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.

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Destructive Chewing - Your Dog Is Trying To Say Something

For many centuries now, humans have totally domesticated dogs. We have brought them into our society and in most cases, expected them to act like us and to be a regular part of our families. We should accept that by doing so, we have caused some of our own human emotions to develop in our dogs. Dogs have learned to become jealous, neurotic, spiteful, hateful and bored.

In adolescent dogs, between the ages of six to sixteen months, we find that these emotions cannot be controlled as easily as the same emotions in adult dogs. The same can be expressed by a human teenager’s capability of exercising mature restraint, when affected by the same emotions.

Can You Spare 15 Minutes?

The most common cause of chronic chewing is boredom and if every dog owner would spend a little more time each day giving full attention and love to its pet, much of the “boredom chewing” would be eliminated. Fifteen minutes a day is all it takes, it’s just that easy!

The Story of the Spiteful Boxer

Spite, another motivating factor, should also be considered. A story about a twenty-month old Boxer would be a great example in this case. Ever since he was a puppy, this Boxer had been an “only child” to a couple who spoiled him with lots of love and attention. The dog went along with them shopping, running errands and visiting friends. He would walk gracefully and loved tagging along with his owners.

Then, a new baby arrived and things changed. Suddenly, the dog found himself left in the car during errand trips. On one occasion, mom and dad returned to the car to find the interior completely destroyed! The car seats, padded dashboard, upholstery, all ripped to shreds.

The Boxer dog was venting his wrath the only way he knew how. This is a case of spiteful chewing, not jealousy. The canine was not jealous of the new baby in the family, but he was not willing to give up his former position in the family and go back to just being a dog.

Replace The Dog’s Target

The next time you catch your dog or puppy chewing a sock, shoe, or other object that it’s not supposed to, take the object away, followed by a firm “No!” The object should be replaced with its own chew toy. The toy will take your dog’s mind off the object that it was chewing and won’t make it think that you are taking something away from it.

Should your life suddenly change, altering your dog’s life as well (like having a new baby in the house), be sure to pay attention to the new schedule and adjust your focus to avoid your dog beginning destructive chewing. Your pet will need a little extra care and training to prevent such behavior and to settle in with the new changes.