If you are struggling with the problem of how to stop dog chewing, this article should help you get to the root of the problem. Trying to deal with dogs that insist on chewing everything they come in contact with can be incredibly frustrating, and causes of much anxiety to dog owners. However, there are things dog owners can do to stop dog chewing. By understanding why your dog channels all his energy into chewing things, you can minimize the problem and try to identify the root cause of the problem.
In the following article, I explore the reasons why dogs exhibit inappropriate chewing, and suggest solutions to stop dog chewing.
Stop Dog Chewing – Puppies That Are Teething
Though it may be frustrating to dog owners, puppies between the ages of 3.5 and 11 months old commonly chew because they are teething. This is a natural part of puppy development that puppies really don’t have any control over. Although you cannot do very much to stop dog chewing during teething, the problem can be managed with minimal effect to your personal items. To survive this difficult time, provide your dog with soft and hard chew toys.
Examples of effective hard chew toys include rubber bones and real bones, while good options for soft chew toys include fabric field dummies and soft toys specially designed for puppies. Rubber dog toys can amuse puppies for long periods of time and redirect chewing away from your shoes or other personal items.
Another valuable tool in the battle to stop dog chewing is a product called bitter apple. Bitter apple works to repel dogs from chewing items by tasting very bitter and inedible to the vast majority of dogs. Bitter apple can be sprayed directly on to items to discourage chewing. It’s a really good idea to keep some bitter apple handy during the teething process. It is also helpful for use with adult dogs that have developed undesirable chewing behaviors.
Click here to grab some Bitter Apply spray!
With the obvious exception of food, a puppy should never be given something that can be ingested or destroyed. A few things that puppies do love to chew on during teething include ice cubes, dog biscuits, apples, and carrots. Making sure that your dog can’t get into your towels, socks, shoes, laundry and other household and personal belongings is of the utmost importance.
Don’t leave things lying around your house, and your puppy won’t be able to chew them. When a puppy is lonely, it may get tempted to chew everything in its path. Realize that your puppy needs a good deal of attention, and be sure to supply them with a few good chew toys. If you can’t have any eye on them at all times, then consider getting them a playpen to play in!
Stop Dog Chewing in Adult Dogs
If your dog isn’t teething any more, his chewing is more likely down to being lonely, anxious or bored. Chewing everything doesn’t mean that your dog is deliberately trying to make you angry. Rather, they are probably craving attention and stimulation. If your dog starts attacking furniture or destroying other household items, it’s probably best to confine them when you cant supervise them directly.
An important part of the dog grooming process is to dog nail clippers. After all, the constant “click, click, click” can become quite irritating when they walk along your floor. When you hear this, you know it’s time to clip your dog’s nails.
Consider using a crate for this. Crating is a good short term solution to stop dog chewing as your dog will be prevented from chewing items around your home. This will save you money replacing damaged items.
It will also help you to stay patient and calm by giving you some time off babysitting your chewing dog. Most importantly your dog will be unable to reach chew items that could harm them, such as electrical goods and sharp items.
Therefore, when trying to stop dog chewing your first steps should be to provide proper chew toys for your dog to chew on instead of your personal possessions, and confine your dog when you cannot be there supervising.
Rather than getting frustrated or angry at your dog when he chews up your belongings, give him some good toys of his own. Using a crate is a great way to keep your dog away from your personal things when you need to limit your dog’s access.
I think that I should emphasize that confining your dog can only stop dog chewing in the short-term and won’t actually tackle the root cause of the problem. Anxiety, boredom and loneliness are common causes of inappropriate dog chewing, and you will not solve these problems by keeping your dog crated.
Instead, you should spend more time with your dog, or arrange additional company and stimulation for them. It is not a good idea to leave your dog alone so much that they seek to alleviate their boredom by chewing.
Ensure that your dog gets outdoors often and gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Some dogs require more attention compared to others, and you might need to offer more companionship or stimulation if you have a problem with your dog chewing too much.
Although your dog does not need your constant companionship and attention, leaving your dog alone on a regular basis for long periods can cause your dog to become upset and bored, leading to him chew on whatever is available. You really need to get to grips with the root cause of your dogs chewing problem and find solutions that are appropriate for your dog as well as your daily routine.
