Destructive chewing is one of the main reasons (next to excessive barking) that people take their dogs to an animal shelter. It is also one of the main causes of emergency trips to the vet. Dogs have a habit of chewing almost anything that does not move and will even attempt to chew on moving things, too.
Chewing is a natural state for dogs and it is unrealistic for anyone to think they can train a dog not to chew. Dogs have a natural desire to manipulate things with their mouths and since paws do not work as well, mouths and teeth are first choice.
Puppies are like young children and everything must go into their mouth. So if you have a puppy, expect a great deal of chewing. Puppies do not stop excessive chewing until they mature (at the age of three), and some breeds like retrievers, are chewers by nature. Actually, it does not matter what age a dog is; even elderly dogs love a good chew.
Chewing has a calming affect on dogs, nervous and anxious dogs tend to chew more. Separation anxiety is one of the main causes a dog chews on furniture, windowsills, doorframes and even some try to chew their way out of their crates.
A dog left with out any diversion will always find something to chew it is natural entertainment. A dog with pent-up energy (little or no exercise) may also try to amuse itself with a little extra chewing.
Curbing the habit:
It is up to you to teach and train your dog to choose appropriate objects. Why? Simply because a dog does not know a priceless object from a toy. A bone or your new shoes are the same temptation in a dog’s eyes.
It takes patience to teach your dog to chew only on things you want it too. You can begin by following your dog around and when you see hin/her going for something you do not want chewed, hand the dog a chew toy. There are many wonderful things to be found in the marketplace such as rawhide chews, a bone, a rubber toy, toys stuffed with treats – talk to your vet and see what they consider appropriate for your dog’s breed and age.
When your dog starts to chew an object you do not want chewed, hand the dog the chew toy and when it starts chewing it, give the dog a lot of praise and pets. It is important during this training period that you do not leave the dog unsupervised. If you cannot be with it all the time, confine the dog to a safe area and give the dog a few chew toys.
During this training process, it might feel like you have a two-year old, as it will be necessary to keep a good supply of chewable items for the dog, scattered around the floor.
Yelling or scolding your dog for chewing on your shoes will not train it not to chew on them. Positive action is important, take the shoe away, and give the dog a chew toy, when it accepts the toy, praise the dog lavishly.
Dogs do not chew up things out of spite. Dogs do not know what “spite” is, only humans know the definition. If you come home from work and the dog has chewed the couch, yelling and screaming will not stop the dog from doing so the next time you are gone. The dog will begin to associate your homecoming with the “yelling and screaming” and it will only create a more anxious dog and more chewing on the couch or whatever.
A bored dog will get into mischief, a tired dog will not. If possible, take your dog out for a quick run or walk before you leave. A tired dog will think of a nap and not a gnaw. Mental exercise is also a good way to tire out a dog. A half hour trick-training or obedience training session will tire a dog out more than a whole hour walk. It also helps beat boredom.
Another big mistake we humans make is giving our dog the run of the house too quickly. We tend to think of our dogs as little humans and once they seem to behave when we are around, we think they will always behave. Not so! Giving a dog a large area to explore without supervision is like giving a child a book of matches to play with.
Dogs are curious creatures, just like children and left unattended will find things you would not have dreamed of to chew on. Leave for short periods of time, during the training process, to be certain the dog will not find things to get into. Leave a few toys around for the dog to chew. It is also necessary, for you the human, to pick up your shoes, and anything else you do not want to end up in your dog’s mouth.
Training takes time and patience and if you cannot be around to supervise please, leave your dog in a confined safe area, a room, or in its crate. Always provide toys for your dog to chew and to play with. Do not expect perfection, and realize that part of the responsibility is up to you to keep things that are important to you out of reach.
Thunderstorms, outside noise and even medical conditions can set off your once trained dog to start chewing again. Try to play detective if this happens and figure out what caused the relapse. However, do not yell, scream or hit your dog for an accident, it will do no good. Keep inn mind separation anxiety can be an underlying cause and if the chewing is beyond you, talk to your vet, and possibly get some medication to help calm your dog, while you work on the problem.
Believe me when I say, patience and understanding are the key components you should have in training your dog. Dogs understand kindness, repetition, and firmness. Mistreatment will get you a scared and possibly an aggressive dog and a dog that will chew even more.
The first thing to realize is that it is up to you, the human, to teach the dog, the household ground rules. Next, you have to limit the number of opportunities a dog has to chew things. It is wrong to blame a dog for a behavior that is as natural to it as breathing. If a dog chews something inappropriate, do not take it out on the dog, look in the mirror and say, “I am to blame.”
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