It is a normal part of a young dog’s behavior
pattern to bite and chew as they attempt to discover and
understand as much as they can about their immediate
environment. When puppies are teething they instinctively chew
since it makes the painful areas of their mouth feel better.
When puppies develop into mature dogs they usually grow out of
their chewing behavior, though some do not. No one likes the
idea of coming home to discover their slippers in shreds and
covered in dog saliva. So obviously we must have a plan to
dissuade our pets from dog chewing.
When a dog chews up things in a destructive way it is
frequently a consequence of them feeling nervous, bored stiff
or a mixture of both. If, on returning home you discover a
cushion or the leg of a living room chair ruined then it is
most probably because your dog was frustrated and only wanted
to amuse himself and pass the time until you came home In many
ways people and dogs are very similar. Every now and then
people go to extreme lengths to entertain themselves and fend
off boredom and dogs are no different! When a dog is deprived
of sufficient exercise or stimulation he or she will
frequently let loose that bottled up liveliness and
frustration on just about everything in view, be it a
newspaper, magazine, socks or curtains.
Exercise should be an essential part of your dog’s normal
schedule. Don’t take the easy way out and just place him or
her out in the garden by themselves. This will only cause your
dog to become more harassed and nervous. As an alternative,
put on your joggers and go for a fast trip around your
immediate neighborhood and allow your dog to become familiar
with the area. If you are fortunate enough to have a dog
recreational area near your home, then take him there to spend
some quality time and to run off some of that excess energy.
Take a ball or Frisbee with you and take pleasure in a game of
fetch. Dogs require, in equal proportions, mental and physical
stimulation and they will not obtain it unless you provide it
for them. As well as receiving his fair share of exercise and
fresh air, you will have provided your dog with a first class
workout and made him weary and in want of a good long snooze.
A dog that is content, well adjusted and stimulated is not
interested in chewing things because he has other things to
keep him occupied.
Make a visit to a pet supply shop and buy some toys
particularly intended for dog chewing. Most pet stores carry
an excellent range of nylon and rubber toys that are
hard-wearing enough to survive the most destructive dog
chewing habits of a dog bent on destroying the toy. As well
there are hollowed out artificial dog bones that can be filled
with tasty treats that without doubt will make a dog happy.
For example you could fill them with any food of choice, such
as cheese, desiccated dog foodstuff combined with a modest wet
dog food and peanut butter. Don’t let your dog to become bored
with the same fare by trying different kinds of food fillers
to keep his full attention. A particular tactic is to lodge a
portion of cheese somewhere there is an opening in the bone
and/or plaything or maybe even freeze a little scrap of wet
dog food for him to dig out.
Bare in mind that keeping your dog mentally stimulated will go
a long way to keeping him happy and busy, so it would be a
good idea to buy toys that will engage his intelligence while
you are away from home. Many pet stores sell dog puzzles that
will occupy even a moderately intelligent dog for a good space
of time. Many of these puzzles have a place where you can hide
a treat for your dog for him to discover and retrieve. Treats
such as Buster Cubes or Kongs are ideal for this. Always give
thought to the toys you buy for your dog. Avoid toys that
contain small pieces that can come off in a dog’s mouth and be
swallowed. Don’t think that because a product is sold in a pet
shop that it means it can’t cause damage to a dog.
Always vary the types of dog chewing toys you buy. Keep your
dog interested by trying out different odors, tastes and
textures. Motivate your dog trying new things for him to play
and challenge his intelligence with. It also makes sense to
keep some dog chewing toys inside the house and also some
outside in the backyard so your dog is never bored.
