How to Stop Your Pooch From Chewing Up the House? by Annette Masse

First of all we must understand why dogs chew.
Puppies usually chew because they are teething. Just like a baby child, when they teeth they begin to put everything in there mouth to make the discomfort go away. As far as adult dogs usually chew because of boredom or separation anxiety. Some dogs begin the chew as part of the play ritual, or just because something tastes good. But all in all most chewing by adult dogs is just a bad habit.
Lets cover all of these destructive behaviors in more depth.

Teething
Mouthing
Boredom Fear Play
Attention Seeking
Just tastes Good

Teething - If your puppy is teething it is just a stage of development. As you may know there are topical gels for parents of human babies to rub on the gums to get rid of some of the discomfort in the child. Some veterinarians have used this same topical gel on puppies. Since the teething is just a temporary stage it is best to just help the pup get through it. There is hard rubber and plastic toys made for puppies who are teething. Another good tip is to give the pup ice cubes to play with or to take a wash cloth, tie it in a knot and freeze it. Let the pup play with that when he seems uncomfortable. Sometimes the frozen cloth technique can only be used for very small dogs. You also don't want to confuse the dog into what is "his and what is yours." One of my favorites is a to give a teething dog a frozen bagel. This way he has to work at it and then gets to eat it to. I buy the big bag of very small bagels. It seems to work well.

Mouthing - It is normal for pups even 8 weeks old to have little sharp teeth. When they get excited and playful they tend to bite. This mouthy behavior should be discouraged. This is how puppies communicate with each other. Some owners like to rough up there pups and have them return with a small bite. This type of behavior should not be enforced it should be discouraged.

Boredom - If you leave your dog alone for long periods of time, he may become bored and will look for something to do. Chewing will pass the time. The best thing to do is to get your dog more exercise. One thing to remember is that walking some dogs relaxes them and makes them tired, but walking other dogs can make them energized, and pumped up. What works best is to walk your dog and then you both take some down time to relax together. This will bring a bond between you and reinforce your relationship. Again the frozen bagels or frozen cooked pizza dough is a good chew toy for him as well.

Fear - Sometimes dogs may chew out of fear. Many dogs are afraid of Thunderstorms for example. Or if another dog walks past the window, your dog may start barking and chewing the window frames etc. These are acts of defensive behaviors. One of the best ways to stop this type of behavior is to teach your dog a "down and stay" command which we have covered in earlier dog reports. Teaching this command while in a positive situation will help when the dog is portraying negative behavior. Get the dog away from the window, and give the "down stay" command. Sit with your dog and gently relax with them. This will usually give them time to calm down.

Play - If your dog likes to bite and chew while playing that usually means he just needs more training. Some dogs have higher energy than others. These types of dogs usually need a strong exercise program along with the training. Use his play time as structured play time, such as jumping or fetch. While he plays and exercises practice many "down stays" outside and also inside.

Attention Seekers - Sometimes dogs will seek more attention from its owners. Some of the attention seekers are barking, stealing, chewing, spinning, and limping. As far as chewing, most owners see this as negative behavior, but since the dog is seeking attention he will take negative attention over no attention. Usually if you bring no attention to the behavior they will disappear.

Just Tastes Good - Everyone realizes that if it tastes good the dog will want to chew it. Some items are palatable to a dog. This means they feel good in there mouth. Things such as wooden or leather furniture, shoes, stuffed animals to name a few. The best idea is to dog proof your home by not leaving these things around while the dog, or puppy is going through this chewing stage.

If your dog is healthy, has room to roam, gets plenty of exercise, and has a space of his own, chewing is usually not a problem .Again, the frozen bagels are a great cure for chewing.
For more information on this topic and valuable information on dog behavior please visit. http://fortheloveofdogz.com/
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