My bun Koggy is about 11 months old now. She was spayed a few months ago. From when I got her up until about the age of 7 months, she was really playful, but also pretty mellow- she’d run around like a maniac, and then sprawl out or cuddle. She didn’t chew very much and when she did it was her toys only. She didn’t dig a lot either. 

Well. For the past month and a half to two months, she has become a total terror o.o’ Dig, dig, dig. Chew, chew, chew. Very independent, not very affectionate. Really stubborn about coming out of her pen. I have to assume this is the infamous adolescence phase.

What is the best way to handle her at this time? I often catch her chewing things she shouldn’t. When I do, I tell her no and give her something else to chew on. Which… she doesn’t use and then sneaks back over to what I told her not to chew  I’ve bought her a lot of different kind of chew toys and even simple things like cardboard pieces, empty toilet rolls, etc.

The digging is kind of irritating, especially when she digs like a psycho on/at me, but I can kind of live with it. However, she just doesn’t seem to relax with the chewing. She goes from one thing to the next, even trying to chew odd things like the metal register/vent cover  It’s pretty much the only thing she does right now. She goes around the room, looking for new things to chew. Some things I can move, like the garbage can, but things like the headboard I can’t.

Even as I write this, I’ve had to redirect her several times. I mean, I don’t expect her not to chew anything ever but it’s relentless. Any tips? Is this level of chewing normal? The vet said her teeth looked fine. I provide her with endless hay, chew toys, etc. How long does this phase (please tell me it’s a phase) typically last?