First Coast Pet

When you come home and your most prized possessions have been chewed up by your new puppy,it can really make you rethink your decision about getting a dogIt is often difficult to get angry at your dog as he stands there with his tail wagging right next to the destroyed item,and you certainly cannot punish them after the fact. It can also be something unreplaceable like your mail that has a check in it for money or tickets for the best show in town. Understanding how to train your dog to prevent this kind of behavior can help prevent unneccessary loss of valuable personal itemsChewing is a natural outlet for your dog and he will exercise this right to use his mouth even he is given free rein in which to do so.

You cannot start yelling at your dog when you come in the door and find him lying beside the chewed up itemsReinforcing positive behavior is a much more beneficial approach when you communicate with your dog Chewing is not something your dog does so that he can intentionally be a “bad dog”. It is up to you to substitute another activity that he can do which he can then be rewarded for in a positive manner When he has something else to do to occupy his time, he will not be so focused on chewing  

There is no one solution to stop your dog from chewing what is off limits. If you have a puppy and he is in the teething stage he can chew everything he comes into contact with. One solution for chronic chewing is to make the items or areas that your dog is prone to chewing as foul tasting as possible with products such as sprays and solutions These substances come in different forms from sprays to ointments and they work to discourage your dog from going back to that area because the taste is very bitter and bad to your dog. Pet stores and catalogues sell them and one of the more popular flavors is bitter apple.

Some dogs are more apt to chew because they are bored or frustrated Leaving your dog home all day alone while you are at work is unfortunately one of the dog owner’s many plightsWhen you have no other choice, you might elect to have your dog spend his time in his crate for short periods throughout the day Leaving your dog in his crate should feel familiar and calming for your dog. Most dogs look at their crate as a den and become very relaxed and fall asleep. It is not a bad idea to leave some chewies in his crate with him. Just remember,that this solution is not intended to be used for extended periods of time A dog needs to exercise and relieve himself throughout the day and it is not healthy to keep him in a crate for the entire day. If your dog isn’t crate trained yet visit dog obedience university for instruction on this.

What dog doesn’t take a good opportunity when he sees it? If a piece of steak drops on the floor, chances are he will sweep in and help clean it off the floor for you The same can be said of tempting chewable items. When you leave items on the floor on low lying coffee tables you are extending an invitation for your dog to grab it and do what he wants with it. After all, it was left there for him , wasn’t it? I had a friend who left her expensive pair of Oakley sunglasses on her weight bench and she came home to find her Wiemeriener happy to see her and $200 tangle of chewed plastic. The way a dog explores his world is by using his nose and his mouth.  Try to remember to put things away that you value , out of your best friend’s reach.

Tiring your dog out by having some fun exercise sessions will give him balance and make him less prone to vent energy off in undesirable ways. When a dog is tired he is less likely to get in trouble. A tired dog is a happy dog. A happy dog means a happy owner.

Leave chew toys such as kongs, balls, and bones on the floor around the house so your dog can pick them up and chew on them. There are some really cool puzzle toys out there that let you put a treat inside of them that make it so your dog has to roll it around on the floor and really work at it with his tongue to get the treat inside out. When he is busy with such things, he won’t be eyeing your chair legs the same way.

A dog is a dog but some breeds can be a bit more prone to chewing than others. The key to how to stop your dog from chewing is to find out “why” he is chewing in the first place Is he bored? Does he have to much freedom? If you have to leave him home all day and it is too long to crate him, consider bringing him to one of the many doggie daycares available for the day. Not only will this tire him out, but he will be getting socialized as well. He will be so worn out by the time he comes home, the last thing on his mind will be chewing anything!

For other excellent solutions and guidance that go into more detail about dog chewing and how to deal with it check out the best dog training courses found online today.

Comments are closed.