Licking Carpet (excessive)
Does anyone have a cure for this??? (By the way, he went to a two week obedience/boarding school when he was 5 months old and and it was a complete waste of time and $1100) And before you ask... yes, yes, and yes, he has separation anxiety something terrible and has been boarded twice in the last 4 months. He is definitely like having a perpetual toddler or a fun loving clown and I love him dearly but this is making me crazy -not to mention making my carpet smell horrible. You can see photo's of him here... www.jinglejanglecook.blogspot.com |
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| Have you tried misting bitter apple (you can get it at petsmart and petco) on the carpeting where the dog is chewing? |
I tried that for biting when he was a puppy. He licks it right up!  None of the standard tools for training work on him. He's not afraid of the can of coins and it took us nearly a year to housebreak him because he would "go" in his crate (to spite us according to the vet and trainers) even if he went right before you put him in because he can't stand to be alone. LOL Needless to say we had to housebreak him without a crate.
I honestly don't know what to do for this, he's too smart for his own good but I have to break him. |
| My only remaining suggestion is this:
Buy (or get from the library) The Dog Listener: Learn How to Communicate with Your Dog for Willing Cooperation, by Jan Fennell. It sounds like there are some deeper behavioral issues you need to work on, and the carpet chewing is just a symptom, so it's time to treat the source. This book helps you to establish a positive relationship with your dog, by assuming a benevolent alpha role. That's a fancy way of saying she helps you tell your dog- I'm the pack leader, so now you don't have to do things like worry about my being gone, just go back to being a dog- this should help with the carpet chewing. It's a great book, and it helps you communicate with your dog in "dog language:". she has a chapter which specifically deals with seperation anxiety and household item destruction (I beleive the example was a dog that was chewing it's way through a door jamb). It may seem like a lot of work to just stop one annoying behavior (carpet chewing) but from what you said about the seperation anxiety- I really, really think you could benefit from what she has to say! Certainly can't hurt anything! good luck, and let us know how it goes! Karen |
| Well, welcome to the club! Sounds like we have twins. About the carpet - my Charlie did the same thing to the living room carpet. The carpet was installed by the previous owner. I initially thought it was because she had cats. No matter what I did, he still licked the carpet and eventually tore it up from the corner. Then as I put it back one day, I smelled something awful - like ammonia. It smelled like cat urine. Then my mother reminded me that certain types of carpet padding have that same type of smell, and that it could be a combination of both. So, we decided to take the plunge and have a new carpet installed with the special padding. I'm not sure what it is but any good capet person should know.
As for the separation anxiety, crate training, etc. I have all the same problems with Charlie. We also have issues with not listening when you scold. The best advice I can offer is to keep experimenting with what he responds to. Charlie's button turned out to be speaking at him in a very stern voice while tugging at his collar - mind you this works MOST of the time. We're still trying to figure out the cure-all. He's VERY STUBBORN! But perserverance shall prevail! Hang in there! It will be worth the effort in the end! |
| I knew someone else would have already had the same problem!
I guess I should have clarified one thing. I have had JJ since he was 8 weeks old so I really think he is doing this to get attention. Kind of like a child who thinks any attention (even bad) is still attention. He requires more attention than both my children did when they were toddlers and they are only a year apart so I had my hands full back then. He has been boarded twice in the last 4 months so we could go out of town and the second time he was also neutered. 
I called the vet to ask about the carpet licking and they told me they could not offer any other suggestions than what I had already tried so I thought I would come here. I have been reading this forum for 2 years. I did research on OES' before I ever got him. 
The only way to train him has been by treats and praise (which works great for tricks but doesn't help for the negative behavior). I had him sitting and lying down on command by the time he was 5 months old. Then I sent him to obedience boarding school and that completely destroyed all the good I had done. He wouldn't even sit when I got him back. Anyway, I'll save that rant for another day! And believe you me I can rant about that.  |
| Sorry I have no advice but wanted to tell you JJ is a beautiful whitehead |
| Thank you, I think so too. By the way, the backs of his ears are gray so he really doesn't qualify as a whitehead. But I think he's perfect!!! |
| I have no advice for you that you probably already haven't tried, but welcome to the forum! You have a cutie there. |
| I almost feel like a jerk even suggesting, but have you considered switching to hardwood? Might just be easier in the long run! |
| I feel your pain; sheepies can be bullheaded. I too recommend The Dog Listener: Learn How to Communicate with Your Dog for Willing Cooperation, by Jan Fennell. Get the copy with the comprehensive 30-day training guide. Barney had problems with separation anxiety and her recommendations helped a lot. If you buy it from Amazon through this link, the oes.org gets a commission. The pics are great. |
| I may have found a solution!!!
By the way, half my first floor is hardwood already, and I really can't afford to replace the other 3000 square feet!
I gave up and took JJ to the vet yesterday. Turns out he was trying to get our attention, but not to play. He has apparently developed allergies. In the last 24 hours he had started chewing on his feet in addition to the carpet and rubbing his bottom across the floor. They did a fecal test and gave him a thorough exam along with expressing his anal glands (you don't even want to know!). He is now on medication for allergies and I have my old dog back. He truly is an angel most of the time. Also, I did download a copy of the book day before yesterday. Makes for interesting reading although I must point out I haven't learned anything I hadn't already heard. Plus, and I know I'm going to open a can of worms here but I can't help myself... was anyone else horrified at the story about her feeling guilty over having the dog that attacked her small children put to sleep? When does a dog ever come before a human, especially a child? Please don't misunderstand me, I love JJ, he makes my heart sing just to look at him and I would be completely heartbroken if anything happened to him, but my children always come first and if he intentially hurt them he would be history. |
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