Member

Posts: 132
From:Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 09-15-2003 01:46 PM         

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I have been leaving my 7 1/2 month old toy poodle at home out of her crate. She has been doing great until a few days ago. I have a sliding glass door that has blinds hanging all the way down to the ground. Well she has started chewing on them when I'm not around. I do not want to crate her while I'm gone. That seems too mean since I do crate her at night when I'm sleeping. I dont know what I should do. I could take the blinds off when I'm gone, but that is just a hassle. Any recommendations I am open to anything.

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Member

Posts: 37
From:Edgewood, MD, USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-16-2003 05:21 AM         

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You might try spritzing the bottom of the blinds with a bitter apple spray. I bought some from PetSmart (Nature's Best, I think)and it worked great for when my puppy started chewing the dresser drawers.

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Member

Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-16-2003 06:07 AM         

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You could open the blinds so she can't reach them. That would sure be easier than taking them off. Try the Bitter Apple, too. I use Nature's Best as well and it works for everything except chewing on the leash.

Also, if that doesn't work, she might behave better at night while she is sleepy than during the day when she is awake and alone. You could stop crating her at night and crate her when you are gone instead.

Jamiya

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Member

Posts: 409
From:Los Angeles, Ca.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-16-2003 11:52 PM         

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Nessa1880,
Yeah, i think sprayimg some bitter-apple, or something with it's same purpose (to stop dogs from wanting to chew on things) is worth a try. You could also pull the blinds together, but if your blinds are like mine and roll together sideways, i guess it might not make a difference. But at least this way, you could spray your blinds as a whole, & not one at a time. Hmmm, what else... i don't know for now. Give all a try. Something should work.

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Member

Posts: 409
From:Los Angeles, Ca.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-17-2003 12:02 AM         

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The problem with the 'nasty-tasting spray technique' is that what you spray on your blinds might dry before you poodle actually gets to it. So, if you know that at a certain time of the day your poodle gets to it, just spray it ahead of time. Spraying it while your dog watches you might also work as well, since your dog will want to investigate what you were spraying on his chew toy (your blinds). When he sniffs at it, he'll find out that this stuff is'nt so good to be putting in his mouth (it smells bad too). If you can catch him sniffing at it, or even chewing it, even after you had sprayed it, that would be a precise time for a good scolding... You know. He'll put 2 & two together, hopfully.

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Member

Posts: 166
From:Colorado, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 09-17-2003 07:22 AM         

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I think I would consider a different window treatment for your sliding glass doors until your dog gets older and hopefully outgrows this. I know that sounds like a hassle- but probably worth considering to keep your dog out of harms way and keep your blinds in tact. You could get a roll-up type blind from Home Depot or someplace like that- they have many different styles to choose from and are inexpensive, and still look nice for sliding doors. Then you can have the privacy when you need it when you are at home and can watch your dog, and then roll them up for her during the day so they are not a temptation.

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Member

Posts: 166
From:Colorado, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 09-17-2003 07:24 AM         

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One more thing- if you go with a roll up blind, make sure the cords are up and out of the way so your dog cannot get ahold of them and pull the blind down, or choke himself on the cords.

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