Destructive Behaviors In Dogs. Chewing Is a Big One. How To Stop Your Dog From Chewing and Why Does He Chew?
For The Love Of DogZ
Chewing is a normal behavior for dogs. But it is unacceptable to let your dog chew the furniture, shoes, stuffed animals, and remote controls. I once new of a dog that actually chewed a hole in a house large enough for him to get out of it. That same dog also ate a computer mouse and several remote controls.
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
- Habitual Chewing
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 are also 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.
Play - If your dog bites and chews during play time, it usually means he needs more training. Some dogs simply have more energy than others. These dogs usually require a strong exercise program in addition to the training. Play time should be structured, such as practicing jumping, or playing fetch. During exercise and play, practice multiple "down stays" both inside and outside.
Just Tastes Good - If something tastes good a dog will want to chew it. Certain things are palatable to dogs. This means the dog enjoys the feel of it in their mouth. Shoes, stuffed animals and wooden or leather furniture are a few examples. While the puppy is in the chewing stage, it is best to dog proof your house and not leave these types of things around your dog.
Originally published on SearchWarp.com for Annette Masse Monday, July 28, 2008
Article Source: Destructive Behaviors In Dogs. Chewing Is a Big One. How To Stop Your Dog From Chewing and Why Does He Chew?
Posts
0 comment:
Post a Comment