chewing

[zoe114]

My one yr old Aussie is eatting the paint off of my walls. She also keeps chewing up a pillow, over and over again.

What should I do to stop her doing these things? Thanks

[Question_Everything1111]

Lacking nutrition most likely.  Cats and dogs do well on eating mammals (and so do humans).  Try a high quality beef, lamb or venison based dog food.

[zoe114]

I have a field by me, but the city will not allow dogs off of leashes, and no dog park here. I might just have to start walking more outside. One of my dogs can only walk a mile- always been what she can do. Another, he used to be able to walk a ton but not sure if he can now. I took him out the other day and ( ok, it was hot) he could only go a mile. Now that it is getting cooler, maybe I can try to take the two more active dogs to the lake park where everyone is required to have their animals on leashes.
You did remind me however, a neighbor has a dog two months older than mine- same breed and she has a lot of knowledge of these dogs, I will go chat with her more this week. I really love my Aussie, she is 1/2 BC, and I thought she would be more like a BC...but she is much smarter and much more active...a good fit for someone that runs.      

[ginger899]

I wonder....is there anywhere you could drive to, which is a little more dog-friendly/secluded...? Then if you have 3 dogs with different exercise-needs, two could remain in the car after they had had their games, while your Aussie could run some more?
Of course I don't know what it's like where you live. If there are fields or some land where it is good for dogs, but safe for humans....?

[zoe114]

I do have Kongs and I do fill them up with apple, she throws it on the ground to break up the apple. I have been teaching her tricks, she picks up on how to do them quickly. Today I started on " take a bow", a bit more challenging. There are some angility places I can take her in the area, I might just have to do that. I have two other dogs, BC's so walking one a lot is a problem as I do need to walk the others and can't walk them togther...really won't because others dogs get out of their yards so I fear what could happen.

Your suggestions are very good, thank you.  

[ginger899]

An Aussie Cattle Dog?
I have a very good friend who used to have one of these. They are wonderful, intelligent dogs....but they have extremely good energy. They are basically Working-Dogs.
Now when we bring working dogs into a domestic environment, we have to be aware we have NOT got a sweet little lap-dog there. We have a dog that is genetically-programmed to work. That is -in ordinary terms -we have a dog with a great need to express its energy on a daily basis.
That young dog of yours needs two things:
Some way to burn off and enjoy that tremendous energy,
and.....structure and discipline.

My recommendation would be to make absolutely sure your dog has demanding exercise, PLUS some structured work, such as agility class, or perhaps work with a dog trainer (or yourself, if you are able to give the time and energy on top of all the exercise)
Demanding exercise means at LEAST a two mile walk plus run and chasing games, at LEAST twice a day. That means walks off-leash. Ball or frisbee-throwing, etc.
Don't feed before the exercise. Feed afterwards, but only after the dog has cooled down -say a half hour at the least.

A "Kong" toy will help fill the gaps. No-one can walk all day long. (but a cattle dog probably could!) Something like that, maybe filled with some lovely treat like peanut butter, would keep your dog happy and interested in something when you can't be out exercising.