Owning a dog is one of the best things you can do in life, but unfortunately, some things are just not that enjoyable for us dog owners. . Dogs are simple creatures. They can make amazing pets if we meet their basic needs, but unfortunately, even adult dogs can have a chewing problem. By figuring out why they are doing the things they do, we can properly address behaviors that are less than favorable.
How Do I get my dog to stop chewing things in the house?
Dogs chew for various reasons, but to get them to stop this undesirable behavior, you will need to know why they are exhibiting that behavior in the first place. Nobody want to come home and find their old shoes, wood trims, remote controls or a table leg chewed.
There are several ways to redirect and put an end to chewing, but different situations will require different solutions, so here we have written out all of the reasons your pup might be chewing and how to fix it based on their motive for chewing.
Reasons a dog might be destructive chewing
They weren’t taught what to chew
When our furry friends come to live in our homes, share a bed with us and reside next to their favorite human, they don’t always know the rules of the house yet. Just like you have to teach them to potty outside, you’ll need to teach them what to chew and what not to chew. and always teach with positive reinforcement. Much like human babies, it’s natural behavior for our furry friend to put everything in their mouth.
They don’t have access to toys
One of the possible reasons is that they do not have an acceptable chew toy. A great place to start if your dog is chewing , get them access to dog chew toys. I usually recommend KONG dog toys or something durable for active chewers that cannot be easily ripped to pieces.
Ripping things up leaves a mess for you to clean later, and it can also cause a choking hazard. You want something you can leave with your pup without worrying about it being all over the floor (or stuck in their airways) when you get home. Hard rubber toys are an excellent choice for a new puppy or an older dog.
Boredom
That’s right. Your dog might be BORED out of their mind, which is okay sometimes but not always. All dogs require some level of stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. There are several boredom busters such as food dispensing toys, leaving the TV or music on, or even making sure your dog can look out the window and people watch.
You don’t want them sitting at home and getting into things they shouldn’t be, so providing them with things to keep them entertained is a must! Puzzle toys are always a great way to fight boredom.
Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety is a beast on its own, and a sign of separation anxiety include chewing only when they are left alone or being the MOST destructive during this time. Having separation anxiety means your dog has a massive fear of being separated from their handler. For cases like this, it is recommended to work on the root of the problem before addressing the chewing, which means taking several measures to get your dog slowly acclimated to being home alone.
It’s a fear-related coping mechanism
When your dog is worried or scared, it will seek to distract itself by getting into mischief. If your dog is generally timid or appears to have anxious tendencies, soothing its fear will be key to putting an end to the product of its fear (the chewing).
It feels good
That’s right…it’s a dog’s instinct to chew, and it feels GOOD! Dog loves to sink their teeth into something because it activates their feel-good senses and takes them back to their primal instincts of chewing on rawhide in the woods. If your dog is under 6-7 months old, they may be teething as well, and chewing feels extremely good on their mouth and helps alleviate pain, so you will want to replace their chewing habit with what YOU want them to chew.
How to put an end to chewing
Based on your dog’s reason for chewing, you will want to use one or a combination of these approaches to end the chewing:
Mental exercise
If your dog is bored or restless, then let’s face it..they may be lacking what we call mental exercise. Mental exercise comes in many forms. This can include dog puzzles, flip boards, or even a Furbo dog camera where you can toss your dog treats while at work. The point here is to ensure they aren’t at home just staring at the wall and instead providing them with something to do.
You want to have them lick, sniff, chew, and explore with all their senses things that are NOT your grandmother’s expensive couch. Having them use their senses can also happen when you are with them. Say you go to the hardware store and take them with you. They will be mentally stimulated because they are experiencing new things, smelling new smells, and getting out of their comfort zone. Your usual walk around the block is not considered mental stimulation.
It might be great exercise and a good time for bonding and potty breaks, but mental stimulation is anything where your dog has to use their brain and explores new sights, sounds, and experiences. When a dog gets home from a new experience, they rarely chew on household furniture because a mentally stimulated brain is a tired brain.
