First Coast Pet

Why is destructive chewing such a common problem?  How to stop this destructive dog behavior is the question of the year for many dog owners.  Read on to find seven solutions for dog chewing problems.

Why Do Dogs Chew?

There are several reasons dogs like to chew on things.  The first is that chewing is instinctive for your dog.  Dogs play rough, and part of their play is to chew things up into little pieces.  If whatever they’re chewing on tastes good, that’s a bonus.

A bored dog, or one that’s anxious about something will chew on something to soothe himself, or to give himself something to do.This is akin to people eating when they’re upset over something or need something to do.

Your dog needs lots of exercise to burn up his excess energy.  If he’s not getting the exercise he needs, he’ll find a way to use that energy, and he may turn to destructive dog behavior to do it.

Another reason for destructive dog chewing is that you’re not giving your dog enough time and attention.  Your dog craves your attention, whether it’s good or bad.  If your dog only gets attention from you when he’s engaged in destructive chewing, you can bet that he’ll keep doing it.

Six Canine Behavior Modification Tips

1. One thing your dog needs from you is your undivided attention.  Play fetch with him, take him for long walks, spend time with him.  Lots of exercise will use up the extra energy he has.
2. Dog-proof your home.  Put away things like shoes, cell phones, tv remotes, books, eyeglasses, and whatever other goodies your dog loves to chew on.  Dogs don’t resist temptation well, so don’t tempt him.
3. Think about your dog’s size and agility when you put things away.  Can he jump up on the counter to get at something?  Or is he a climber?  Or is he big enough to just stand on his hind legs and reach it?
4. Don’t leave your canine friend tied up in the yard all the time.If he’s always left in a dog-proofed area, he has no way to learn what you want from him.  He does need to push the boundaries when you’re there, so he can learn which toys are his, and which are off limits.
5. Speaking of toys, you’ll want to keep lots of toys on hand.  Give your dog two or three at a time, and swap them out every couple of days.  Dogs lose interest in the same old thing, just like we do, so give him lots of variety.
6. Don’t blur the boundaries.  Avoid giving your dog old shoes or clothing or towels to chew on. It’s unrealistic to expect him to know the difference between your old shoe and your new designer shoes.  To a dog, a shoe is a shoe.

The Seventh Solution – Catch Him In The Act Of Destructive Chewing

Now you have a teachable moment.  If he knows the “drop-it” command, use it.Get his attention if he doesn’t by clapping your hands or saying, “Ah-ah-aaah!” loudly.  In either case, give him an appropriate chew toy right away.  Praise him as soon as his mouth closes around it.  You’re training him that chewing on his own toys is fine, but yours are off-limits.

When it comes to ending destructive chewing, punishment is seldom effective.If you can’t catch him in the act, he’ll have no idea why he’s in trouble.  And even if you do, he’s liable to just wait until you’re gone to chew on your things.

You can see how easy it is to inadvertently give your dog the wrong idea when training him.  Effective canine behavior modification is easy with a good dog training course.  If you’re already struggling with your dog’s behavior, just click on any link in this article to learn more about a dog training resource that will quickly solve your problems.

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