How to Train Your Dog to Not Chew the Carpet

First, work on the Leave It command from the article linked below for chewing that happens when you are present. I would also give her a dog food stuffed kong when you know she may be boring to redirect that bored energy to something else, incorporate training into her day to mentally wear her out more, and crate her when you are not home and at night if she chews then too. Leave It method- the first part of that method that involves food. Gradually work up to pup leaving harder foods alone - like kibble - treats - chicken - hotdogs - until pup can leave food on the floor alone when told that command while you are there to enforce it and prevent pup from grabbing it. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite The above may be enough to stop the chewing, but you may also need to use a corrector. In this case, ideally it would be something you could use while out of the room while spying on pup from another room if she chews the carpet. One of the easiest things for that is a remote training collar on tone, vibration or stimulation. I would choose a collar that includes all three setting, like e-collar technologies mini educator, or many of the dogtra, garmin, or sport dog remote training collars. Also, choose something with at least 60 stimulation levels so that you can choose the lowest level pup will respond to without making it too harsh, this is called a dog's "working level". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cl3V8vYobM To use the collar, you would find her working level, set up your camera to spy, teach and practice Leave It first for several sessions so you know that she knows she isn't supposed to chew the carpet, rewarding leave it and transitioning eventually to correcting on working level or vibration when she chews the carpet when you are there while you say "Ah Ah...leave it" calmly, then eventually leave the room, spy on pup from outside or another part of the home and just correct if you see her start to chew, so she learns she has to leave it even when you aren't watching her. Crate when you aren't there to watch and train until she is 100% reliable. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Sept. 2, 2022

Hello Nicholas, First, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3j882MAYDU There are a couple of different options here. The first option is to simply try giving pup a dog food stuffed chew toy, confine pup in an exercise pen so he can't get access to the rugs, and practice commands like a distance Down stay and 1 hour Place command while you are home so help build independence. This can work for some mild cases where pup simply needs a change in habit and some maturity to take place, but is often not enough for less mild cases. The second option is to also give pup a dog food stuffed chew toy and possibly also a kong wobble or automatic treat dispensing device to keep pup entertained (to redirect the carpet chewing), while also correcting pup for carpet chewing and door scratching. I would use a remote training collar for this in your case. I would purchase one with vibration, tone, and stimulation settings and only use one that's high quality with at least 40 stimulation levels, so you can use the lowest possible level pup indicates they can feel the collar. You can try using vibration first - sometimes that's all you need, but some dogs ignore it or find it harsher than the low stimulation. I would set up a camera to spy on pup - you can probably use something you already have like a gopro with the live app on your phone, baby video monitor, security camera, two phones or tablets connected with a video app like skype/zoom/facetime/facebook messenger/ect... on mute with one device set up to spy on pup in the kitchen and the other with you outside. I would start by leaving and spying on pup right outside, but where pup can't see or hear you to know you are still there. Whenever pup chews/scratches, return, opening the door slightly, while telling pup "Ah Ah" and correcting pup on the remote collar at their predetermined working level. After saying "Ah Ah" and correcting, leave again. Repeat this each time pup scratches. This is just to connect your verbal correction with the remote collar so pup doesn't think the correction is coming out of no where for no reason. Once pup has been corrected a few times, over the course of at least two different training sessions, then when you see pup chew or scratch, correct with the remote training collar without going back inside - so pup isn't being given attention for doing those behaviors. When pup lies down quietly or chews their chew toy nicely, or is generally behaving calmly and not acting destructive for at least five minutes, then return, sprinkle a few treats through the door without opening it all the way and leave again. Keep these rewards calm and brief. From here practice rewarding the good behavior, working up to longer and longer periods of time between the rewards, so that pup is used to not seeing you for a while, and just entertains himself with those dog food stuffed toys you left for him, and correcting with the remote collar without returning to pup whenever they scratch or chew the carpet. The above option allows you so leave pup uncrated. If pup still chews once you are no longer spying on pup, or you aren't able to work up to this training before having to actually leave pup in real life, I would also use a crate, at least temporarily, confining pup in the crate when you are away and pup hasn't worked up to full freedom yet during training. Practice the same returning and sprinkling treats and correcting with pup inside the crate for scratching or barking in the crate, as you would with pup out of the crate. Collar info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cl3V8vYobM Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Oct. 21, 2021