How do you keep a dog from chewing things?
I’m sure every dog-owner has faced this problem at least once. Every puppy goes through this phase when he is getting to know the world, trying it out. It’s important at this point to teach the puppy the “rules of the game” and not to lose the bond of understanding between owner and dog.
In order to wean your dog from chewing things, you must first understand and eliminate the causes of this behavior.
I can think of five main reasons why a dog chews things:
- Your dog is teething. Between three and six months old his teeth change from milk teeth to permanent teeth. Chewing on objects and chewing on things reduces the pain in the gums, relieving the discomfort.
- A dog left alone may experience anxiety. His nervous system may react to this stress by chewing, gnawing and scratching.
- Sometimes the dog chews things whether he is alone or not. Most likely, in this case, the reason for this behavior is the banal boredom of the pet. He lacks physical activity, games, walks. In this way, the dog splashes out its excess energy.
- Some things and objects smell too attractive to the dog and provoke him to chew and chew. Especially if the dog is hungry.
- A dog that gets too excited may also start chewing things that are not meant to be chewed.
Now, starting from the root cause of the dog’s undesirable behavior, you can move on to correcting it.
The first and most important thing is that if a problem has arisen, it can not be ignored, you must immediately begin to solve it, not putting it in a distant box. The problem itself will not go anywhere. If nothing is done, the undesirable behavior of the pet will only get worse over time. As a result, some owners, by their connivance, bring the situation to the point where they have to return the “untrained” puppy to the breeder, or look for new owners.
The owner’s job is to tell the dog what he can and cannot chew. Instinctively the puppy doesn’t have this knowledge. He initially believes that he is allowed to chew absolutely everything, including household items. Shoes, socks, books, furniture upholstery, wiring, wallpaper – everything within the puppy’s reach falls under the “giveaway”. So here’s your first tip:
Tip 1: Start by cleaning up your house before he sets foot in it
Remove any items within reach of puppy that he might want to take a nibble on. This quarantine can last for up to six months! Lock shoes in closets, elevate things off the floor where the dog can’t reach, and use plastic crates.
Talk to your kids about the importance of picking up toys off the floor after playtime. Having a curious and active trickster puppy around the house! Make sure the litter box is out of their reach – its attractive contents can be especially dangerous for pets! Don’t forget the important “little things” that you may not be in the habit of putting away in a far corner – remotes, phones, etc. They often end up in the middle of dog antics.
Tip 2: It is important to strongly discourage bite attempts while playing with your puppy
If your dog tries to bite his hand, stop the game immediately. He should let out a shrill squeal and make an angry face (even if you weren’t hurt!).
This way the dog will easily and clearly learn the inadmissibility of such actions.
Tip 3: A puppy is essentially the same as a baby, so the smaller he is, the less time he should spend alone
Try not to leave your baby alone for long periods of time. If you don’t have another option, try to keep the puppy safe for the time you’re away, such as putting him in a puppy playpen or locking him in a room that has already been “cleaned” from the floor. Just don’t forget to leave the baby with some safe toys that he’ll be chewing on while you’re gone.
Tip 4. Remember when we said that puppy can start chewing on things in the house out of boredom and extra energy? Give her an outlet!
Playing together and going for long walks together are good for his physical and mental health. Don’t be lazy to exercise your puppy!
For a three-month-old puppy, take him for about 20 minutes two or three times a day, and gradually increase the amount of time he needs to walk. An adult dog should have two walks a day, for an hour each.
Don’t forget to make time for puppy training. Start with two sessions of 10 minutes a day, gently increasing this time so as not to tire the pet out. It’s important to teach in a positive way!
A dog who gets the physical and mental exercise he needs is more likely to sleep in his free time than chew on your things!
Tip 5. The first step should be to choose the right toys for your dog to chew on
Never choose toys that look like something your dog shouldn’t chew. If you give him old shoes or clothes, your dog won’t be able to tell the difference between them and new shoes and clothes.
Don’t let your puppy chew your shoes. If puppy chews your new shoes, it will be your fault because you didn’t put them away in time. And shoes should be put away in the coat closet or plastic bins as they smell very much like you – nothing would be sweeter for a lonely puppy than to chew them up out of sheer affection for you.
Tip 6. Buy your puppy a bunch of chew toys
Buy your puppy lots of special safe chew toys for puppies, such as dried hide bones, rubber toys, rope toys, etc. They are all good for speeding up puppy’s tooth change. If your puppy is reluctant to chew the chew toys or bones you buy, try smearing them with a little malt extract, a piece of meat or liver for a tasty smell. Try to change the types of toys or bones more often so they don’t get boring or boring to your puppy.
A good tool to ease puppy’s pain can be a rolled up cloth or towel frozen in the fridge. Give him a toy like this to chew on and freeze the pain at the same time. Put some toys in the freezer before you give them to your dog. This will not only provide an attractive texture for your dog, but it will also soften the teething sensation.
Tip 7. There are special sprays to apply to various things to keep them from being chewed on by your dog
If your puppy shows a persistent interest in your furniture, for example, you can get this kind of chew suppression spray for dogs at the pet store.
The spray has an unpleasant odor or taste for dogs, but it is intangible to humans, and it is very convenient to spray on furniture legs. However, the spray does not work on all puppies and dogs, but it is still worth a try.
Tip 8. Play outside with your puppy. Puppies love to play different interactive games
This is essential for their mental development. Most dogs love to play opportunistic games. Throw him a toy and let him learn to bring it back to you and give it to your hands. Buy a ball or flying saucer to play with your puppy. Also, outdoor play promotes good physical development for your puppy.
Tip 9. “You can’t!” and “Good for you!”
If you see a puppy chewing on your thing, tell him in a stern voice, “You can’t!” Don’t yell too much or you might shock the puppy. Pick it up and give him something he can chew, like one of his toys, and when he picks it up, praise him, “Good for you!”
Say “No!” when puppy is chewing, otherwise he won’t know what you’re talking about. So punishing puppy after he’s given up chewing is pointless.
If puppy chews on the furniture (you can’t take all the furniture out of the house), you should warn him “No!”, then take him away from the furniture, give him his chew toy, and when he picks it up, praise him. If you’re patient and persistent he’ll eventually figure out what he can and can’t chew.
Tip 10. Special exercises
Lay his stuff on the floor with a chew toy or bone next to it. Pretend you’re not looking, such as picking up a book and reading. If the puppy comes up and takes your thing, take it away from him and say, “You can’t!” If the puppy picks up his toy or bone, praise him. Repeat this exercise with your different things.
The only way to wean your dog from chewing things is to catch him “in the act.” Be sure to stop him with a command or a loud voice. If he obeys you and leaves the item alone, give him a special toy. If the dog chews the toy, be sure to praise him.
This rule is great for stopping any mischief, which a bored dog can do in abundance.
