Hi everyone! It has been a long time since I've been on this forum. Sadly, we had to put down our five year old sheltie, Miles, who became septic. Our house was very lonely without him, but we were fortunate to adopt Henry eight months later. Henry is a gorgeous ti-colored sheltie and is way bigger than we're used to (Miles topped out at 28 pounds; Henry, at seven months old is already 32 pounds)! Anyhow, we have been having great trouble with Henry chewing, and he has even ruined some expensive items like a mac book charger. He has already outgrown his crate, so I am currently looking for a new one that will be big enough. In the meantime, he has been gated in various locations in the house, which has proven to be ineffective, as he still somehow manages to get things and ruin them. My question is, is chewing something shelties grow out of? Frankly, I can't remember how long it took with Miles. Henry does have all his adult teeth, and my husband assumed that Henry wouldn't chew because he's not teething (obviously not the case). What has worked for you guys/your shelties with regard to chewing? Will crating need to be done indefinitely? We actually never crated Miles, and he had free reign of the house. He was 100% trustworthy but we also had him from the time he was seven-weeks old. Henry was adopted at 5 months old, so we didn't have the opportunity to train him right off the bat. Just looking for some advice on how long this can be expected/what to do about it. Thanks!
7 Month Old Chewer
- Thread starter Kelsey
- Start date
corbinam
Moderator
I really think it depends on the dog. I have one dog who was a chewer and she eventually outgrew it--probably around 2 or 3 years old, though. I have another that will still eat books and paper and he is almost 8! We just learned to pick up all the items that appeal to him. Obviously the other option is to crate him, but we like to leave the dogs out in the house so we put up all the paper products that might tempt him.
For now, I think your best bet is a crate. 7 months is still young, so keep him safe and out of trouble for now. Plus, if he doesn't have the opportunity to chew bad things then it's less likely to become a habit. You can try again in a few months to give him more freedom outside of the crate.
For now, I think your best bet is a crate. 7 months is still young, so keep him safe and out of trouble for now. Plus, if he doesn't have the opportunity to chew bad things then it's less likely to become a habit. You can try again in a few months to give him more freedom outside of the crate.
Sharon7
Moderator
Hate to tell you, but our Faith is still a chewer at 2.5 yrs old. She has gotten several garden shoes outside and some flip flops inside. 
She gets crated when we're not home. Out in the yard I've just learned to be vigilant. At least she doesn't chew the hoses!!!
Ally and Brooke are fine, Ally was never a chewer and Brooke just likes to pick up socks and move them around.
She gets crated when we're not home. Out in the yard I've just learned to be vigilant. At least she doesn't chew the hoses!!! Ally and Brooke are fine, Ally was never a chewer and Brooke just likes to pick up socks and move them around.
Silaria
Forums Sage
Both my boys were chewers at 6 & 7 months.
Edan, my 8.5 year old, outgrew it but at 7 and 8 months he chewed through a few networking cables for our computers, mouse, keyboard and phone wires. Thankfully electric wires for lamps were not easily accessible. He hasn't been crated in the house since he was about 3 years old. He IS confined to our bedroom when we aren't home. In the event of an emergency, we know where he, and his sister CJ, are (the bedroom is only so big).
Keiran, my 6.5 month old (he'll be 7 months on July 3rd) will chew anything he can get his mouth on - chairs, table legs, laptop power cables, cell phone power cables, etc. THANKFULLY he normally goes for the items he's allowed to chew - bully sticks and buffalo shin bones.
Keiran is DEFINITELY crated if we can't watch him. Even if we can watch him we limit the amount of house he has access to since we don't have clear line of sight to every room of the house.
Edan, my 8.5 year old, outgrew it but at 7 and 8 months he chewed through a few networking cables for our computers, mouse, keyboard and phone wires. Thankfully electric wires for lamps were not easily accessible. He hasn't been crated in the house since he was about 3 years old. He IS confined to our bedroom when we aren't home. In the event of an emergency, we know where he, and his sister CJ, are (the bedroom is only so big).
Keiran, my 6.5 month old (he'll be 7 months on July 3rd) will chew anything he can get his mouth on - chairs, table legs, laptop power cables, cell phone power cables, etc. THANKFULLY he normally goes for the items he's allowed to chew - bully sticks and buffalo shin bones.
Keiran is DEFINITELY crated if we can't watch him. Even if we can watch him we limit the amount of house he has access to since we don't have clear line of sight to every room of the house.
Hanne
Forums Sage
Minnie never take my stuff to destroy - she has never touched a shoe - only her teddy bears as she takes all stuffing out.cut --- Brooke just likes to pick up socks and move them around.
