Q: We have a new puppy and we think he's the sweetest, smartest Border collie that ever lived. The problem is that he's only 6 months old and he has already chewed through every chair leg in our house. He has even made dents in the aluminum ones outside. We've tried everything from ''bitter apple'' sprays to cayenne pepper and he still chews them up. My husband is about ready to send Chip away. What do I do?
A: Chewing is normal for a puppy. A rough estimate for what my own dog has chewed up over the past year of his puppyhood came to just under $3,000.
I recommend you keep searching for the right kind of toy for Chip. The right one may not slacken his drive for chair legs but if he's busy on a Kong toy he likes, even for a little while, it might mean one less leg gnawed to a stump.
Crates, in case you'd never considered one, are amazing. Dogs love the den-like atmosphere and it gets them used to chewing the toys they have in front of them. It's more humane to crate your dog for the day than to leave him unattended in the yard.
Then there's the issue of your breed of dog to consider. Border collies are notoriously intelligent and require serious exercise and mental stimulation. Take up running or find a neighbor who will take Chip out for the five-mile gallop he needs to expend his puppy energies for the day. This is so important that I recommend you pay someone to exercise him if you have to. It's cheaper than sacrificing your fancy furnishings to the maw of a bored Border collie.
If Chip is so obsessed with chewing that it persists in spite of these measures, I'd recommend you consider a cage muzzle. These contraptions may seem scary, but when properly fitted, they're comfortable and provide the kind of safety you need.
I know this seems like a major crisis now but most dogs grow out of this chewing stage. Sometimes you've got to take bold steps to manage the irrational exuberance of a dog's basic instincts.
