When you come home and your most prized possessions have been chewed up by your new puppy,it can really make you rethink your decision about getting a dogIt is often difficult to get angry at your dog as he stands there with his tail wagging right next to the destroyed item,and you certainly cannot punish them after the fact. It can also be something unreplaceable like your mail that has a check in it for money or tickets for the best show in town. Dog chewing is annoying but there are ways to get a handle on it so that you can have a positive relationship with your dog, not one filled with resentment.Your dog doesn’t know the value of such items and thoroughly enjoys himself in the process
You cannot start yelling at your dog when you come in the door and find him lying beside the chewed up items. Reinforcing positive behavior is a way for you to train your dog by replacing a good behavior he can perform for the bad one that he has been exhibiting Chewing is something that your dog enjoys and comes very natural to him It is up to you as a dog owner to get to know what it is that your dog enjoys chewing and then you can provide these dog specific chewies and leave them in a specific area that you have designated as a “chewing allowed” area. Dogs can get bored, just like children, so when he has a way to satisfy this outlet of energy that is controlled by you, then he will not destroy your property
It is usually most effective to use a combination of training approaches to stop dog chewing Some dogs are chronic chewers and don’t care what they chew and will destroy your home if allowed One solution for chronic chewing is to make the items or areas that your dog is prone to chewing as foul tasting as possible with products such as sprays and solutions These substances come in different forms from sprays to ointments and they work to discourage your dog from going back to that area because the taste is very bitter and bad to your dog. Pet stores and catalogues sell them and one of the more popular flavors is bitter apple.
When your dog runs out of things to do and needs to channel his energy somewhere,chewing is a very common outlet for this type of boredom. When you are gone to work all day and your dog is home by himself, he is going to need something to occupy his attention and expend his energy on.Crating your dog can be a solution while you are away from the home, providing it is only for short periods of time. Spending this time in the crate can be a calming experience for your dog Most dogs look at their crate as a den and become very relaxed and fall asleep. You can leave his favorite toy and some safe chews inside with him so that he can keep himself busy when awake Just remember,that this solution is not intended to be used for extended periods of time A dog needs to exercise and relieve himself throughout the day and it is not healthy to keep him in a crate for the entire day. If your dog isn’t crate trained yet visit dog obedience university for instruction on this.
What dog doesn’t take a good opportunity when he sees it? If a piece of steak drops on the floor, chances are he will sweep in and help clean it off the floor for you The same can be said of tempting chewable items. When you leave items on the floor on low lying coffee tables you are extending an invitation for your dog to grab it and do what he wants with it. After all, it was left there for him , wasn’t it? I had a friend who left her expensive pair of Oakley sunglasses on her weight bench and she came home to find her Wiemeriener happy to see her and $200 tangle of chewed plastic. The way a dog explores his world is by using his nose and his mouth. Try to remember to put things away that you value , out of your best friend’s reach.
Tiring your dog out by having some fun exercise sessions will give him balance and make him less prone to vent energy off in undesirable ways. When a dog is tired he is less likely to get in trouble. A tired dog is a happy dog. A happy dog means a happy owner.
When you dog has free range to run loose in the house make sure that he has plenty of chew toys, such as kongs, rawhides, and dental chews to gnaw on There are some really cool puzzle toys out there that let you put a treat inside of them that make it so your dog has to roll it around on the floor and really work at it with his tongue to get the treat inside out. When he is busy with such things, he won’t be eyeing your chair legs the same way.
A dog is a dog but some breeds can be a bit more prone to chewing than others. If you can focus in on why your dog is chewing it will help you figure out what solution to use to stop your dog from chewing. Is he bored? Does he have to much freedom? If you have to leave him home all day and it is too long to crate him, consider bringing him to one of the many doggie daycares available for the day. Not only will this tire him out, but he will be getting socialized as well. He will be so worn out by the time he comes home, the last thing on his mind will be chewing anything!
For other excellent solutions and guidance that go into more detail about dog chewing and how to deal with it check out the best dog training courses found online today.