Distructive Chewing
Why is My Dog Chewing Everything?
Chewing is natural dog behaviour. In the wild, dogs spend hours chewing on the bones of their prey long after the meal is finished. Chewing provides many benefits: it exercises the jaw and back muscles, helps keep teeth and gums healthy and clean, provides mental stimulation and relieves boredom.
Provide a Safe Outlet for Chewing
Your dog needs to chew. Not allowing her to chew anything will result in your dog releasing energy in more annoying ways such as barking, digging or being restless. Therefore, you need to provide an outlet for your dog to satisfy her urge to chew.
Provide your dog with enticing chew toys like the ones outlined in your package. Have at least seven different toys and rotate them so your dog doesn't get bored. Although these toys may seem expensive, they will save your furniture, clothes, and everything else in your house from the jaws of your dog.
Fixate Your Dog on Appropriate Chew Toys
Show your dog how much fun the toys are: the best way to do that is to play with the toys yourself and then play with the toys together.
Stuff the toys with tasty treats to reward your dog for chewing her toys. Praise your dog when you see her chewing on her own toys.
An open toy box or basket in an easily accecible place will quickly teach your dog where to find acceptable chew items.
TIP: Keep half the toys in the box and the other half out of sight. This allows you to rotate toys monthly so that old toys seem new again.
"Dog Proofing:" Preventing Chewing Mistakes
Dogs cannot instinctively tell their chew toys from your new shoes. Therefore, you must make it impossible for your dog to make a mistake and chew the wrong thing. When you first bring your new dog or puppy home EVERYTHING that the dog may reach for to chew must be put away: shoes in closets, laundry in a closing hamper, and the remote control in a high place.
Deny your dog access to rooms that cannot be 'dog proofed' by closing doors or using baby gates.
By making it impossible for your dog to make a mistake, you will create a habit: the dog will always look for her own toys to chew because nothing else has ever been available.
Don't be afraid to tell approaching strangers to stop before they get to your dog. Tell them that she is in training, ask her to sit and then hold her collar. You can let the stranger know it is okay to pet her. Please reward your dog for good behaviour.
Dealing With Slip-Ups
If your dog gets a hold of something she shouldn't be chewing interrupt her with a HEY! or AH AH! and redirect her to an appropriate item. Praise her for chewing her own toy.
There is no need to yell angrily or physically punish your dog if you catch her chewing destructively. If you punish your dog this will only teach her not to chew in your presence.
If your puppy is chewing something that cannot be removed: the baseboards, or large furniture, coat the area with a bitter spray like Bitter Apple. For this product to work, you must first put some on the dog's tongue with a cotton swab or your finger. When the dog's smells the product they will remember the taste and avoid the area.