Welcome to Chewing Problem
Destructive Chewing
Dogs,
and as everyone knows, puppies; frequently have problems with destructive
chewing. Dogs learn about their environment predominantly through their nose
and mouth. Not surprisingly, chewing is a normal part of a dog's behavior. This
may be problematic, however, when the chewing is persistent or includes items
such as furniture, rugs, and clothing.
There
are a number of steps that may be taken to modify a dog's behavior while
protecting your property. Giving your dog a safe place free of chewable items
(other than dog toys) where he can stay when unsupervised is a good first step.
This is particularly helpful for puppies needing time to learn appropriate
behavior. This place may be part of a clean basement or a dog crate. In
addition to helping control chewing, crate training is good for teaching
general obedience. Puppy proofing your home should be considered, if your dog
has a chewing problem. This entails the removal of items (e.g. shoes and rugs)
that may be easily chewed. Exposed wires should be identified and either be
removed or taped down, if they present a potential hazard.
Since
dogs need to chew, they should have appropriate toys. Destructive chewers only
need a few of these toys. Too many toys will make it difficult for them to
discern the difference between items that are okay to chew and those that are
not. Don't give your dog old shoes, clothes or socks to chew because they will
likely think it appropriate to chew new shoes, socks and clothes too. There are
a few things to keep in mind when selecting a toy for a chronic chewer. First
the toy should be durable and safe. Plush or squeaky toys are fine for most
dogs, but chewers will often destroy these toys posing a potential health
problem if they ingest the squeaker or other part of the toy. Hard rubber toys
are often a good choice. They are fun, durable, and easy to clean.
One
reason for excessive chewing is a lack of exercise or attention. Dogs are
extremely social animals and if lonely will often chew due to anxiety. They may
also chew if they have pent up energy. Certain dogs such as sporting and
herding dogs are prone to chewing problems because they need more exercise than
other dogs. If loneliness or excessive energy is a problem for your dog, try
playing with your dog more often. If this is not possible, consider doggy day
care, or a dog walker to help keep your dog active during the day.
Additional
ways to keep your dog from chewing other objects includes spraying them with
bitter apple or a hot sauce. Bitter apple works well for wooden items. You may
also cover these items or areas with foil or a thick plastic. Avoid disciplining
your dog after the fact. If you return home and find destruction, disciplining
your dog will only be effective if you catch him in the act. On the other hand,
remember to praise your dog for chewing on the appropriate toys. Using a treat
or flavor may help to encourage your dog to chew that toy. Proper training will
also help control destructive chewing. Teaching your dog the "leave
it" command is important. If these steps don't help to curb your dog's
chewing problem you may want to consult a trainer or behaviorist.
Treating
the symptoms can be challenging. Most older dogs chew out of boredom. Dogs that
have a high energy or intelligence level will chew for the same reason; lack of
anything better to do. Many time the household schedule and work clashes with
the dog's need to play and no longer be bored. In your area many kennels have
day care where your dog can go and run and play his or her heart out for a very
nominal fee. This activity helps enormously.
No dog
is a spiteful or vindictive creature.They do not chew your shoes because they
are mad at you , or to punish you for something you have done to them.In most
cases it is due to anxiety and even loneliness along with lack of play. Introducing
a sturdy and interesting new toy can sometimes break bad behavior of chewing on
inapropriate objects. Some of these toys recommended are "Kong" type
toys , or "Bite a Bone". Never give an animal an item made of
anything that you don not want him or her to chew on. For example, if you do
not want chewed shoes, never give your dog an old shoe to play with. By you
allowing the dog to chew on an old shoe they get the idea that all shoes are
fair game. Finally the answer for a chewing dog may be another dog.
Since
boredom and lonliness have been sited in most of these cases of chewing a
playmate may be the ticket. Company for your pet may be the solution especially
if you spend alot of time away from home. It gives your dog the chance to learn
socilaization and also alieviates the lonliness and anxiety with staying alone
and bored. Whatever solution works best for your chewing animal give it all you
have. Many of these chewing dogs are disguarded and left to the pound. Whatever
you do, DO NOT give up on your chewing dog. With a little, sometimes hard work
these animals with behavior problems have turned out to be the most loyal of
companions. They eventually turn around and spend their lives working to make
you happy. Find the cause, treat the symptoms, and redirect the chewing and
with a little time and effort you will see a miraculous change in your pet. It
is the very least you can do for the years of love and loyality that are ahead
for you and your family.
Destroy Things

It is a fact of life
that dogs, and especially puppies, destroy things. Invariably, young dogs chew
on the most fragile and most cherished possessions. A few years ago, our dog
Mocha chewed up the last photograph we had of our grandparents. Usually this
destructiveness occurs as a result of puppy teething or exploration of the
environment or play. Here are some things to think about in dealing with
destructive dogs.
Teach acceptable behavior. For puppies that are teething or
chewing things in play or out of investigation, trade them an acceptable chew
object for the inappropriate object. Hard rubber toys stuffed with tasty food
treats, rawhide or other edible chew toys may be especially attractive.
