By Annette Masse
What Causes Chewing in Dogs? What should you do if the dog chews the things in your home?
For dogs, chewing is a natural and normal animal behavior. You should not let you dog chew up all your belongings: your furniture, your shoes, your stuffed animals, or your remote controls. I once had the pleasure of knowing a naughty dog that chewed a hole so massive in his house that he managed to escape the home. This dog also consumed a computer mouse, and several remote controls.
As pet owners, we must educate ourselves on why puppies chew things.
In order to suppress the discomfort of teething, the puppies begin to put anything and everything in their mouths, just like a baby when they begin to teethe. Fully grown dogs generally chew when they're bored or upset by an owner's absence. Many pooches chew things because they are playing or because they find an item tasty. But generally, for most adult dogs, chewing is merely a bad habit.
Now let's discuss each of these destructive behaviors more thoroughly.
• Teething
• Mouthing
• Boredom
• Fear
• Play
• Attention Seeking
• Just tastes Good
Teething - Teething is a stage of your puppy's development. For human children, there are a number of topical gels that can be applied to the gums in order to reduce some of the pain caused by teething. Sometimes vets will prescribe a topical gel for teething in puppies as well. You should help a puppy get through the teething stage because this stage isn't permanent. One tip is to find toys, usually made from hard rubber or plastic, that are designed specially with teething puppies in mind. In addition, you can try giving the puppy ice cubes, or a knotted wash cloth that has been chilled in the freezer. When the puppy shows signs of discomfort due to teething, give him the frozen wash cloth to play with, as it may help soothe him. Typically, the frozen cloth technique works best with very small or young dogs. You want your dog to understand what belongs to him and what belongs to you. I like to hand a frozen bagel to a teething puppy. That way he gets to gnaw on it, and eventually he can eat it as well. I prefer to use the smaller bagels, which can be bought in a large bag. This appears to work effectively.
Mouthing - Puppies as young as 8 weeks can already possess very pointy teeth. They have a tendency to nip if they're playing and jumping around. Biting should be discouraged by the pet's owners. That's a standard means of canine communication. Some dog owners play too rough with their dogs, and then the dog may gently bite back. However, this is not good behavior to teach a young pup, and it should not be practiced.
Boredom - When left alone for extended periods, your dog may become bored and will chew your belongings. Chewing will keep a dog from feeling bored and alone. The most effective approach to curing this is to walk or run with your dog more frequently. You have to be aware that while some dogs become more relaxed and sleepy by going for a walk, others get all hyped up instead. A great way to relax with your dog is take a little stroll with your pet first, and then spend some quite time together. It will result in a bonding process and will make your relationship stronger. I recommend frozen bagels or frozen pizza dough as chew toy alternatives.
Fear – Occasionally, dogs may chew because they're frightened. For instance, lots of dogs are frightened by thunder. Your dog may also bark and chew on the window frames, etc. when a strange dog is seen walking by outside. This is a result of territorial anxiety. The "down and stay" command is a great way to end unneeded defensive behaviors in your dog. Communicating this way when your dog is behaving well will make it more effective when he's engaged in undesirable conduct. Pull your dog from the window and command "down stay". Sitting with your dog will encourage him to relax. That generally gives them a breather to collect themselves.
Play - Some dogs bite or chew while playing, this means that your dog needs more training to eliminate these harmful behaviors. Different dogs have different energy levels. High energy dogs generally require both training and a rigorous program of exercise. Structured play time is very important for dog. This includes games such as jumping or fetch. During his other activities, both indoors and outdoors, you should practice the "down stay" command frequently.
Attention Seekers - Some dogs are natural born attention seekers and need extra attention from their owners. To attract attention, dogs may bark, steal, chew, twirl around, even limp. A dog chews things because it desires attention. A dog even views negative attention from it's owners as attention, and will continue this undesirable behavior. Ignore the negative behavior, and then the dog's desire to chew your things should go away.
Just Tastes Good - We all know if something is tasty for a dog, then the dog will want to eat it. Sometimes dogs find items very palatable. When something is palatable to a dog, the dog likes the feeling of chewing or holding that item in its mouth. Dogs enjoy chewing on furniture, stuffed animals, and other items. The most effective approach is to put such items away while your pet is going through this phase.
Chewing may not be an issue if your beloved dog is healthy, exercises and plays frequently, and has plenty of room to roam and explore. If your dog continues to chew, then maybe frozen bagels will terminate your pet's desire to chew.
Annette Masse, better known as Betty Bulldog has been loving and respecting dogs for 25 years. Get her free mini email course called Love The DogZ. Teaching you about your dog. ForTheLoveOfDogZ.com
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