If your pet dog is chewing destructively, it’s only right for you to stop this behavior for good.
As a responsible pet owner, the chances of you looking for the best solution to stop destructive dog chewing problems is significantly high mostly because chewing behavior is a common action of dogs.
Therefore, if your puppy chews, it’s considered as a normal and acceptable practice – after all, your dog’s mouth is similar to our hands in a way that dogs use their mouths to observe things, examine them and transport them in one place or another. Additionally, chewing is a part of your puppy’s teething process – your dog may chew in order to help them relieve gum pain during teething.
What, then, is the problem with chewing? There’s nothing wrong with your dog if he chews his toys and his favorite treats. However, chewing becomes a destructive dog behavior if he’s chewing on your furniture, on electronics, on your clothes and shoes and even on your electrical cords! We don’t want an electrocuted puppy as a pet, do we?
In order for you to be able to stop your dog from chewing destructively, here are five tips that you can implement:
1. Dog-proof your house – remove all the temptation that may encourage your dog to chew destructively.
To modify this behavior, the first thing that you should focus on is controlling the environment that your pet dog lives in. Your pet dog is naturally attracted to scent, so keep in mind that you should put your clothes and shoes into your closet. Don’t leave food all around the house, too.
Also, remember to keep in your closet these most commonly chewed items that your dog is likely to target:
- Garbage
- Shoes
- Eyeglasses
- Notebooks and books
- Cell phones
- Remote controls
- Socks and underwear
It’s also suggested by various experts to use a deterrent spray with a bitter taste that you could spray on your walls and sometimes, even on the furniture, so that when your dog is turned off by the taste, they won’t chew on them anymore. White vinegar and bitter apple sprays are recommended.
It’s important for you to also keep electrical cords, phone cords and computer cables out of your dog’s reach so that he won’t have any opportunity to chew on them. He’s not aware that these cords are dangerous so it’s basically our job to make sure that he won’t be tempted into chewing them.
2. Provide him with regular exercise.
Sometimes, your puppy has a lot of energy that he needs to spend so he spends it by chewing on your favorite jeans instead. In order to redirect this energy, play with him or walk him regularly. If his energy is depleted positively, he’s less likely to chew destructively. Also, aside from enhanced dog-owner bonding, another benefit of exercise is that it also produces endorphins that can make your dog calmer and more behaved. Make him get adequate exercise so that he won’t be tempted into chewing your personal belongings.
3. Give him a chew toy instead.
We have already established that chewing is a normal dog behavior, so what do we do when we see our dog chewing on something inappropriate? We stop him, take away the item and give him a chew toy that we approve of. Hard rubber balls, your dog’s favorite frozen treat and puppy teething rings are advisable items to be considered because they have a distinct scent of their own. Also, they carry your pet’s scent so he’s driven towards chewing on these items instead. Remember to actively praise your dog whenever he’s chewing on his appropriate chew toy. That way, he’s encouraged to chew on his chew toy in order to get your approval.
The rule of the thumb in this tip is to never give your dog an item that resembles the objects that you don’t want him to chew on – don’t give him your old boots for him to chew on. Shoes are known to retain the scent of the owner, so he can’t really tell the difference between your old boots and your newly bought expensive boots.
4. Actively supervise your pet dog so that he won’t feel neglected.
Sometimes, your pet dog may chew inappropriately just to get your attention. Therefore, don’t just keep them cooped up in a confined area of your house all the time. Go ahead and bond with him more. Play with him. Teach him obedience training. Feed him his favorite doggy treat.
Be consistent with spending time with your dog – remember that animals such as dogs thrive on routine, so make time and set a specific schedule for your bonding and stick to it.
5. Take him to the veterinarian for expert advice.
If these tips don’t work out for you, maybe there’s something deeper going on around your pet’s head that triggers him to keep on chewing destructively. How you stop your dog from chewing, then, most likely depends on the veterinarian’s diagnosis of his medical condition.
Make sure that your pet dog is not suffering from separation anxiety. If you notice that your pet has been destructively chewing your belongings, constantly barking and howling, urinating or defecating indoors and panting excessively, your dog has a possibility of having a case of separation anxiety. Also, when this behavior occurs every time you leave or every time your dog senses that you’re about to leave, it can also indicate separation anxiety.
Sometimes, your dog may be suffering from a dental disease as well. If he’s chewing on absolutely everything, there’s a chance that he’s doing it because he wants to relieve the pain in his gums. Some symptoms of these are bad breath, inflamed gums, pain on one side of the mouth and hesitation to eat even if hungry.
Both of the mentioned medical problems are the most common reasons why your dog chews, with regards to his medical status. For the best tips on how to handle them, it’s better to consult your veterinarian. After all, your dog’s health is at stake, so you would ask advice from the health expert, wouldn’t you?
Do you have more tips on how to stop a dog from chewing? Don’t hesitate to participate in the discussion by commenting below.
Article courtesy of Your Dog Training Advice.