Experiment with your dog to find things that are most attractive to her. Don’t
leave out many toys at one time but only put out two or three at a time and
rotate them with other toys every few days. Toys that haven’t been out for a
while may be more attractive than toys that are out all the time. Don’t give
your dog old shoes, socks, clothing or children’s toys. These may be confused
with the real things that you don’t want destroyed. Consider giving ice cubes
to teething puppies as the cold ice seems to soothe the discomfort. Anytime
your dog picks up an appropriate toy on her own, be sure to praise and reward
her. Owners never seem to reward their dogs enough for doing the right thing.
Minimize inappropriate behavior. Make it difficult for the dog to
get to inappropriate objects. “Dog proof” areas where the puppy is kept or is
active. This means putting away food, trash, clothes, shoes and other things
the dog finds attractive. Have family members pick up clothes, books, papers
and other things. Don’t leave eyeglasses, TV remote controls or food lying around
in easy reach. Close doors and use baby gates to keep dogs under supervision
and away from inappropriate things. Leash dogs to your belt or near you so you
can supervise them and reward appropriate behavior. If you must leave your dog
unsupervised for long periods of time, leave her in a dog proofed area such as
a kitchen, laundry room or bathroom, or in a crate or kennel. Be sure to
gradually get your puppy used to this area for several days before you leave
her, and be sure to leave her with water, a place to nap, a place to eliminate
if no one can take her out, and chew toys.
Use punishment correctly. Never hit, slap, kick or shake your dog
for destroying things. This may create fear, aggression or make the problem
worse. Never punish your dog after the fact. If you don’t catch her in the act,
simply clean up the mess and try to avoid the problem next time. If you do
catch her in the act, squirt her with water from a squirt bottle, or make a
loud noise with a can full of pennies, a whistle or air horn. You must catch
her in the act and catch her every time to make the punishment work. Consider
using booby traps to punish destructiveness. Put double-sided tape or upside
down rug runner next to trash cans or stack empty pop cans on top of counters
to startle the dog.

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Chew dogs
5 Easy Steps To Stop Your Puppy From Chewing
You got your
new pet almost a week ago. In that time, the little beast has eaten three pairs
of shoes, four of your favorite Stephen King novels ( He left Cujo alone...
Maybe he is a fan too? ), gnawed the trim around the bathroom doorway, chewed
thru the power cord of your laptop and, just this morning, you found him
gleefully chewing up your wallet with a side order of your credit cards. This
is getting expensive really fast and starting to get dangerous for the pup
also. Maybe it's time we intervened?
So how do we handle this situation? Once again, we want to be sure our young
charge is healthy to begin, so off to the vets office if you haven't been
recently. There is a medical condition that can cause chewing in pups aside
from the normal tendencies they have of chewing to explore their world. This
illness is called Pica and causes your pet to eat non-food items in an attempt
to deal with nausea. So please visit your veterinarian and make sure your animal
has a clean bill of health.
The next step involves understanding that, while chewing is a normal and
healthy part of any pup's development, it has acceptable and unacceptable
outlets. Puppies learn about their world thru chewing much the same as human
children. They use their senses to explore the new world, which lies before
them and their tactile sense, and sense of taste is brought into play as they
chew on various objects. Much like human children, pups also need our
protection from the dangers that lurk in their explorations. Electrical cords,
needles, poisonous houseplants and household chemicals, even chocolate, all
pose very real threats to your pet. It is your duty to protect the animal from
these dangers.
Consistent training with the "NO" command can do this. No is a word
your dog should learn early and respond to instantly. This one word has saved
many dogs from many horrible fates. The pup is trained by repeatedly using the
"NO" command every time a situation occurs. If you pet is caught chewing
on your shoes, say "NO" in an affirmative tone and take the item from
the animal. Do not let it become a game of tug-o-war. Rather, remove the item
quickly or back up your "NO" with a spray from a water bottle, a loud
clapping of the hands or a light but convincing tap on the nose. This little
diversion is usually enough to make a dog lose interest in whatever they may
have been chewing on. Also, do not give chase to an animal chewing on an
undesirable selection of chew toy.
The will
interpret this action to be a game and they will be most happy to play for
hours on end. Instead, calmly work your way towards the animal and then remove
the object. For items that are habitually mistreated, a chemical additive such
as Bitter Apple may be in order to impart a foul taste to the item and make it
unpalatable for the animal to chew on. Crate Training is also effective to stop
chewing behavior and we shall discuss this course at length in later articles.
You do not want to completely destroy your dogs urge to chew however as this
habit is healthy for them when exercised correctly. Instead, offer them
suitable objects for their chewing pleasure. Perhaps a dog toy ( For quieter
households, remove any squeakers from the toy. ) Rope toys and crunchy dog
biscuits provide good outlets for a dog's destructive behavior and also help to
keep up the oral hygiene of your pet.
