and they come with me to work twice each day which is roughly 3 miles there and back. I am in sticky situation with regards to their exercise, if I don't take them with me then Scarlet wouldn't get enough exercise and I can't separate them to only be able to take Scarlet as Diesel goes crazy if Scarlet is not in sight of him. So I thought the lesser of 2 evils is to give him too much exercise. I was told by the vet as Diesels leg is damaged (previous owner) to try and exercise it as much as possible as his muscles are very weak in that leg.

I will give crating a go, even though I don't like the thought of it. If it helps then its worth a shot

Thanks for the advice all, very much appreciated

craig46 wrote:

shellie25 wrote:I've never thought about crating before but I am considering it as he's chewed even more of the floor now. My mum in law uses crates with her poodles, just for bed time, and she has never had any problems with chewing or toilet training etc. I am deffo going to give it a thought.

One more thing try Puredog stagbar antler chew....these are the best and toughest on the market. A bit expensive but I'm guessing cheaper that a new floor !!! You can get them on E Bay, also my new crate cost £29 on there, shipped (within 48 hours) rather the £60 in Pets at Home !!

They have the Antlers and they are not really interested in them

I will give crating a go, even though I don't like the thought of it. If it helps then its worth a shot

Believe me my staffy LOVES her crate. It gives her private space. She will go in there while I'm watching telly etc. and pop out every so often to check up on me I had never used a crate before....but I wish I had !!! Just make sure you don't use it as punishment.

Nothing to add to the great advice here but... http://www.dogshaming.com/

Mani wrote:Nothing to add to the great advice here but... http://www.dogshaming.com/

I love this! Looking through these has eased my mind about Diesel being "naughty" lol

Mani wrote:Nothing to add to the great advice here but... http://www.dogshaming.com/

Oh hell did I just waste 20 minutes looking at that ????

zaph wrote:

Mani wrote:Nothing to add to the great advice here but... http://www.dogshaming.com/

Oh hell did I just waste 20 minutes looking at that ????

Yep, same as me this morning then lol, some great pics in there