First Coast Pet

Posts Tagged ‘how to stop dogs chewing’

Finding out how to prevent your dog from chewing your stuff is probably the reason you are here.

The need to chew seems to vary from dog to dog. Some dogs chew for the sheer pleasure of the activity; other dogs only feel the need to chew when they are bored.

Here are the main reasons for destructive and inappropriate dog chewing:

• The desire to chew is innate to most dogs, especially if the item being chewed tastes good.
• The physical act of chewing can be an emotional outlet for a lonely or bored dog. As with comfort food to humans, a nervous dog can find chewing to be relaxing.
• Dogs that are under exercised may chew to keep themselves busy and to burn up excess energy.

How To Stop Dogs Chewing

With a little effort and training on your part, you can stop dogs chewing and damaging your stuff.

• First of all, your home needs to be dog-proofed. If you don’t want your dog to chew something, you should ensure that it is kept well away from his jaws. You will have to determine whether your dog can climb, jump, leap, or stand on his hind legs to reach the object he wants.

• Dogs love to chew shoes, garbage, clothes, books and remote controls. They also like to chew on small crunchy items such as remote controls, cameras and cell phones.

• Of course, in order to stop dogs chewing, all food must be safely placed in the pantry or in containers. You should rinse dirty dishes before leaving them in the sink. Your dog will be delighted to snack on any food that you leave on low surfaces or kitchen counters.

• Your dog should be prevented from learning the joys of forbidden chewing. If you stop your dog from destructive chewing early on, he will better understand what is expected of him. Your dog will be more likely to chew on items such as furniture, clothing, and books, if he is frequently provided with the opportunity to do so. Until your dog has a full understanding of the house rules, he should be restricted to the doggy-proofed area of the house.

• Your dog must be made to understand what is your stuff (not for chewing) and his stuff (OK to chew). If you let your dog chew on your discarded shoes, you can’t expect him to understand the difference between them and the new ones at the door. The same thing pertains to towels, clothing etc.

• Stop dogs chewing by providing them with plenty of enticing alternatives to your prized possessions. Don’t forget that most dogs feel the need to chew, particularly puppies and dogs less than three years of age. Shop for doggie toys and chews, giving your dog a maximum of three at any given time. The toys should have different tastes and be of varying shapes and textures. Rotating the toys will keep your dog interested and amused.

• You should spend lots of time teaching your dog. If he is constantly restricted to the dog-proofed area, he will not be able to understand what is expected of him. In order for your dog to be able to understand what is appropriate chewing, he will need to have the opportunity to explore the boundaries of your expectations.

• When you catch your dog in the act of inappropriate chewing, clap your hands or say “No” in a firm voice!”. He should be given an appropriate alternative, such as a chew toy or rawhide bone. As soon as he bites down on it, you should lavish praise on him. This will help your dog to understand that he will be in trouble if he chews your belongings and will be praised when he restricts his chewing to his own stuff.

My recommended dog training guide to stop dogs chewing is: Secrets to Dog Training