Puppy advice, please!!

They make a spray that tastes like bitter apples that we used to train our dogs, they really hated the taste. That and constant supervision/correction are pretty much all I can suggest.

They make anti-chew sprays that may work. My puppy is like immune to them though.

You can try a squirt bottle. Put it on the stream part and if they do a behavior you don't like spray their feet or body to get them distracted.

Also, we've been told not to use the kennel as punishment. Especially if that's where they sleep or need to be when you're away. The kennel should be a happy and safe place for them.

It sounds to me that he has a lot of pent up energy and so I would suggest taking him for some power walks and make sure that his mind and body are being exercised. At that age, but still have the puppy tendencies, the best thing that I have found in my experience are walks. Wear them out!

when my pups start getting destructive with more than just their toys - they usually just need to get more exercise or have a really good, tiring play time at the dog park lol

It sounds like your puppy isn't getting enough play time/mental stimulation. Dogs LOVE to learn new things! I don't know if you have the time/energy for this, but what about trying something really strenuous like agility training? If you can't do that, what about working on teaching new tricks like roll over, fetch, etc besides the standard sit/lay down/stay? My dad taught his dog to play dead when you point your fingers at him and say bang....anything like that your dog has to really ponder and work at will help curb the destruction!

anti chew sprays, and if you haven't yet try and sign him up for "puppy class" it helps with being mentally challenged. Any idea what mix he is? Sounds like my lab who is the same age-she gets bored and started chewing again. "recycle" the toys. Keep say half of them out and the other half hidden. After a few weeks or whatever time switch them out-it's like new toys!

Also, don't use the kennel as punishment.

I used to work in a shelter and I am a STRONG believer in positive reinforcement. Reinforce good behavior and ignore bad behavior. He does it because he knows he gets attention when he does it. However, most animals don't understand why they're being punished, and don't associate it with bad behavior, but rather with the person dishing out the punishment. This can lead to trust issues between you and your puppy. Treat him when he does something good - even if it's just with praise and attention - and ignore him when he's naughty. Give him a "time out" by literally not paying any attention to him at all for about a full ten seconds (long time out in doggy time!)

Also, do you happen to know if he's mixed with a working dog, like a herding dog or a retriever? He may also be bored and be looking for something to do. This often happens with intelligent dogs. Try training him to do tricks or something like that so he stays mentally stimulated.

The only thing I would definitely say is never hit your dog. He's only going to start associating you with being hit and that's no good!

We have a nine month old puppy who went through much of the same. I agree that the Bitter Apple spray works very well in helping them avoid things you don't want them to chew on. I don't think that smacking the puppy helps him learn, but rather, I would suggest giving him little bits of treats and plenty of positive encouragement when he is playing with the right types of toys. Our trainer helped us understand that removing the temptation (my shoes!) from where the puppy can get to them will set us all up for success. Closing doors, removing things from the puppy's reach, putting up puppy gates and plenty of supervision has really worked for us.

It doesn't sound like he's ready to have free roam of the house unsupervised yet. I'd make him a small pen someplace like the kitchen. If you cannot give him your undivided attention, then put him in his pen. Make sure he has pee pad, water, chew toys in there.

Giving him a stern "NO!" and correcting the behavior (taking the clothes, shoes, etc.) should help over a little bit of time if you're consistent with it. It would be even better to give him the "NO!" and then say "Drop it!" and as you say that, take the item from him and put it on the ground- then pet him and tell him he's a good boy as if he had dropped it himself- this should help teach him to leave things alone when you say "drop it" and he will start to associate the "drop" behavior with getting affection. Also, when he does start to drop things on his own when you tell him to, reward him with a treat. In regards to training in general, find some small training treats and reward him for anything good he does, and anytime he listens to you. It takes some time (it took our min-pin a month or two before he truly understood "drop it" but it's way more effective than smacking him, which will only make him afraid- it doesn't teach him anything. Also, putting him in the kennel as punishment isn't very good because he will associate the kennel with punishment and will become afraid of it- this causes problems if you need to put him in there for traveling or if he's supposed to sleep in there.

I'd recommend checking out some pet-owner-oriented sites and looking into "positive reinforcement training." If nothing else helps, look into a training class. They're usually not cheap but it's worth it.

It sounds to me that he has a lot of pent up energy and so I would suggest taking him for some power walks and make sure that his mind and body are being exercised. At that age, but still have the puppy tendencies, the best thing that I have found in my experience are walks. Wear them out!

I took him out for SEVEN miles one day, and he still wanted to throw the ball for an hour afterwards. It's amazing, because he's only about 15 lbs and his legs are short. You'd think he'd have been worn out, but no.

Whoa! Is he a Jack Russel mix? It isn't necessarily about the physical exercise, he needs mental exercise. He needs a challenge, something to focus that energy on. Training, Training, Training! You may even look into flyball or agility.

Kennel should not be used as punishment. its their safe place.. their home.

All I've learned from having my dog, is if she ate anything.. it was my fault for leaving it within her reach, not putting it away, or not watching her closely enough.

He doesn't know its wrong, he's a puppy. he only knows you are upset. The look is not guilt. Guilt is a judgement, dogs can't do that. the look is anxiety. While the puppy is chewing he is having a blast, then he sees you and knows from experience you are about to get upset but while he is in the act he cannot predict the outcome.
The good news he he may out grow IN A YEAR, it but in the mean time it is your responsibility to keep you nice stuff away from him and confine him while you are not home. Crate training is hard the 1st week or 2 but ppl who do it swear by it.
we had a foster dog recently that was a chew monster. shoes, the hot tub cover, the bottom of the bed.....the rescue gave us an ex-pen and a kennel. he eventually went to a great home where he has acres to run on and he is the best ratter they have.
Get him things to chew on and they go in the crate with him and then he can just "chew it out". chewing is very natural for puppies. also remember it is very hard to teach a pupppy not to do something. much easer to teach him TO do something like "go to your crate" or "go to jail". the reward and give a chew toy.
Good luck. you need it.

It sounds to me that he has a lot of pent up energy and so I would suggest taking him for some power walks and make sure that his mind and body are being exercised. At that age, but still have the puppy tendencies, the best thing that I have found in my experience are walks. Wear them out!

I took him out for SEVEN miles one day, and he still wanted to throw the ball for an hour afterwards. It's amazing, because he's only about 15 lbs and his legs are short. You'd think he'd have been worn out, but no.

Sounds like mine, I have a Jack Russell, 16lbs quite smalls, once one walks finished he's ready to go out again!

^ This. Get him as much exercise as you can (you can get a doggy backpack and make him carry weight if you don't have time for longer walks). The toys where they have to figure out how to get the treats out can be good for keeping him mentally working too.