Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

How to stop my 1-year-old German Shepherd from chewing when alone?

Updated on September 23, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | unspayed | 11 months and 19 days old | 78 lbs

My German shepherd is turning 1 year old in a couple of days and still making a mess in the house every time we leave her alone. We are out of the house for tops 6-7 hours in the morningNot pee or poop just chewing the trash can or whatever she can reach. She got yelled at some times that I witnessed it but she keeps doing it.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on June 11, 2017

Nykta is still a puppy and these behaviors are not unusual. Large breed dogs will not be mentally mature until 2.5-3yrs of age. It is important to keep her protected so she does not chew up something that will hurt her or swallow something that results in surgery to remove. I would recommend to keep her in a kennel anytime you are not home to watch her until she is older.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Bette Isacoff
Dog Trainer
Unfortunately, the lesson she learned is that she must only make a mess when no one is at home (because she never gets yelled at then, right?) This may have become a habit--a way for her to entertain herself when she is alone and bored. See if you can get someone to come is for a little while during the day to play with her and give her some exercise. Put anything that looks as if it may be inviting out of her reach. Use a deterrent such as Bitter Apple (spray or cream) on items you can't move. Try leaving a giant Kong toy filled with peanut butter (fill it the night before and freeze it--it will last longer. But do not use any peanut butter made with xylitol.) As a last resort, you may have to crate her while you're gone, although I'd hate to see a dog confined for that long every day. If you need more help with this, click on the prompt to initiate a consult. Good luck with Nykta!
0Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Food & Nutrition

My 6-month-old puppy destroys things when left alone. What can I do?

Chewing is very normal behavior for a puppy. This will likely continue until she is 2 to 3 years old although some dogs will be chewers all their life. I recommend kennel training. This is the best way to keep your puppy safe and to keep your home safe as well. Puppies can ingest objects that can cause an intestinal obstruction and requires surgery. Don’t feel bad about not having a bed in the kennel as she will likely chew it up. Make sure to give her vigorous activity every day as this will help some of the chewing behavior. Hopefully she will outgrow this! I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Training & Behavior

Why does my dog chew everything destructively when left alone?

Puppies are notorious for destructive behavior. Most dogs will outgrow this by 2 years of age but not all do. Additionally, this behavior is not only destructive but it can lead to ingesting toxin substances and intestinal foreign bodies which are fatal without treatment. Addy needs to be crated any time you are not physically watching her. It's safer that way. Here are two helpful links: https://www.petcoach.co/article/chewing-in-puppies-how-to-control-it/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-crate-train-your-puppy-or-older-dog/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Training & Behavior

My 11-month-old dog chews the house when alone. How to stop?

Oh no! If he will tolerate a crate, I would strongly consider this to help prevent him from swallowing something he shouldn’t and to prevent more damage to your house. I would also consider some calming chews like vetriscience composure and a calming collar like adaptil. If this doesn’t help, I would talk to your vet about starting him on an anti-anxiety Medicine. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23, 2025

Training & Behavior

Why does my 3-month-old Pomsky puppy chew everything? How to stop it?

Chewing is very normal at her age. Dogs do not mature mentally until about 2 years old so expect this behavior will continue until them. Crate training will help and she should be crated any time you are not physically watching her. Also, there is not a way you can try Skyler not to chew everything she should not and the best you can do is provide CONSTANT supervision. Here are a couple links with helpful information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-crate-train-your-dog/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/chewing-in-puppies-how-to-control-it/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Why is my 7-month German Shepherd puppy so destructive & disobedient?

I hate to hear this is happening. German Shepherds are very active dogs and require a lot of training and exercise. Chewing is normal for puppies Enzo's age. So is picking up things they shouldn't. Also, dog training needs to be positive and consistent. Here are some links which may help: https://www.petcoach.co/article/chewing-in-puppies-how-to-control-it/ https://www.petcoach.co/breed/german-shepherd-dog/ https://positively.com/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/basic-dog-puppy-training-rules/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/rewards-are-necessary-when-training-dogs-and-puppies/ I hope this helps.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Training & Behavior

My large breed puppy keeps mouthing everything. Is this normal?

It's very normal for young dogs to pick up objects, carry them around, and sometimes even chew or eat them - this is how they explore the world :) At 19 months old, Rayne is still a puppy in many ways. Many large breed dogs aren't fully mature until 2-3 years of age, so it's normal that she still has some puppy habits like this. I would continue to crate her when she can't be supervised, and make sure that she has plenty of toys and chew items to provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior. Most dogs do eventually grow out of this, but you will need to be patient and continue to manage her carefully in the meantime.

Updated on September 23, 2025

How to stop my puppy from destroying things when left alone?

I see that Hachi is still just a puppy, only 8 months old. It's normal for him to still need a lot of supervision at this age, just like a human toddler. This will improve as he gets older, but for now, you need to continue watching him closely and confining him in a puppy-proofed area when you aren't able to supervise. Providing him with plenty of his own things to chew on (bully sticks, rawhide chews, puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter, etc.) will also help, but mostly it's just a matter of time and maturity. Many dogs are at least 1-2 years old before they can be trusted to be loose in the house without someone watching them, so be patient.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share