Minnie here:
Yes Brooke, I also love socks they are so funny, but I do not destroy them, just steal them and run around with them.
But paper - lying on the floor - it's fun to tear into 1,000 pieces - I can do it in 5 seconds. - Mom says I can come into Guinness World Records, :sadsmile: but then I get a little scared, I seemed it sounds dangerous.
Henry has destroyed many toys, a couple of pairs of footwear, several books, a computer charger, and has chewed my chair/table legs. We have tried to keep things cleaned up and out of reach, but he has been known to even jump and pull things off the counters (this is new territory for us, as our previous sheltie had hip issues and therefore never jumped). Despite this, Henry is still a good boy, listens well, and is such a little (well, big) love. I sound like my mother, though... "This is why we can't have nice things!" 
Thankfully, we found a big crate and will crate him. Hopefully, this too shall pass.
Thankfully, we found a big crate and will crate him. Hopefully, this too shall pass.Shelby's mom
Forums Enthusiast
We were in the same situation as you. Our first Sheltie never chewed and never had to be crated. She was perfectly behaved. Then along came Shelby, the complete opposite. She would chew everything and also ruined some expensive furniture.
As a result she was crated until she was about 3 years old. After all the destruction it was difficult to trust her alone all day, so the crate it was. She eventually outgrew the chewing and one day we came home and she had herself out of the crate. Nothing was damaged so we figured we would try leaving her out. And she has been fine since. I even put her crate away.
So from my experience crating keeps them safe (and helps keep your sanity) and hopefully they outgrow the chewing when they are more mature. Remember they are rebellion teenagers at that age.
Good luck!
As a result she was crated until she was about 3 years old. After all the destruction it was difficult to trust her alone all day, so the crate it was. She eventually outgrew the chewing and one day we came home and she had herself out of the crate. Nothing was damaged so we figured we would try leaving her out. And she has been fine since. I even put her crate away.
So from my experience crating keeps them safe (and helps keep your sanity) and hopefully they outgrow the chewing when they are more mature. Remember they are rebellion teenagers at that age.
Good luck!
Another chewer? And the prognosis for the future does not sound good? Oh no. 
Just this weekend I got to add one skirt, and one shirt, and one bedskirt, plus a training/exercise tool to Blaze' "already been chewed" list. :::Sigh::: Gee I was hoping that this was just a teething thing, but I see it is not.
Bitter Apple and Bitter Lime don't seem to work. Neighbor mentioned tabasco sauce (but with my luck he'd probably like it!) Don't kill me foks but I'm starting to thing of alum (made into a paste) since it is a little harsh but...
Just this weekend I got to add one skirt, and one shirt, and one bedskirt, plus a training/exercise tool to Blaze' "already been chewed" list. :::Sigh::: Gee I was hoping that this was just a teething thing, but I see it is not.Bitter Apple and Bitter Lime don't seem to work. Neighbor mentioned tabasco sauce (but with my luck he'd probably like it!) Don't kill me foks but I'm starting to thing of alum (made into a paste) since it is a little harsh but...
Caro
Moderator
7 months could easily still be a teething issue. Even though all the adult teeth have grown in they will be shifting around the jaw and settling in and that can cause some jaw aches. That can go on until 12mths so worth keeping confined until then
There is a small chance it is Pica, which some dogs will eventually grow out of, and a small proportion never do. Pica can also be boredom related, esp in young dogs.
I'd suggest giving Henry all his food in either a Kong or treat dispenser. That way he has something more appropriate to chew on, and will have a distraction.
There is a small chance it is Pica, which some dogs will eventually grow out of, and a small proportion never do. Pica can also be boredom related, esp in young dogs.
I'd suggest giving Henry all his food in either a Kong or treat dispenser. That way he has something more appropriate to chew on, and will have a distraction.
I've had two chewers-- one gave it up only in her old age. She chewed interesting things-- couldn't resist paper of any kind, other "loose items" were delightful. I had to call poison control once for what she got into.
The one I have now is a chewer and an eater. He eats socks, and chews the feet off of the kids' toy plastic animals. The only thing that works is supervision. We try to keep things picked up, but he is with us, and absolutely cannot be in a room by himself unless he's confined in his Xpen. He's not yet 2 years old, so there's the possibility that he'll outgrow it, but I'm not expecting it.
The one I have now is a chewer and an eater. He eats socks, and chews the feet off of the kids' toy plastic animals. The only thing that works is supervision. We try to keep things picked up, but he is with us, and absolutely cannot be in a room by himself unless he's confined in his Xpen. He's not yet 2 years old, so there's the possibility that he'll outgrow it, but I'm not expecting it.