Among dogs, the act of chewing seems to be a matter of individual preference. Some dogs love to chew and do so as a pleasurable activity. For other dogs, chewing is an activity that only sheer boredom can initiate.
The phrase “destructive chewing” simply refers to inappropriate chewing. It is important to note that all chewing is destructive, but not all chewing is inappropriate. Because dogs have strong jaws and sharp, pointy teeth, anything they start to chew on is probably going to show the effects of it within minutes. Inappropriate chewing, on the other hand, is the kind of chewing that is focused on your possessions and household items, instead of on your dog’s own designated toys and chews.
Three Reasons Why Dogs Chew:
- Natural desire. Most dogs like to chew because it’s fun, it feels good, it passes the time, and it’s an overall self-rewarding/ self-reinforcing activity.
- An outlet. For some dogs who are nervous, bored or lonely, chewing can provide an emotional outlet. To an anxious dog, the repetitive act of chewing is actually soothing. You can think of it as the doggie equivalent of comfort food.
- Energy burner. Dogs that are under-exercised will often use chewing as a way of burning built up energy.
Ways to Prevent Destructive Chewing
With a little time, effort, and patience (mainly on your part), your dog can learn to chew the things you want them to. Here are some suggestions to help you train your dog to be an obedient chewer:
Manage Your Own Possessions. Your first step should be to take control and dog-proof your home. Dogs explore the world with their mouths. Even the best-behaved dog will have its self-control tested with a multitude of items laying around. So dog-proof your home.
Dog-proofing your home requires taking whatever you don’t want to end up in your dog’s mouth and making it unavailable. This may mean taking it completely out of sight. Consider the size and agility of your dog when deciding whether something’s out of reach. For example, can your dog jump, climb, or leap onto something else to reach the desired object?
Common household items that dogs will target include books, eye wear, clothing, shoes, garbage, and small crunchy appliances like cameras, cell phones, and remote controls.
It is also imperative that all food is put securely away. Don’t leave snacks on low tables or even on counter tops (yes, dogs can be very acrobatic when it comes to getting what they want). For some dogs, the occasional dirty dish may even need to rinsed of scraps before left in the kitchen sink.
Don’t Blur the Boundaries. It is impossible to expect your dog to understand the difference between your cast-away clothes and the ones you actually want to wear. To avoid this confusion, simply don’t offer your possessions (old or new)-towels, socks, or shoes to your dog to play with.
Provide Tasty Alternatives. Remember that most dogs need to chew. If our dog is young (a puppy-three years old), the need is more pronounced. Provide a variety of attractive and interesting chew toys. If the environment is relatively barren of approved chewing objects, you can hardly blame your dog for chewing on your possessions. Buying a variety of toys and rotating 2-3 every few days will keep things novel and interesting.
Provide Active Supervision. Provide opportunities for your dog to explore the boundaries of your expectations. It is through this exploration that your dog will learn what is appropriate behavior and what is not. Although it may be convenient to keep your dog penned up in a yard, dog run, or crate, it is not fun, fair, or productive for the dog.
Interrupt With Loud Noises. When you catch your dog chewing something that is on the “not allowed” list, interrupt the behavior by making a loud noise. This doesn’t mean give the dog a heart attack by screaming into a bullhorn, but rather a startling noise in the form of a hand clap or voicing an “Ah-ah-aaaah!”. Once you have the dog’s attention, give a tasty and dog-appropriate alternative (a rawhide bone or other chew toy). Then, as soon as the jaws close around it, load on the praise. This is a sure-fire way to teach your dog what is appropriate to chew and that chewing those things will win praise from you.
Maintain a Productive Attitude. The most important thing to remember is to stay positive and realistic. It should be obvious that dogs are not humans. There is likely to be an incident or two that leaves a cherished item damaged by your dog’s curiosity. Your dog is not perfect. Make sure you give your furry friend plenty of time to learn the chewing rules-take precautions to keep things out of reach and provide plenty of you-time to make learning faster.
For more information on dog training techniques and how to deal with problem dog behavior (like chewing), check out Secrets to Dog Training. It’s the complete manual for dog ownership and is designed to fast-track your dog s learning.
Visit the Secrets to Dog Training site to learn more.