Taste deterrent
This method teaches your dog what to chew and what not to chew. A taste deterrent like bitter apple spray is exactly what it sounds like. It tastes YUCKY to your dog. They won’t want to chew on the table edges anymore if it tastes like bitter apples.
Chew toys and safe bones
Toys and bones are the best way to keep your dog occupied. You will want to find bones that will not rip apart easily, especially for avid chewers. Also, the toys with stuffing in them usually look great, but if a dog ingests cotton while you are gone, it could not end up well. You will want to find hard toys that can sustain themselves with an avid chewer.
Make sure they aren’t hungry
I know this sounds like a given, but it is something pet owners sometimes overlook. In one of my dog training classes, a pet parent had issues with her dog chewing during the day. She only fed her pup once a day, and the dog couldn’t eat all of it in one sitting. We always recommend that you feed your dog a minimum of every 12 hours. Waiting longer can cause them to throw up due to an empty stomach, and if they haven’t been fed, they might be chewing to ease the hunger until their next meal.
Exercise
Getting your dog properly exercised is very breed-specific, so it is important to know the requirements for your specific dog. While a husky might need 5 miles of run time before being left in the house alone, your chihuahua might not need much other than to go around the block. A tired dog is a good dog; if they are not getting enough exercise, they are much more likely to chew.
Training supplies
The supplies you need will vary based on your approach, but a few supplies that may be useful include a crate, a chewing deterrent spray, dog puzzles, dog bones, and toys. Using a crate is up to you, and you don’t need to use it forever, but say your pup doesn’t know what they are allowed to chew yet. Creating them can be a useful tool until they know right from wrong, THEN they can get free reign of the house.
Teach what to chew
Teaching your dog what to chew is essential and can be done at any age. To do this, you will want to use a harsh NO or a spray bottle when chewing what you don’t want them to chew, and praise them when they are chewing the right things.
Redirect their behavior
When you catch your dog partaking in destructive behavior, you will want to redirect their attention to something they can chew, then praise them for chewing it. Chewing is a natural and primal behavior for dogs, so allowing them to chew on the RIGHT things is essential.
Signs of separation anxiety
You will want to watch out for signs that your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety and lashing out with destructive behavior because this is a more complex problem that needs to be addressed. Signs of this include:
- Urinating and defecating in the house.
- Barking and howling.
- Trying to escape.
- Pacing.
- Being destructive to household items in a large extent when their human is out of the house
If your dog has separation anxiety, teaching them not to chew on things will not be enough. You will need to re-wire your dog’s brain to understand that you will indeed be coming back, and this can only be done through slow and specialized training and trust-building with your dog. Scolding an already anxious dog for chewing is never the answer.
FAQ
At what age does a dog stop chewing on everything?
When dogs lose their baby teeth, they are likely to chew to help with the pain. This is normal; they should be given good things to chew on. This phase usually ends when the dog is six months of age.
How do you punish a dog for chewing on things?
It is never necessary to scream at or hit a dog. You will want to confiscate the item, tell them a short NO, and provide them with an item they are allowed to chew on to satisfy their urges. Soon they will learn that chewing on the wrong things is NOT okay and to reach for their chew toys instead.
What else can I do to stop my dog from chewing the furniture?
Crate training and dog gates are a good way to wall off this behavior when you’re not home. When the inappropriate object is out of the puppy’s reach, he may lose interest. A dog crate is a wonderful idea to combat chewing as well as soiling the house from using the bathroom.
Conclusion
Dogs are compassionate creatures that aim to please. They would rather have your approval and are usually eager to learn. Teaching them the rules of the house is essential so that they can live in harmony with you. By using these methods we hope that instead of coming home to a ripped-up house you will come home to a calm, tail-wagging dog.
Check out our post: PUPPIES SURVIVING PARVO! WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
Pingback: MOST POPULAR ICELANDIC DOG NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS -