How to stop a dog from chewing?
Why does my dog chew everything?
HELP! Puppy’s chewing everything, what should I DO?
How to get puppies to stop chewing on everything?
These are the common problems a lot of dog owners face. Dogs are always in different moods at different times.
Sometimes you’ll find dogs chewing wooden furniture, sometimes your leather couch.
Try to understand why your dog is chewing.
We can split these kinds of scenarios into two-parts; first, the puppies, and the others.
Table of Contents
Why Do Puppies Chew?
The answer is simple; teething. Like newborn babies who suck onto the pacifiers or keep chewing toys during their teething, dogs go through the same stage.
Little puppies chew while teething and nipping. Teething happens when your pooch is around 3 to 8 weeks old and doggies stop teething when they are 4 to 6 months old, the stage where permanent teeth replace milk teeth.
Does that mean I’d let my puppy destroy my house?
No, you don’t have to do that. Puppies bite, that’s natural.
Whenever you see your little pup messing around, chewing unchewable stuff, you need to grab their attention, call them by their name or just clap once or twice and give them the right thing to chew.
Now that you know about the puppies. Let’s talk about the others.
Older Dogs show signs of destructive behavior.
Reasons For Destructive Behavior (Chewing) In Dogs.
- You Didn’t Give The Baby Pooches The Right Thing To Chew
It is a basic thing to understand, little pooches bite or chew during their growing stage (3-8 weeks).
But as pet parents, we have got to make some slight changes to prepare our home for dogs.
The first step is to be patient and tolerant, as ignoring their teething stage isn’t wise.
If you ignore it, things will get worse. What should I do then? Provide them with a chew toy.
They’re Bored
Unlike social beings, dogs aren’t liberal and smart enough to go out for parties and chill out with their buddies.
They have a limited and reserved space. Dogs often need someone or something to hop on with.
Having a dog at home is a good idea, but leaving them alone isn’t. They get bored when they’re alone.
They Suffer From Separation Anxiety
Do you often aloof your dog at home because of hectic work life?
It is easy to have a pet at home, but a lot of us do not understand that they need our company and attention, they’re not just merely pets.
They are a part of our family. Leaving them alone at home is a terrible mistake one could ever do.
They get bored staying alone in the house, and this often leads to separation anxiety, it is a situation that arises from the separation of their attached person from their nearness for some time.
The ultimate end-result is “destruction”.
Their Behavior Is Fear-Related
Remember that moment when you’re under the pressure of getting a job done or completing a project within a period and you go through that “hyperintense tension” phase… and you bite your nails…
Well, it’s similar with dogs as well; except, they don’t have any deadlines to deal with.
Then how is it relatable you ask, it’s easy, they get anxious when they have a bad dream, or even loud sounds can disturb them.
Dogs also fear punishment. There are many reasons for a pooch expressing anxiety.
They Want Your Attention
Dogs are bred for human companionship.
They desperately crave human attention.
If you find it difficult to spend time with your baby dog, because of heavy work life, you can take them to doggy daycare.
They Are Hungry
An active and energetic dog often tends to be more hungry when he/ she juices up all the energy.
They find it difficult to divert their attention from a grumbling stomach and end up chewing and destroying their surroundings in an attempt to search for additional food.
Now, here’s the list of DO’s and DON’Ts that you should be following to save your precious dog and your household items from disaster.
Dos
- Dog-Proof Your House
“Dog-proof” your house. Put valuable objects away until you’re confident that your dog’s chewing behavior is restricted to items.
Keep shoes and clothing in a closed closet, dirty laundry in a hamper and bookshelves. Make it easy for your dog to succeed.
Give Your Baby Pooch A Chew Toy
Is your baby dog teething? Is dog tempted to chew or bite? An easy solution is to get them a chew toy.
Some dogs are extreme biters. Whenever you see them biting an object, other than a chew toy, you need to show them what’s the right thing to do.
Create a diversion, give them a chew toy to play with. NO! NO! Don’t throw them a chew toy and get busy with your business. Play with them, spend some quality time and show your love.
Use Bad-Tasting Repellents And Sprays
Using bad-tasting repellents and sprays will keep your dog away from your valuable items.
Because of its peculiar smell, dogs would keep a safe distance from it.
A Good Trainer will, but, tell you to avoid using bad-tasting repellents as these repellents are not useful in the long run.
And we intend to keep a clear message for our poodles. Only use bad-tasting repellents when you have no alternatives.
Plenty Of Exercise And Training
Dogs get bored quickly and often look or ways to entertain themselves, and chewing is one option.
Dogs need mental and physical “satisfactory” stimulation daily.
Exercise provides the dog with physical aide and mental satisfaction.
In order to avoid any “destructive chewing”, make sure you provide plenty of ways for your dog to exercise his mind and body.
If you notice your dog chewing your rug or carpet, it means your poodle is getting bored.
A little physical activity might draw your dog’s attention and save your beloved rug/ carpet.
Don’t consider daily walks as physical and mental stimulation. Dogs need a good amount of playtime to get rid of their boredom.
A good example would be leash play with other dogs, tug and fetch games, clicker training classes, dog sports.
Here’s a guide to Dog Games that you should check out!
Request The Object
If you see your pup biting or grabbing an object or item, don’t get mad. Be patient, be calm and take a deep breath.
Our first motto is to create a diversion. Call their name, ask for the object and tell them that if they return that object, you will reward them for their good behavior.
Obedience Training is very important for dogs.
A Vet’s Appointment
You tried your level best and yet; you see no difference? Ok, now even after giving your best shot, your pooch is crunching and munching everything.
It’s time to take the pup to a vet. If you know… Pica is a disorder that compels dogs to chew nonfood items.
The vet can examine your dog’s condition, prescribe the necessary medications, and even help you out with correcting the dog’s unwanted behavior.
DON’Ts
Don’t Punish Your Dog
Why shouldn’t I punish my dog?
Chuck all ill excuses and get serious, study shows that animals relate punishment with what they do at the time they’re being corrected.
A dog cannot reflect at their mistakes like us, let me explain with an example.
Let’s say your dog tore your shoe an hour ago, and you are mad at him, for this reason, an hour later.
Nope, they cannot reason that. The reason they hide or run from you is not because of any “guilt factors,” but because they feel threatened by your outrageous anger.
Punishing your dog will only evoke fear in them, it won’t help them realize that they shouldn’t have done that.
DO NOT put duct tape around your dog’s mouth as a punishment, this makes no sense at all. This inhumane act will teach nothing. This stupid act can also be fatal.
Don’t Chase
If you see your dog grabbing an object and running, DO NOT CHASE THEM. You’re only provoking them to do more, rather than stopping them.
Dogs are proactive beings, chasing them would engage them in a cheerful mood, and they will continue with what they’re doing. This wouldn’t make them realize the mistakes either.
We hope you liked our article.
Spread love, let us know how you tackle such situations.
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