Help - My Dog is Chewing Everything in Sight

By Terry Zinndell

The jaw muscles of a dog are some of the strongest muscles in the animal kingdom. The Golden retriever, which is just average sized can strip and tear apart a thick Rawhide bone in just a couple of minutes. And that is why it is a pity that they can treat furniture the same way.

The chewing tendency of a dog is going to depend upon his breed and that is why a knowledgeable owner needs to know about the behavior patterns of his dog. However, chewing every object which is present in the house is a normal tendency in every existing dog breed. That is the reason why one has to focus the dog's attention on some other object upon which they can chew. But that is quite a difficult thing to do with some dogs.

There are younger dogs (mostly puppies) that will have a greater tendency to chew with less discrimination regarding what they choose. However, even young puppies can be discouraged from grabbing things their owners would prefer the dogs stayed away from.

This can be done by making sure that an object that might cause temptation is put away from the dog's reach. That is also why dogs should not gain easy access to laundry and items like shoes to chew upon. Another good idea is to keep the dog's toys away from children's toys.

It is important to maintain an attractive variety of toys available and keep them indoors or outdoors so the dog may chew on them. Rawhide bones are very attractive to a number of dogs while other breeds will prefer hard rubber or unique plastic dental bones. With rare exception, giving the dog a real bone is often not a good idea. Oversized beef bones are usually safe, but chicken and pork bones are known to easily splinter which can lead to injury.

Thankfully, there are a great many special toys that can be used instead. Many will even have hollow interiors designed to hold treats. Often, the dog will need to struggle a little in order to get to the treat at the center which is the whole idea. This will keep the dog occupied and presents your pet with a solid mental and physical workout which keeps them striving to reach their reward.

It also does not hurt to take a firm tone with the dog when it grabs an unsuitable object such as socks or shoes. However, it is extremely unwise to yell or deliver hard physical punishment. Rather than yell, you will need to vent your frustrations elsewhere. Yes, this can be easier said than done but it must be followed in order to maintain the harmony of the owner/pet relationship.

The development of specific habits can be done by leashing the dog. Then an unsuitable object has to be placed near the dog. The moment, the dog approaches it, the leash should be jerked sideways, and No said very firmly.

Always be sure to jerk sideways and never back. A dog's neck muscles are very strong, but the dog's throat can be easily bruised. Remember, the pulling movement is to inform and definitely not to punish.

A Dog might have a tendency to chew upon every exterior item outside like fences and plants. Use home recipes like cayenne pepper to coat the areas which the dog likes to chew. One may also use harmless commercial mixtures, which consist of bitter apple, a product definitely not liked by dogs.

Successful dog training can only be done with consistency, patience and a lot of persistence. The idea behind stopping chewing is not to start a new behavior pattern, but to "suppress" a natural behavior pattern.

Often, redirecting the dog to acceptable objects is the best bet since it is impossible to eliminate the dog's instincts. That is why it is necessary to be calm and vigilant. Keep your cool even when the dog chews on the new carpet. Objects can be replaced. A good relationship with a pet cannot. - 31866

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