Dog eating house

K · 2008-09-06T21:40:16+00:00

We're in the process of having the exterior of this old place redone. I'd hired a painter, who needed a carpenter to replace 'a few rotten corner boards'.Well, this has led to a major replacement of siding, plywood, and some framing due to both wet rot and carpenter ants. Unfortunately, this place was built in the early 1960s, without the benefit of modern things like house wrap.Long story short, the carpenter recommended cedar as a deterrant to things like bugs, and we've gone with that. The siding is cedar clapboard anyhow.Our dog, a seven-month old Golden, seems to have taken a liking to cedar as a snack, and is gnawing on new boards already. As a younger pup, she gnawed on some chair rungs and the like, but nothing serious. Now I'm concerned, not just about the expense of replacing things again soon, but about the health of the dog. This is freshly painted wood, primed with stain and finished with latex.It can't be good for her, yet keeping her totally away from the house is out of the question. The painter suggested the clear-plastic corner protectors until she grows out of it. I've never seen the dog give plastic a second look, so that's not a bad idea, but I'm seeking others short of putting a 'return to sender' tag on the dog and hooking her to the mailbox.I'd appreciate any thoughts.Keith

Dog eating house

Sep 06, 2008 26 Replies

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Marina 17 years ago

The fresh fragrance of cedar is just too hard for the dog to resist. hmmmm......maybe you can build the dog his own little hut made out of the cedar. Then he's allowed to chew on that, while you keep him away from the real house.

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M Q 17 years ago

...

You could try applying something like:

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to the house. This is an extremely bitter substance that will quickly discourage chewing.

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Aardvark 17 years ago

A pretty good idea, but then a steady supply of kids for the dog to chew on would be needed. From what I understand it takes about nine months to manufacture one and it wouldn't last long.

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K 17 years ago

noted - thanks.

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K 17 years ago

She had pretty much stopped chewing a few months ago - still has a fondness for paper, though.

I think it's the fresh paint that she's taken to - it's always a new spot, and the wood is only gouged where she gobbled the paint. I think I'll try a little clear plastic for about a month, until the aroma is good and gone.

thanks, Keith

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Aardvark 17 years ago

I wrote this two days ago, so I think it's time to write the following:

WHOOOOOOSH!

:-)

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DerbyDad03 17 years ago

re: Buy a good book on dong behavior

I have a whole stack of magazines that cover this subject.

I can't believe nobody else brought this up...

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