Because NOBODY IS MAKING REQUESTS I choose todays TTT. I am going to give you some tips on how to help dogs stop the bad habit of chewing things that they are not supposed to be chewing.
We could talk all day about the different reasons that dogs are chewing. Regardless of why they are chewing some simple steps can help reduce a lot of unwanted chewing.
The following steps are mostly for boredom chewing or unknown chewing.
1. Provide your dog with toys/rawhide chews for them to chew. Chewing is natural and healthy for dogs and by providing them with their own things it can help them leave your stuff alone. If these chews are edible your dog is more likely to focus attention on them.
2. Do something unpleasant when your dog is chewing something it shouldn't be. You can spray your dog with water, use canned air, or make your dog have a time out for a few minutes.
3. Redirect your dog. After punishing your dog for chewing the wrong thing make sure to provide them with something that they can chew. When you first start addressing the behavior try redirecting your dog before any punishment. Some dogs might get the clue without needing any punishment.
4. Make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise. This can make an IMMENSE amount of difference! A lot of dogs are just trying to get out excess energy by chewing.
The following steps can be used for separation anxiety chewing. This is when dogs get nervous/angry that you have left and sometimes chew everything that is in site. This is the hardest type of chewing to remedy. Dogs with separation anxiety sometimes have other symptoms that manifest from separation anxiety but chewing is the most common.
1. Find some place that is safe to leave your dog and clear it from as many chewable items as possible. Clearing out a bathroom or bedroom is good. Some dogs will tear up furniture legs/corners and even walls or carpet. It is harder to create a "safe" area for these dogs. You may have to use an outdoor kennel or an indoor crate. If your dog isn't a particularly avid jumper you can section off a cleared area of a room with baby gates. This isn't going to be a permanent fix, this is just the beginning.
2. Find treat dispensing toys. The purpose of this is to make something for your dog to chew that lasts a long time and is way more interesting than any of your stuff. Some dogs might like the dog games that dispense treats. These dogs just need something to do more than something to chew. Almost all dogs will love rawhide or C.E.T. chews. A great thing to use are KONG toys. They are expensive but should last quite a while. When using KONG toys start by filling them with small treats that will come out easily. After your dog has learned to love them you can try bigger treats that stay in longer. When you are sure your dog is dedicated to using the KONG toys you can freeze peanut butter or KONG filling inside of them and leave multiple with your dog. This can keep your dog occupied almost all day. Reserve his special toys only for when you are gone. This way, he doesn't get bored with them and he learns that something good happens when you are gone. If he can look forward to something about you leaving he shouldn't get so stressed about it.
3. Once your dog is doing well using the toys you can slowly add furnishings into his "safe" area. He should stay occupied with his toys if he has enough and likes them. Start with things that your dog will be less likely to chew and you can slowly add things that your dog would be more likely to chew.
4. Make your dogs "safe" area larger. If your dog has been in one room you can use a gate or something to give the dog access to a second room. If your dog has been in a crate you can put the crate inside a bathroom and leave the crate open. Gradually and slowly add more and more areas to your dogs safe place until they can have roam of the house again. As you do this you may need more toys for your dog. You can put one or two in each room. Concentrate toys by areas your dog is more likely to by anxious. Examples are by the doors and any windows your dog looks out of. Also any areas you have noticed most of the chewing to take place in.
5. Make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise. Not getting enough exercise can lead to excessive stress when you are gone.
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