Help - My Dog is Chewing Anything and Everything

The jaw muscles of a dog are some of the strongest muscles in the animal kingdom. The Golden retriever, which is just average sized can strip and tear apart a thick Rawhide bone in just a couple of minutes. And that is why it is a pity that they can treat furniture the same way.

Different breeds will have different tendencies to chew and that is why owners need to know their own breed's behavior patterns. However, mostly all dogs will chew on objects in and about the house. This is why it is important to focus their attention on objects intended for them. Still, making the dog do this can be very difficult.

Young dogs including puppies are not very choosy about the materials which they find to chew. However, owners can teach the puppies to keep away from objects which are definitely not to be chewed upon.

As a little prevention is always better than the cure, keep laundry, shoes, and other chewable items away from the vicinity of the dog. Keep the toys meant for the dog away from the toys which are used by the children.

It is important to maintain an attractive variety of toys available and keep them indoors or outdoors so the dog may chew on them. Rawhide bones are very attractive to a number of dogs while other breeds will prefer hard rubber or unique plastic dental bones. With rare exception, giving the dog a real bone is often not a good idea. Oversized beef bones are usually safe, but chicken and pork bones are known to easily splinter which can lead to injury.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of toys made especially for dogs and some of them have treats in hollow interiors. A dog needs to work really hard to get to the treat and not only is it going to have a good physical and mental workout, but it is going to get a treat reward at the end of the activity.

It also does not hurt to take a firm tone with the dog when it grabs an unsuitable object such as socks or shoes. However, it is extremely unwise to yell or deliver hard physical punishment. Rather than yell, you will need to vent your frustrations elsewhere. Yes, this can be easier said than done but it must be followed in order to maintain the harmony of the owner/pet relationship.

The development of specific habits can be done by leashing the dog. Then an unsuitable object has to be placed near the dog. The moment, the dog approaches it, the leash should be jerked sideways, and No said very firmly.

Always be sure to jerk sideways and never back. A dog's neck muscles are very strong, but the dog's throat can be easily bruised. Remember, the pulling movement is to inform and definitely not to punish.

If when outside the dog has a tendency to chew on plants, fences, or other exterior items, you can take advantage of a few commercial mixtures or home recipes to discourage such bad behavior. A little cayenne pepper paste smeared on the leaves of plants the dog is attracted to can generally eliminate chewing in merely one lesson. Then, there are commercial preparations which contain 'bitter apple' which has been known to discourage a number of dogs.

As with all dog training, patience, persistence and consistency will be the primary factors which contribute to success. To suppress chewing, one must be up to the complex challenge since you are training the dog to not perform a behavioral pattern as opposed to learning a new one.

Often, redirecting the dog to acceptable objects is the best bet since it is impossible to eliminate the dog's instincts. That is why it is necessary to be calm and vigilant. Keep your cool even when the dog chews on the new carpet. Objects can be replaced. A good relationship with a pet cannot.

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