Help! Frodo is a chewing maniac; what should I do?

let him chew on pig’s ears

I had good luck with bitter{keyword} spray. Dogs hate the taste.

I was thinking a hot pepper spray mix but ^^^ looks like just the ticket. My dogs came to me at two or so and they chewed on wood until the day they left me.

Try more options with the toys, rawhides, nylabones, kongs, and bones. Whenever you see chewing behavior, substitute an acceptable target and then praise, praise, praise. When you’re not there to supervise, crate him. Bad tasting sprays often help (some dogs are die-hard about chewing that they just don’t care), but you have to remember to re-spray periodically. Try more interactive toys. And make sure he gets lots and lots of exercise. A tired puppy is a good puppy.

I had a lot of luck with those huge bones you can buy at Petsmart.
Rawhide is good too, but only in moderation as they can cause stomach and intestinal issues. They can’t digest it properly.
These were also a huge hit.

And of course the spray that @marinelife suggested.

There is a interesting article entitled “5 Steps to Correct Inappropriate Dog Chewing”, by Dr. Kristy Conn, at Cesar’s Way page. My guess is that you should pay attention to the steps number 4 and 5. I’m copying and pasting all the steps here:

1. Rule out medical problems

The first step is to make sure that your puppy does not have any serious medical problems. Nutritional deficiencies caused by poor diet and/or intestinal parasitism can lead to pica which may be misconstrued as inappropriate chewing. Gastrointestinal problems may cause nausea which can trigger chewing as a coping mechanism. Therefore it is important to make an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out an underlying medical condition that may be causing or contributing to the dog chewing.

2. Puppy proofing

Look around your environment for possible dangers to your inquisitive puppy. Place household cleaners and chemicals out of reach along with potentially toxic plants. Electrical cords should be covered or mad inaccessible to prevent chewing on them resulting in electrocution. Remove objects of curiosity that might appeal to your puppy such as shoes and socks, children’s toys and the like. Block access to rooms that have not been puppy proofed and consider crate training your dog for the times when he cannot be supervised.

3. Encourage appropriate chewing

Provide appropriate chew toys for your dog to enjoy. Each dog will have their own personal preference as to what they prefer to chew and play with. Be careful with rawhide and beef bones as determined chewers can whittle them down to smaller pieces that can be swallowed. They can end up becoming lodged in the esophagus or small intestine so supervision is recommended when giving these treats and be sure to take away any small pieces that might be swallowed. Avoid chicken bones since they splinter easily creating sharp fragments that can easily puncture your dog’s gastrointestinal tract. I prefer nylabones, greenies and dental chewsticks since they encourage appropriate chewing while combating dental disease. Dog toys such as balls and kongs may appeal to your dog, just be sure to select a size that is appropriate for your dog. They should be able to pick it up and carry it but it should be of sufficient bulk that it cannot be swallowed. If you buy your dog a kong type toy check, make sure the hole in the toy is not so big that the dog can get his lower jaw stuck in it.I have seen several emergency cases where a dog comes in with a toy stuck in his mouth. Do not give toys that resemble inappropriate items; for example do not give your dog an old shoe to chew on because he will not know the difference between the old chew shoe and a brand new pair.

4. Discourage inappropriate chewing

By following step two you will have already minimized the amount of mischief your young dog can get into. If you do find your dog chewing on something inappropriate correct the dog by taking the object away and scolding him. Direct his attentions to an appropriate chew object and give praise when he chews on said object. Gradually, your dog will learn what objects are his and which are not. Sometimes it can be difficult to discourage chewing if the pattern is already established. Taste deterrents such as bitter apple can applied to the object, the noxious taste will hopefully deter the determined chewer and he will learn to leave the object alone.

5. Engage in playtime with your dog

A tired dog is a good dog! Spend time playing and exercising with your dog on a regular basis. This not only reinforces the human-animal bond but expends energy that your dog might be otherwise directed to inappropriate chewing and behaviors.

For the complete article, click the link below:

http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/dogcare/5-Steps-to-Correct-Inappropriate-Dog-Chewing

@mello0209 Great advice! I am doing most of those things but not all.

And thanks to everyone. I will be picking up some spray later on today.

Another problem I am having is that when I do play with him, he is nipping at me. How do I discourage that so we can both enjoy the playing?

@janbb I was never able to discourage the nipping. When Portia was a puppy she was precious ball of nipping energy. She grew out of it of course, but for about 8 months my arms looked like a heroin addicts arms.

@janbb Every time you dog chews on or nips your finger, say “Ouch, ouch, ouch” in a high-pitched voice. That will indicate to him that he has hurt you, which he doesn’t mean to do and he will stop.

Good luck, love. My husband’s best trained, most well behaved dog ate an entire linoleum floor before he was two years old. He also devastated “indestructable” chew toys. We used to mail the pieces back to the manufacturer, and they’d send us a new one, and the cycle would continue until we gave up. One thing is for certain, they’re not screwing around with that guarantee!

You could try giving him a hard, delicious chew that mimics the texture of wood more closely: these are said to last some dogs for weeks.

Bought a bunch of disgustingly natural chews today and the Bitter Apple spray. We’ll see what transpires.

Thanks all!