Dog Chewing wires....

[choptop]

Dogs tastes are different than ours. Pepper doesn't seem to affect them the way it does us. That is unless you use a habenero or similar pepper. That is cruel. Believe it or not, black pepper is a deterent, and doesn't do anything other than make them dislike it. Red peppers are an irritant, and won't do any more for the situation.I had a bulldog that ate jalepeno's out of the garden, and didn't seem to mind them, but he didn't like the chili peppers. If black pepper is used, it is only a small amount, and I do mean small. If it is going to work, a little is enough.Try using just vasaline first. Their senses are more sensitive than ours. I agree with Vile, there is no need ever to do major harm to any pet. If it comes to that, find him a new home.
   Most people don't realize that the insulation on wiring consists of peanut oils and this is what attracts the varmits to them. You either want to mask the odor ( of which you and I can't smell) or the tast. Simple coating the area with vasiline or dish soap and letting it dry, has worked in the past for me. They don't like the greasy taste, the smell is masked, and they learn not that they don't like that anymore. Keep the vasaline in modreration, as thin film is enough. It won't hurt them in miniscule amounts, and is far better than having a stomach full of wire. The insulation will pass.
     Also, keep them plenty of rawhide chews around. I went through alot of them, just to keep my dog from chewing wires. Yes, the first one will probably be eaten fast, but as long as they have one of those, they are less likely to chew wires. And they are alot cheaper than rewiring the truck, or a vet trip. Key thing is not to get violent with them. As you stated, once you found out what happened, it was to late to do much about it. They have already forgotten what they did, and just see you as a person who hurts them. If you can catch him, and swat with a newspaper ( lots of noise, no pain) and a good scolding is usually sfficient. Be patient, the type of dog you have is very intelligent, if you damage his learning ability now, he will respond to training out of fear, not respect. Dogs who respond out of fear, or the same ones who turn on people or attack kids. I have raised several pit bulldogs, the first ones parent where fighters, I rescued him as a put from the psycho owners. Not one was ever agressive to me or anyone else. My 3 year old cousin used to climb all over him , and he acted like he loved it. If my cousin hurt him, he'd get up, move away, and then go right back to playing with him. It's not the dogs that are troublr, it's the owners training. Remember, earn his respect, they are like people in alot more ways than we think. Sorry so long, but this is a critcal point in his learning future.

[werewolfx13]

None of my dogs have had a chewing problem, because I've supplied them with an ample number of chew toys, and they've preferred those..but yes, if I had been buying chew toys for them of various types and they were ignoring them and chewing the wires instead, I would use it as a repellent. Whether the dog knows its pepper or not is irrelevant, it knows it smells strong and unpleasant..My german shepherd I have now avoids my spearmint patch because she doesn't like the strong smell. She loves the minty chew bones, and has been known to raid the leaves when I've laid them out to dry, so she doesn't dislike mint..its obvious that the POTENCY of the smell is a deterrent.

As a side note, my shepherd loves old black pepper..especially the stuff that sits in an open shaker for a few years..cayenne pepper she doesn't like, and she won't come near anything with a STRONG smell that even triggers our senses as being strong.

[VileZambonie]

Pepper can obviously be a painful experience for a dog. Just use common sense.

[choptop]

Pepper can obviously be a painful experience for a dog. Just use common sense.

+1 A dog is a life, and life should not be painful.Even if he has to be tied up away from the source. It is far better you having to cause him pain ( which I don't believe you want) and him causing himself pain by ingesting the wires. Either way is not fun for either party. Tie him up,or relocate the truck, and give him plenty of rawhides to chew on. After a while, you can let'em loose, and he'll be used to chewing the rawhides, and like them alot better. Like I said, you want him trained out of respect, because he wants to, not fear because he has to. I trained horses when I was younger, and all it took was one time when the owner got impatient and lashed out at the horse, and we were set back several months of training. Patience and care is what it is gonna take. You respect him, and he'll respect you.Good luck

[cracker0169]

When my lab was a puppy, he had a bad problem of chewing wires too. He unplugged things from walls and chewed the plugs and wires. Rawhide bones are about the only things that "slowed" his chewing habits. He is 2 1/2 now and is about out of the chewing (knock on wood). I would beat (used loosely of course) him and it didnt work.

They just get bored. They need some type of a hobby. Try knitting or internet sufing. Since I taught my dog that, he has made me 2 sweaters and a throw(sweaters were missing buttons where he chewed them off though... needed a snack I guess)

[DnStClr]

I just buried my dog today. 17 yr old hugger and kisser. What a great little guy he was. I'd give anything to have him back to chew on a couple of wires so I could yell at him and get a kiss as a reward for my yelling....

[VileZambonie]

Sorry to hear about your dog Don. I would die if anything happened to mine.

[choptop]

Sorry to hear about your dog Don. I would die if anything happened to mine.

+1, had my yellow lab aloost 18 years, got her when I was 7. It is really rough to loose a best friend like that. Hang in there

[Lt.Del]

Sorry Don.  They are a member of the family.  My Golden Retriever is my son's older brother.  The dog was 2 years old when my son was born. I figure my son would be about 10 or 12 years old when my dog (hm, his dog) goes.  That will be a sad time.

Not every dog has their own website, huh? Bailey's Website