Dog Chewing

Dogs chewing problem is due to various reasons. Of course it is fine if your dog has been chewing on his own toys. But how can you tolerate if your dog tends to chew on the wrong items such as your personal belongings, furniture, shoes and etc? Knowing and understanding the reasons behind the destructive dog chewing helps you determine the appropriate correction on your dog’s chewing problem. It’s not their fault as it is only their natural behavior to chew. Provide your dog with some guidance on his chewing, and it’ll be fine for both of you.

The Reason For Your Dog’s Chewing Problem

Teething Puppies
Generally, teething puppies, aged between 4 and 6 months need to chew more than older dogs. During this stage, the habit of chewing must be handled carefully so that it will not be carried into adulthood.

Boredom, Lack of Exercise and Socializing
Older dogs chew to release tension as a result of boredom, anxiousness or frustration when being left alone or have been isolated for too long.

Separation Anxiety
Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety often feel stress when they are being left alone for long periods of time. When you’re leaving home, try to avoid making a great fuss on your departure. A brief departure such as “Goodbye!” helps create less anxiety on your dog while you’re away.

Your Dog is Seeking For Attention
Dogs chew to seek attention from their owners.

Stop Dog Chewing

* Provide your dog with lots of exercises, playtime and socializing as lack of these activities may cause your dog to feel restless and tense, resulting in more chewing.
* Exercise his mind and body with dog obedience training or you can teach the dog to learn new tricks every day.
* Provide him with attractive and interesting toys to play with.
* Always praise your dog for playing and chewing on his own toys.
* If you catch your dog chewing on the wrong items, with a firm and deep tone, immediately say “No!” Then, redirect your dog to play with one of his toys and praise him.
* If you can’t supervise your dog all day, make the forbidden items unattractive for your dog to chew on. Spray some pet repellents (available in pet stores) to deter your dog from chewing on the items.
* All in all, if you can’t supervise your dog all day, it is best to keep your personal belongings out of his reach.

Dog Chewing DON’TS:
Never punish or isolate your dog for destructive chewing. This will only alleviate more tension, causing more chewing. Make sure to correct your dog when you catch him in the act. Scolding your dog after the act will only confuse him. Your dog will not understand what he’s done wrong.

Recommended Dog Chewing Training Equipment:
Dog Toys and Treats. To eliminate your dog’s destructive chewing effectively, do provide your dog with different types of dog toys. Kong toys, chew bones, rawhide bones or sterilized marrowbones are great to keep your dog interested in his toys.

Pet or Dog Repellent. Dog repellent works well to forbid your dog from chewing on your furniture and etc. To make sure the pet or dog repellent doesn’t stain, do test the dog repellent with some fabrics before applying on furniture.