Training Tips

Inappropriate Chewing

Dogs love to chew!!  I’m betting you already know this!  The key to living with a dog that doesn’t chew on the furniture, is to live with one that has an appropriate chew toy.  Instead of punishing your dog, usually a puppy or adolescent, for chewing on the furniture, make sure they have something wonderful to chew on.  Here are a few ideas:

A good chew toy can be stuffed with yummies.  The Kong Company makes some wonderful toys you can stuff with peanut butter, cheese, or their Kong Stuffers.  Add a little kibble you would normally give at dinner, and you have a good ½ hour or so of legal chewing.

Remember your dog, especially young dogs, need to chew.  Don’t get mad, that only makes the dog scared of you.  When you see your dog chewing on something inappropriate, realize you have made a mistake.  You left out an inappropriate chew toy!!  Be proactive!  Put away the shoes, mail, and other forbidden objects. 

If you catch your dog chewing on the wrong thing, replace it with the right thing.  Is your dog chewing on the couch leg? Whoops! Why was your dog alone in the living room?  Redirect your dog to something you do want your dog to chew on, that Kong toy, for instance.

If your dog is still is destroying objects, you may have a more serious problem.  It may be stress. Is your dog is worried about something?  Think, has there been major changes in your dogs environment?  What about your training method?  Have you been sterner with your training lately?  Just like us, dogs need a valve to release pressure.  Some choose chewing.  Why not try first, to relieve your dog’s stress, and then add some good chewing toys, and see if that doesn’t help.

REMEMBER:  IF YOUR DOG IS A STRONG CHEWER, REPLACE THE KONG OR OTHER TOYS BEFORE THEY CAN BE BROKEN INTO SMALL PIECES!! DOGS CAN CHOKE ON SOLID PIECES OF TOYS.