Dogs chew on things for many reasons. Among dogs, the action of destructive chewing seems to depend on the individual dog. However, some dogs chew because it gives them pleasure, while others chew due to boredom.
The saying "destructive chewing" may sound superfluous, since - by its very character! - All chewing is destructive. A dog's mouth is full of very sharp teeth: anything your dog chews on will show effects of the constant chewing. Therefore, to make clear, when the expression "destructive chewing" is used, I am pointing out unnecessary chewing: chewing that is aimed at valuable items within your household, instead of designated chew toys purchased specifically for chewing.
Three reasons why dogs chew:
- The majority of dogs have an innate craving to chew. It is enjoyable, it keeps them occupied, and it is a rewarding, reinforcing action e.g., when your dog is chewing something that pleases its taste buds.
- Dogs also chew to satisfy nervous, bored, or lonely emotions. To a restless dog, the monotonous act of chewing is comforting - it is similar to humans and comfort food.
- Dogs that do not get enough exercise regularly use chewing as a way of burning up nervous energy and giving themselves something to do.
Ways to prevent destructive chewing:
Dogs are completely able of learning how not to chew on things that are yours - It just takes a little patience on your part.
1. You must have power over your state of affairs: control your own belongings. Making your home dog proof should be the first step. You can have the best-behaved dog in the entire world, however, there is still no wisdom in testing your dog's self-control, dogs use their mouths as a tool of discovery.
When someone dog proofs their home, they put everything that they don't want to end up in "Rover's" mouth away. Put your belongings out of reach, but remember some dogs are very agile and can jump high. Therefore, keep in consideration how tall and athletic your dog is.
Books, eyeglasses, clothing, shoes, garbage, and other things like cameras, cellular phones, and remote controls are all targets for a dog that chews.
It would also be wise to put away all food in a secure location: do not leave doggy snacks or human food on low tables where your dog has easy access. All food should be put into a container or the pantry. Try not to leave plates with food residue on it over-night, try to wash all plates and containers free of food before going to sleep.
2. Do not let your dog ever experience the pleasures of chewing things that they should not. The more times your dog manages to get their mouths on things they should not have, the harder it will be to kick the habit in the future. The best way to deal with destructive chewing is not let them get into the habit in the first place. Many people keep their dogs in an area of the house where they do not have access to valuable items, until they get accustomed to the rules of the home.
3. Do not offer your dog discarded clothes or shoes. It is impossible for your dog to tell the difference between old clothing that you do not want and clothing that you still want. This will help your dog stay away from the habit of chewing things that does not belong to it.
4. Give your dog things that are tasty as an alternative to your belongings. If you do not have adequate toys and items that your dog can chew, then you cannot blame it for chewing your things. Keep in mind that all dogs need to chew at some point in their lives, especially puppies and adolescent dogs. If you do not have appropriate chewing toys for your dog then a toy-shopping excursion is warranted. However, do not give your dog all of the toys to play with at the same time; one or three at a time is perfect. To keep your dog interested in its toys, rotate them every few days.
5. Supervision of your dog is also of great importance. I know what you are thinking! "Why don't I just keep the dog in its crate, or just leave him in the yard?" Well, that is all good, but if you wanted a caged up animal, why didn't you get a bird? Locking up your dog in its crate all day is not good for him, especially if your dog is very social. It will be hard for any dog if they are locked up in a cage all the time. Because, as soon as you let them out, they will go right back to doing what got them locked up in the first place.
6. Clapping and making loud noises when you see your dog chewing things it is not supposed to, is the best way to get them on the path of destructive chewing remission. After your dog drops the evidence, reward him with a tasty treat and praise him for doing a job, which was dropping whatever he was chewing. This is a good way to let your dog know that chewing anything other than their toys will equal trouble.
Always keep a healthy positive attitude
Be realistic when it comes to lofty expectations for your dog. Humans are not perfect; so do not expect your dog to be perfect. Therefore, expect that something will be damaged by their curiosity once or twice until they learn that chewing your things is wrong. Please be patient with them.
Remember, in the beginning stage of your relationship, your dog is still learning. It will take some time before he is on point 99.9 percent of the time; I leave that one percent open because if dogs are left alone for too long, sometimes they cannot help themselves. Give your dog as much time as it needs to get the hang of the situation. In addition, do not forget to help your dog by removing valuable items from their reach.
Stop your dog from chewing things and other bad behaviors at: -or- |
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment