How To Stop Your Dog From Chewing & Biting
Chewing and biting can be directed to appropriate items so your dog isn't destroying things you value or risking their safety. Many dog lovers return home to find that their dog or, more specifically, their dog's teeth have damaged their furniture, shoes, or other items. As much as dogs use their vision and sense of smell to explore the world, one of the most common methods in which they take in new information is through the process of chewing.
There is a good news though, as chewing can be directed to appropriate items so you don't need to worry about your dog destroying things that are valuable to you or jeopardizing their safety. It is important to note that prevention is the best medicine until they have learned what they are allowed and not allowed to chew on. It is important to prepare your dog for success so that you do not have to replace your favorite chair or have to pay for an expensive visit to the veterinarian when your pet ingests something which may be dangerous for him.
Get to know your dog by understanding him or her Teething is facilitated by chewing, but sore gums are also relieved. Dogs may chew destructively as a coping strategy for stress or boredom. In order to stop the behavior, you must first determine why your dog is chewing—and remember, they are not doing it to spite you. Possible reasons for destructive chewing include:
In puppyhood, they were not taught what was acceptable chewing. Access to safe chew toys. It's boring or separation anxiety affects them. They chew as a coping mechanism. The feeling of chewing is great.
TOP TIPS
Take responsibility for your own belongings. If you don't want it in your dog's mouth, don't make it available. Keep clothing, shoes, books, trash, eyeglasses and remote controls out of your dog's reach.
Putting trash in a cupboard or blocking off areas with enticing items is the easiest way to prevent mistakes. Ensure that your dog's toys are clearly distinguishable from the things that you use in your house. As a rule of thumb, you should not give them shoes as toys and then expect them to be able to tell the difference between their shoe and yours so that you can play with them. Keep your dog on their leash in the house so they can't make a mistake out of your sight or only let them access certain rooms of your house until they are consistently chewing on appropriate items, and keep them with you on their leash so they can't make a mistake out of your sight. Make sure that your dog gets plenty of physical and mental exercise on a regular basis. There is no doubt that if your dog is bored, he will find something to amuse himself to keep him occupied.
A tired dog, on the other hand, is a good dog, so you should make sure that they get a lot of physical and mental activity every day in order for them to remain healthy. In accordance with their age, health, and breed characteristics, the amount of exercise they require should be based on their needs. If you catch your dog chewing on something they shouldn't, trade them for a toy that is appropriate.
If the item they picked is so much fun they won’t give it up, keep high value treats on hand to trade it out. As your dog catches on to this idea, you can add the command "give" as their cue to release the object in exchange for the treat. Removing items from your dog’s mouth can cause your dog to develop guarding behaviors or run from you when you need to get an item back.
If your puppy is teething, try freezing a rubber toy; the cold rubber will soothe their gums like the Teeth Freezing Toy. As always, supervise your puppy so they don't chew and swallow any pieces. Some dogs will chew an object even if it's coated with a taste deterrent. Also be aware that you must reapply some of these deterrents to maintain their effectiveness. Whenever your dog grabs an object and runs away, do not chase them after them. If you chase them, you are only giving your dog what they want. Being chased by their human is fun! Instead, call them to you and offer them a treat.
Always note that punishing you pet doesn't always work. You may hide or show submissive postures when you are angry or upset due to your tone of voice, body language, and/or facial expressions. In order to lead a happy life with your dog, it is crucial that you build and maintain a positive, trusting relationship with them.
