Hey everyone,

Well it's been almost a month now with Kenai who I picked up at an animal shelter, the first couple of weeks he was pretty tame, I guess maybe intrigued by his new surroundings but now the bad habits are starting to reveal themselves.

He loves exploring the world...with his mouth. Loves to chew on things, basically anything. After his neutering from the shelter I was eager to start exercising him so after the 10 day recovery period was over we started walks every morning, which usually are around 7-8 miles that start in the morning when he loves to throw half his body on me at 6:30am, was cute at first until his paws hit me in the face Lol

Any way back to the chewing, so we have our washer and dryer outside in our backyard with a little cart that has things like a brush, detergent, bird food, numerous items on it that he loves to take out to the grass and chew. There is also an old recliner chair that we have for our German Shepherd to sleep on at night that he loves taking the blanket off and taking to the grass while ripping up the arm part of the chair.

Now while the backyard where he is during the day is littered with toys I figured he was chewing because he didn't have any chew toys. Got him those antler chews that were pretty darn expensive and also a raw hide that I could rotate, but I went out right now to get him to bring him in and sure enough he had ripped up the chair even more and the blanket was on the grass.   Any advice for this? I'm just worried he's going to eat foam from the chair and get a blockage or something..

Am I not exercising him enough? His stubbornness is becoming more and more apparent, and likes to play that game where he has something in his mouth that I need to get but he keeps running away, almost taunting me with it, until I catch him and unleash an a$$-whoopin Lol (not really but discipline is made...) The other day my dad said he was chewing on the gas line to the dryer so we blocked that area off but he's constantly looking for something to chew, it's like you have all these toys and chew things around you, why do you chew things you shouldn't be chewing?? >_< He actually chewed through the hose in the backyard too but we bought a new one and put Tabasco hot sauce all over it and he hasn't touched the new one once  

Any advice for tips for this would be greatly appreciated!

How old is Kenai? I'm not sure you can really stop a dog from chewing. More it is dog proofing and being watchful and quick. If he's young, maybe it's a "phase" and he will outgrow it. The first thing I would do is restrain him when you can't be right there with him. Tether, create, a fenced area , naked, that is just for him? Second, I would fence (chicken wire is your friend, if not exactly beautiful) anything that is either dangerous, expensive or otherwise valuable to you. Third, since he does seem responsive to Tabasco, you could try some of the bitter Apple sprays or make your own... maybe Tabasco in something like historic that will make it stick around?

The rest is training... when you're out with him, maybe a long line, as soon as he goes to chew something forbidden, say no, pull him back. how. Not hard or yanking,, just a gentle tug. An ecollar could work here possible. Stopped my boy's counter surfing with just the vibrate setting.

How is he with raw, recreational bones (like a big, raw beef bone). One a day keeps my boys happy but I get them cheap cheap cheap from a local butcher that does custom cutting so is affordable.)

Hopefully Jeff will chime in.. He's good with training protocols.

Hi Jordan, Amy gave great advice, I will add a little. Remember that Kenai probably has never had as much freedom as he does now. Many huskies communicate and explore new things through their mouths. He may outgrow it once the newness is gone, he may not. Do you crate him at all? If you do I would crate him when he will not have supervision. If you don't I would consider crate training. Otherwise, I would, like Amy said, create a safe place for him free of dangerous objects when he is alone. Also totally agree with the bone route. It will occupy him, and distract him on thoughts of eating and chewing on things that he shouldn't, of course bone to be given in a safe zone as well. No matter how well trusted you may think he is, he may always be a chewer, and should never be alone with items that are costly to you and potential life killer for him.

Good luck he is a handsome guy!!

Thank you both for your replies!

Age wise I hate to say but I don't know, the shelter estimated he is about 3 years old, but I don't have an exact number. Is there anyway to find out, or is that all I'll ever know? I took your advice Amy and proofed the backyard, cleaned out that cart and took away anything that he could get his mouth on that he shouldn't (it also looks nicer too haha) so I feel good about that. About crating, I'm so eager to start crate training him but I have to wait until I can afford one of them, I'm hoping within the next month or so I can pick one up and start the process, I'm really hoping he'll take to it because from what I read on here and heard, it's really a saving grace not to mention when I move up north he'll have to be in at while I'm at work. Also I'm going to try and see what the butcher can get me for some bones because those antler chews, as much as he loves them are really expensive, a small one is like $30 :/

Working on the training with him, he'll usually go for something when I'm out with him so I'm able to catch him when he grabs something he's not supposed to have. Actually since I've cleaned the cart I haven't had so much of an issue, guess a bit of common sense on my part Thank you both again for your replies, it really helped, once I get a crate I'll let you know how it goes.. sigh fingers crossed he'll take to it!

once you get your crate every meal he eats for 3 months should be in the crate.

There are many other protocols as well, should you need more. There's a ton of crate threads on here.

Edit: 1 month. Auto fill......

1 month and then at the end of that month you can take stock of his comfort and relaxation levels in the crate.