Destructive chewing in dogs

Destructive chewing in dogs:

The act of chewing seems to be a matter of individual preference among dogs: some have an innate desire to chew as a pleasurable activity in itself, and some seem to have no need to chew at all unless they are driven by pure Boredom. .

The phrase "destructive chewing" may sound redundant, because, by its very nature! -All chewing is destructive. Your dog has strong jaws full of sharp, pointed teeth: almost anything that starts chewing will probably show the effects in a minute. So, to clarify, when I use the phrase "destructive chewing," I mean inappropriate chewing: the kind of chewing that focuses on your own belongings and household items, rather than on your dog's own toys and chewers. [Post: How to stop puppy biting]

The three main reasons why Dogs Chew:

  • Most dogs have a natural desire to chew. It's fun, time passes, and it's a self-rewarding, autorreforzante activity (for example, if you're chewing something that tastes good).
  • Chewing provides a nervous, boring or solitary dog a way out for your emotions. For an anxious dog, the repetitive act of chewing is soothing, it is the doggy equivalent of comforting food.
  • Unexercised dogs often use chewing as a way to burn off nervous energy and give themselves something to do.
  • How to prevent destructive chewing


Dogs are perfectly capable of learning not to chew your stuff, you just have to put a little effort first, that's all.

1. Take control of the situation. Manage your own possessions your first step should be dog-proof your home. Even if you have the best educated dog in the world, there is still no reason to test your self-control, after all, dogs explore the world with their mouths.

Dog-proof your home means taking everything you don't want to end up in your mouth, and making it unavailable. Consider your size and agility when deciding if something is out of your reach: can you jump? Can you climb or jump to something else to reach the desired object? How tall is she when she's standing on her hind legs?

Common goals in the home include books, goggles, clothes, shoes, trash and small crisp appliances such as cameras, cell phones and remote controls.

It goes without saying that all foods should be stored safely: Do not leave snacks at low tables (or even on worktops, you would be surprised how acrobatic it can be when there is food at stake!), put all food in containers or pantry. Rinse your dirty dishes before leaving them next to the sink.

2. Prevents you from learning the joys of illegal chewing. The more times he manages to grab a banned substance, a chair, a pillow, a running shoe, the more easily he will attack those objects in the future. If you can stop her from chewing her stuff, it's much easier for her to understand what she expects from her. In practical terms, this means confined to a dog-proof area until you are sure of your understanding of the rules of the house.

3. Do not prepare her for failure by blurring the boundaries between her things (OK to chew) and her things (it's not right to chew). Do not offer your dog clothes, shoes or disposable towels to chew and play: In fact, it is not possible that you can differentiate between your current footwear and the one in the mouth you gave him five minutes ago.

4. Provide you with many tasty alternatives for your stuff. If your environment is relatively sterile from attractive and appropriate chewing objects, you can hardly blame it for attacking your belongings. Remember, most dogs should chew; If you are a teenager (less than three years old) or a puppy (less than a year), your needs will be even more pronounced. Go to a toy and chew a shopping spree, then give it two or three to play at the same time. Rotating toys available Every few days will keep things new and interesting for her.

5. Spend a lot of time on active supervision. Yes, it might be easier for you to keep her locked in her cage, run or in the garden, but that's boring and horrible for her, and it's not too much fun for you (if you wanted a pet that I don't need to interact with, you'd have a goldfish, right?) You cannot know what you expect from her if you are spending all your time locked up in the dog-proof zone: You need the opportunity to explore the limits of your expectations, so that you can understand what is appropriate and what is not.

6. When you find it chewing something inappropriate, interrúmala making a loud noise: clap or make a "ah-ah-aaaah" noise. Then immediately give it a tasty and appropriate alternative for the dog (a raw leather bone or other chewy toy); As soon as his jaws close around him, Elógiala profusely. There is no better way for your dog to understand that chewing "his" toys is equal to his praises, but everything else is equal to a problem.


-Maintain a productive attitude-

Above all, remember to keep your expectations realistic. You're not perfect, and neither is your dog: there is probably at least one incident in which a loved object is damaged by its curiosity.

Particularly in the early stages of their relationship, they are still learning the ropes: it will take a while before it is completely reliable (and yet, if left alone for a long time or feels abandoned, you can choose your things on hers to occupy them ). His time and his jaws with.) Remember to give your time to learn the rules, and plenty of ' you-time ' to help you learn faster, and don't forget to take precautions and keep things out of reach until you have the opportunity to chew rules!

For more information on dog training techniques and how to deal with the dog's problematic behavior (such as chewing). [Post: How to make your dog chew their food]

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