Labrador puppies - dumped and in need of good home

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

I love my lab. However, the dog is lucky to be alive. Slipcovers, sprinklers, old diapers, drywall. You name it. Years back when we volunteered at the SF animal shelter socializing dogs, I walked a one-year-old black lab named Bailey along the railroad tracks. The dog ate a jock strap coated with grease.

Having similar issues with our rescue, Gidget. She was starved thin when Alex found her, and she'll eat/chew absolutely anything. She even came in the other day with a barbecue coal in her mouth! We're forever taking wood chips away from her (our HOA decided to spread tree-chipper mulch all over the hill behind our yard), and we're really hoping to cure her of this habit of chewing on plugged-in electrical wires before she hurts herself. Unfortunately, bitter apple does nothing with her (I think she even likes it! )

[Chernabog]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

we're really hoping to cure her of this habit of chewing on plugged-in electrical wires before she hurts herself. Unfortunately, bitter apple does nothing with her (I think she even likes it! )

Yeah my friend Nick's dog bit through one of the wires and it shocked her (the apartment smelled like burnt dog hair for a day lol) but she never bit through a wire after that.

However, from what I was reading about that bitter apple stuff (from another website):

Q: Thank you for the suggestions. However, she LIKES the Bitter Apple! I sprayed the toes of my boots and she licked it off, then chewed the toe and sole off! Is a nylon muzzle really dangerous if she's in our bedroom? We did have a very good trainer recommended by our Vet that worked with us for 2 months, but it was primarily to learn to walk on a leash, not jump, and to sit-stay-heel-lie down. Both dogs learned very well. Should I mix the toys she has, like squeakies, hooves, and balls? We've never given her rawhide, because the vet said that would tell her any leather is ok.

A: Bitter Apple evaporates and changes quickly, which is why it doesn't harm things, but also means it only works at the moment for training. It does not protect your things when the dog is left unsupervised with them. You could try some of the other bittering products, but most of all, don't leave the dog alone in a situation where she will be tempted to chew. And, of course, dog-proof your house by keeping chewables out of reach, just as you would child-proof it for a toddler. Don't leave things out where the dog can get to them.