Also be aware that all animals are different. Your dog may react differently
than another dog in a given situation. Some dogs develop aggressive stances
upon attempts to remove an object from their possession. If your dog becomes
aggressive and territorial, then professional assistance is highly recommended
to avoid further problems or biting.
With these simple suggestions, you can insure your pups' good health and the
well being of your book collection. You might even find the time to spend some
quality time reading Cujo again with your new best friend.
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Destructive Chewing![]() |
| The act of chewing seems to be a matter of individual preference among dogs:
some have an innate desire to chew as a pleasurable activity in itself, and some
seem to have no need to chew whatsoever unless they’re driven to it out of sheer
boredom. The phrase “destructive chewing” may sound redundant, because – by its very nature! – all chewing is destructive. Your dog has strong jaws full of sharp, pointy teeth: just about anything she starts to chew on is probably going to show the effects of it inside of a minute. So just to clarify, when I use the phrase “destructive chewing”, I’m referring to inappropriate chewing: the kind of chewing that’s focused on your own possessions and household items, instead of on your dog’s own designated toys and chews. The three main reasons why dogs chew: - Most dogs have a natural desire to chew. It’s fun, it passes the time, and it’s a self-rewarding, self-reinforcing activity (for example, if she’s chewing on something that tastes good.) - Chewing provides a nervous, bored, or lonely dog with an outlet for her emotions. To an anxious dog, the repetitive act of chewing is soothing – it’s the doggie equivalent of comfort food. - Underexercised dogs often use chewing as a way of burning up nervous energy and giving themselves something to do. - How to prevent destructive chewing - Dogs are perfectly capable of learning not to chew your stuff – you just have to put in a little effort first, that’s all. 1. Take control of the situation: manage your own possessions. Your first step should be to dog-proof your home. Even if you have the best-behaved dog in the world, there’s still no reason to test her self-control – after all, dogs explore the world with their mouths. Dog-proofing your home means taking whatever you don’t want to end up in her mouth, and making it unavailable. Consider her size and agility when deciding whether something’s out of reach: can she jump? Can she climb, or leap onto something else to reach the desired object? How tall is she when standing on her back legs? Common targets in the home include books, eyewear, clothing, shoes, garbage, and small crunchy appliances like cameras, cell phones, and remote controls. It should go without saying that all food needs to be put securely away: don’t leave snacks on low tables (or even countertops – you’d be surprised how acrobatic she can be when there’s food at stake!), put all food into containers or the pantry. Rinse your dirty plates clean of any food scraps before leaving them by the sink. 2. Prevent her from learning the joys of illegal chewing. The more times she manages to snatch a jawful of a forbidden substance – a chair-leg, a pillow, a running shoe – the more readily she’ll target those items in future. If you can prevent her from chewing your stuff in the first place, it’s a lot easier for her to understand what you expect of her. Practically speaking, this means confining her in a dog-proofed area until you’re confident of her understanding of the house rules. 3. Don’t set her up for failure by blurring the boundaries between her stuff (OK to chew) and your stuff (not OK to chew). Don’t offer your dog cast-off clothes, shoes, or towels to chew and play with: realistically, you can’t possibly expect her to be able to tell the difference between your current shoes and the one she’s got in her mouth that you gave her five minutes ago. 4. Provide her with lots of tasty alternatives to your stuff. If her environment is relatively barren of attractive, appropriate chewing objects, you can hardly blame her for targeting your possessions. Remember, most dogs need to chew; if she’s an adolescent (under three years) or a puppy (under one year), her needs will be even more pronounced. Go on a toy and chew shopping spree, then give her two or three to play with at a time. Rotating the available toys every few days will keep things novel and interesting for her. 5. Spend lots of time in active supervision. Yes, it might be easier for you to just keep her penned up in her crate, run, or the yard – but that’s boring and horrible for her, and hardly much fun for you either (if you wanted a pet that you don’t need to interact with, you’d have got a goldfish, right?) She can’t learn what you expect of her if she’s spending all her time boxed up in the dog-proof zone: she needs the opportunity to explore the boundaries of your expectations, so she can understand what’s appropriate and what’s not. 6. When you catch her chewing something inappropriate, interrupt her by making a loud noise: clap your hands or make an “Ah-ah-aaaah!” noise. Then, immediately hand her a tasty and dog-appropriate alternative (a rawhide bone or other chew toy); as soon as her jaws close around it, praise her lavishly. There is no better way to get your dog to understand that chewing “her” toys equals praise from you, but everything else equals trouble. - Maintain a productive attitude - Above all, remember to keep your expectations realistic. You’re not perfect, and neither is your dog: there’s likely to be at least one incident where a cherished item is damaged by her curiosity. Particularly in the early stages of your relationship, she’s still learning the ropes: it’ll take awhile before she’s completely reliable (and even then, if she’s left by herself for too long or feels neglected, she may choose your stuff over hers to occupy her time and jaws with.) Remember to give her time to learn the rules, and plenty of ‘you-time’ to help her learn faster – and don’t forget to take precautions and keep things out of reach until she’s got the hang of the chewing rules! |

