You Can Stop Your Dog’s Chewing
One of the toughest things you might ever have to do is stop a dog’s chewing problem. Dogs chew all the time, its natural and not always bad dog behavior. It’s soothing to them, it’s how they keep their teeth clean and it keeps them busy, but if it’s your furniture they are chewing on, it can also be very frustrating.
You should know that you can stop dog’s chewing problems in no time if you use the right tools to get the job done. There are many suggestions, but these tips are tried and true and you’ll find that the remainder of your things last for a very long time when you follow these ideas.
#1: Dog Chew Toys – Chew toys should be your best friend
If you don’t use chew toys to stop dog’s chewing, then you are going about it in the wrong way. You know that dogs chew and if you don’t let them, you’ll cause them to have bad teeth, so why try to break the behavior? Instead of trying to get your dog to stop chewing, you should encourage him to chew on the right thing. So, for instance, tell your pooch no when he chews on your favorite shoe, but tell him he’s a good boy when he takes his chew bone. In time, he will learn what he is allowed to get into and what he needs to stay away from.
#2: Stop Dog Chewing - Play with your dog
If you’re not playing with your dog, it’s unlikely that you’ll stop any dog’s chewing. Dogs love, love, love to play. It’s their favorite thing to do with you, so make sure that your dog isn’t bored and that’s what’s making him chew your stuff. Instead of letting him get into things, encourage your pooch to play with you for a good long time. By the time you’re done, he will be, too and you’ll stop dog’s chewing in this way.
#3: Training – Put him in a crate
Putting your dog in a dog crate is not cruel and it’s one of the best ways to housetrain your dog and to stop dog’s chewing. When you aren’t home, you should always make sure to put your dog in a crate so that he won’t get mad at you for being gone and tear into your leather chair. You may not have to do this forever, but don’t rush it, either. It takes a while to stop dog’s chewing and this is going to be one of your best tools in doing so. Give your pooch a chew bone for when you’re gone so that he can take out anxiety or boredom with his bone and you’ll come home to a house that is just like you left it and your dog won’t be in trouble.
Remember that it isn’t easy to stop dog’s chewing, but if you stay diligent and make sure to keep forbidden items away if you’re not able to watch your dog, you will find that he is a good boy and doesn’t chew your things in no time.
Why is Your Dog Destructive Chewing?
Before you can train your dog to stop his destructive chewing habits, you must first identify the type of chewing that your pet is demonstrating. There are different reasons why puppies and dogs engage in this habit, as well as a variety of ways to fix the problem. Therefore, identifying the type of destructive chewing is an important step in eliminating the issue.
There are different motivational factors for chronic and destructive chewing. The most common types are:
- Puppy chewers
- Spiteful chewers
- Jealousy chewers
- Boredom chewers
Puppies chew mainly for two reasons: to explore their new world and to soothe their aching gums during the teething stage. Dogs between the ages of six to eighteen months have a different motivation to chew: boredom (although this motivator can also apply to puppies as well).
Most dogs that are going through their adolescent stage have high amounts of energy in their systems. This energy, when not utilized or given the proper channel, can result in problem behaviors like destructive chewing. Chewing out of boredom between puppyhood and adulthood, usually occurs because the newness and excitement of the pet’s presence in the home wears off. The family does not pay as much attention as they used to when it was still a puppy.
A different motivating factor that’s responsible for problem-chewing is jealousy. This usually occurs in adult dogs. It could be caused by having a new pet in the household, or because the family has turned their attention to something else, thereby, causing the dog to feel alienated.
For example, if you keep catching your dog chewing on your books, it’s very likely that it thinks that the books cause you to spend less time with it. The same reason can be stated for dogs who like chewing on their owner’s shoes. Our beloved pets feel that the shoes were responsible for alienating the owner’s attention. Each time you leave the house, the dog sees those shoes “going with you” and it will take its jealousy and frustration out on those shoes at any chance possible.
In this case, the best way to eliminate destructive chewing is as simple as spending more time with your dog. Spend ten or fifteen minutes with your pet before you start reading. Take it for a nice stroll, or maybe brush its coat before leaving the house. Most of the time, all it takes is giving your dog personal attention to get rid of these bad behaviors.
Read our review for more information on ‘ Secrets to Dog Training‘
