Destructive Chewing

Dog chewing behavior seems to be a matter of individual preference.  Some dogs like to chew just for the fun of it while others seem to never chew unless they're bored.

There's nothing wrong with chewing, as long as it's directed towards your dog's toys and not your own possessions and household items.

There are three main reasons why dogs chew:

2. It's soothing – the doggie equivalent of comfort food.

3. It's a way to burn up nervous energy.

- How to prevent destructive chewing -

There are things you can do to teach your dog not to chew your stuff.

1. Dog-proof your house.  Remember that dogs explore their world with their mouths.  Put everything out of reach that you don't want your dog to chew.  Make sure to consider whether your dog can climb, jump or stand on her back legs to reach a desired object.  Some things dogs often go for include garbage, books, eyewear, shoes, clothes, remote controls, cell phones, cameras, DVDs and, of course, food.

3. Don’t give your dog your old stuff to play with such as an old shoe, towel, sock, etc.  Dogs can't tell the difference between new and old stuff.

4. Give your dog lots of dog toys and other alternative objects to chew to keep her from targeting your stuff.  Most dogs need to chew, especially puppies, and if you give your dog two or three toys to play with at a time, that should keep her busy so that she leaves your stuff alone.  If you rotate her toys every few days, they will be interesting for her.

5. Give your dog plenty of active supervision so that she knows her boundaries and what is expected of her.

6. When your dog is caught in the act of destructive chewing, stop the bad behavior by making a loud noise, either by clapping your hands or making a verbal noise, and then immediately give her an alternative (a rawhide bone or other chew toy).  As she starts to chew that, give her lots of praise so that she understands that chewing her toy is the right thing to do but chewing something else is wrong.

- Maintain a productive attitude -

Remember that your dog is not perfect and will likely chew something she shouldn't.

Especially in the early stages of your relationship, she’s still learning.  It will take a while before you can completely trust her but, even then, if she's left too long by herself or feels neglected, she may choose to chew your stuff to occupy her time.  Don't forget to give your dog lots of time to learn the rules and plenty of time spent with you to help her learn quicker – remember to keep things out of reach until she knows the rules.

For more information on dog training techniques and how to deal with bad dog behavior (like destructive chewing), check out Secrets to Dog Training. It’s the complete manual for dog ownership and is designed to fast-track your dog’s learning.  You can visit the Secrets to Dog Training site by clicking here.