At some point of our lives, we just bump into unexpected harm caused by our dog. These harms more often than not are caused by our dog’s teeth. Luckily, chewing can be diverted to more suitable things so that he cannot destroy your valuable items. Unless he knows what things he can chew or not, it is your main responsibility to control the situation no matter what, so that he cannot have any chance to chew on your things.
Why Do Dogs Chew?
Dogs use their mouths to explore the things around them with the use of their mouths. Like infants, dogs teethe for around 6 months wherein they also feel some pain. Their chewing behavior does not only promote teething but it also makes the aching gums feel better.
Adult dogs may end up chewing on things for some reasons. In order to modify this behavior, first you must determine what causes him to chew excessively. Some reasons for extreme chewing include the following:
- Your dog is bored.
- Your dog is experiencing separation anxiety.
- His behavior must have something to do to relieve his fears.
- He badly needs your attention.
Note: For reasons related to anxiety and fears, you must consult a trained professional for advice.
How to Control the Situation
First, be responsible for your own things. If you do not want them to end up in your dog’s mouth, keep them out of your dog’s reach. Try to keep your clothing, footwear, books, electronic devices and trash away from your dog as much as possible.
Give your dog toys which are different from household things or else he will grab at any sock or shoe that he sees.
Manage your dog until he finds out about the house rules. Keep him on his leash with you so that he can’t do anything harmful when you are not around. Lock him up when you know you can’t keep your eyes on him.
Socialize your dog with strangers. Your dog will not be able to learn how to act appropriately unless you teach him options for inappropriate behavior and he just can’t learn these things when he is confined on your yard.
Keep your dog mentally and physically stimulated. The tendency of having a bored dog is that he will try to find something to do to please himself- like chewing. Also, a dog that has had enough exercise will be a good dog so be sure he gets enough of it. The amount of exercise that he should get depends on his age, breed and health.
If you ever catch your dog chewing on something inappropriate, disrupt his act with a loud noise. Give him something more suitable to chew and compliment him when he takes his toy.
If you happen to have a teething puppy, give him a frozen wet washcloth to chew. This will relieve his painful gums. However, do not allow him to swallow any piece of the washcloth.
More professional advices on how to control your dog’s chewing habits, You will find in the book “Secrets to Dog Training” for more information about the book click here: http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/
