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Zola chewed her crate tray AGAIN for the 5th time

kguitarchic18

Well-Known Member
Long story short, Zola chewed up her first crate tray a few months ago. It was on a weekend when we are normally home, and if we run errands we are gone for 3-4 hours tops. That day we were gone around 5-6 and I figured she was smart and knew it was her time with us and we were gone too long. Second time, it was the same situation, we were gone for awhile on the weekend. We bought a 3rd tray and she started to chew it, but I figured maybe she heard the UPS man and wanted out. got some bitter apple spray and she stopped for a few months. Two days ago, she chewed it to pieces again (we had stopped the spray since she hadn't touched it in months) so we bought a new one. Got some other "bitter spray" that she didnt seem to mind, so when I left this morning i thought great, that spray didn't phase her, but hoped for the best. NOPE she chewed the brand new tray to pieces again.

Is she going through a phase? She just turned one. About two weeks ago she stayed with me at my moms for a week. We left her in the house free range with my moms two dogs. She was good the first few times for about 3 hours by herself. On the 4th time we ventured out and left her free roam, we came home to her toy bin chewed to pieces. Nothing else, no furniture, shoes NOTHING. Then the next day we tried again.... chewed up a board we forgot to put up (used to block her from going upstairs. SOOOO has her sudden freedom given her the thinking she can chew up anything? Or maybe its the fact that she hadn't been crated in a good two weeks and now she is pissed off?

We just ordered a new crate with a metal tray, but if anyone has any advice on this it would be appreciated. I know we need to catch her in the act, maybe I will set up a webcam and sit in the other room waiting for her to try.
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
What does she need a try in her crate? Sounds like she's either bored, not exercised enough or has separation anxiety. Do you exercise her before you leave her alone? Does she have enough toys/chew toys out for her to play with? Do you leave on a TV or music for her while you are gone?
 

kguitarchic18

Well-Known Member
if there was no tray she would be on the metal crate bars... Yes we exercise her before we go to work in the morning, and in the evening. She has a few different types of toys in her crate as well, and she has been crated since we got her. Never had any other issues with her, wondering if its just another chewing stage? Do they still have teeth growing in at this age? Yes we leave music on for her as well.
 

QY10

Well-Known Member
Thalia did this. I honestly just put in an extra blanket or two for cushioning so that the metal bars could not be felt and didn't bother with getting more plastic mats. Like Zola, Thalia gets PLENTY of exercise and has things in her crate to keep herself occupied and she has music/TV.
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
if there was no tray she would be on the metal crate bars... Yes we exercise her before we go to work in the morning, and in the evening. She has a few different types of toys in her crate as well, and she has been crated since we got her. Never had any other issues with her, wondering if its just another chewing stage? Do they still have teeth growing in at this age? Yes we leave music on for her as well.
It's a metal crate, Titan has a plastic crate so I didn't connect it was a metal crate.

She's a year old and I do not believe she would be going through a chewing phase because she should have all of her teeth at this age.

How long do you exercise her before you place her in the crate? Is there a reason you do not leave her in a room or in the home when she's alone? Does she chew things in the home?
 

kguitarchic18

Well-Known Member
Really at a year their teeth don't come in more? Some of her teeth look like they could get bigger....

We play around 30 mins with the ball, and her running like crazy in our backyard. Yes she is not allowed alone, because of fear she would chew something like furniture. We tested it at my moms since she had two other dogs inside with her. The first 4-5 times she didn't touch a thing, so we thought perfect! Then we left for maybe 30 mins, came back and she had chewed up her toy bin at my moms. Then we tried once more, and she chewed up a piece of board that got left out (she didn't touch any shoes, furniture etc) and grabbed some bills from the floor and shredded the paper. SO.... I don't want her to think ok if I get left out I can get into whatever I want. Hence her still being in a crate. Its really only 2-3 days a week shes crated. As when my husband works from home, she sleeps all day in her bed next to him. So I wonder if she got used to being around us, and just got mad when it was a day to be in the crate.

We just purchased a metal crate with a metal tray, so hopefully that solves that.
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Sounds like separation anxiety or just plain ole boredom. If possible, try to increase her exercise before you leave by about 15-20 minutes. At age 12 months, she can exercise an hour at each exercise event. Sounds like she has a lot of energy.

If it's separation anxiety, that requires more work. Here's a link to hopefully, help you out. The only part I do not agree with in the 2nd article is the de-sexing of the pup and exercising 15-20 minutes before you leave (Zola requires more exercise due to her energy level).

ASK A TRAINER: How Do I Gently Manage My Dog's Separation Anxiety? | i Love Dogs

Separation Anxiety in Dogs - Page 3