Why Dogs Chew.

For anyone who has ever had a young pup, you know the frustration they present when it comes to their destructive chewing. Countless pieces of furniture destroyed, shoes are chewed beyond recognition, newspapers and important documents are all casualties of the war puppies wage against your stuff. Yes, they can be a handful.  Just remember that dogs are great companions and noble. They don’t do these things on purpose. Many times their is a perfectly logical explination to why they chew things up.

Many times puppies will chew on furniture because they are puppies. When a human baby is teething we give them a teething ring and do whatever we can do ease the pain. People tend to forget that  puppy’s begin to teeth very quickly. They are in pain and discomfort. They need a chew toy.  If nothing is provided they will begin to chew on other things. So beware.

After some time you might notice that your dog has already gone beyond the stage of infant chewing caused by teething. Yet they still chew. Now what? Well, their are other reason why your dog might chew. One of the most common reasons your dog will munch on your possesions is due to stress, boredom, loneliness and they just like it.

Don’t leave your dog unattended

Never leave your dog unattended. Dogs in many ways are like children. You wouldn’t leave a young child running around your house alone. Don’t give your dog the opportunity to destroy your home. If your dog is alone for long periods of time you should make sure they have chew toys to play with. Also leave them in a place where they can’t chew on items. A well ventilated garage is good. Just make sure to pick up any objects that may be lying around. If that is not possible, then the kitchen might be a good idea. Just block the area off so they have room to walk around. A bathroom, the backyard, anywhere safe is fine. Also remember they might chew because they are bored. So after you get home give them plenty of exercise.

Stop Chewing

The first step is to try to identify the source of the chewing. Then, try to come up with a solution. For example, if your dog is teething give them plenty of chew toys to occupy their time. Exercise is probably the best thing you can do. If you take your dog for a walk they will be less stressed and they will tend to chew less. As I am writing this I have two dogs in the house. One is a 6 month old Golden Retriever (loves to chew), the other is a Rott/Shepard mix. I just walked them and then threw a tennis ball around for a bit (maybe 30 minutes of my time). Now they are both sleeping and will probably remain pretty calm for the next couple of hours.

Keeping your dogs mind occupied is also important. Dogs are destructive by default. What kind of mischief do you think you’d get into if you were left alone and bored all day, every day? Fortunately, supermarkets and pet stores have solutions to this dilemma. Dog Kong’s and puzzles are available to keep your dog occupied for hours. Getting them trained will also help a great deal. Pet-Smart offers an 8 week obedience class for about $109.

Their is no easy solution here. Getting your dog to stop any behavior is not an exact science. Spending time with your dog is the best remedy. Remember to exercise patience and compassion. Your pet is not destructive due to malice. Their are reasons for what they do. Work with your dog and have fun. If you stick to it you will see results.