How To Stop A Dog From Chewing
How to Stop a Dog From Chewing
Every dog owner has to contend with their dog chewing on things endlessly at some point. From the dog's point of view, chewing is as natural as breathing, but the real problem here is that sooner or later, a dog may chew through expensive or even dangerous objects.
Dogs chew for a variety of reasons from boredom, loneliness and fear to anticipation, separation anxiety as well as when they're teething. What is important here is that we stop our dog chewing not only because it annoys us, but because it can be very dangerous for your dog. For instance, your dog would be in serious danger if it chewed through electric cables.
As with many problems, the best solution is actually prevention and keeping these problems from arising in the first place. If you suspect there might be trouble in future, invest in some chew toys for your dog and keep it in a dog crate when away from home.
If you're experiencing dog chewing problems right now, here are a few things you can try. If your dog has a liking for a particular object, coat that object in a foul-tasting substance like bitter apple or Tabasco sauce. However, this doesn't actually cut the problem at its root as the dog may just start chewing something else.
If you catch your dog in the act, give them a firm "No!" and replace whatever they're chewing on with a chew toy. If they start chewing on this instead, reinforce this behaviour by praising your dog and perhaps giving them a small treat. Remember, only do this if you actually SEE your dog chewing. Issuing a correction several minutes after the event will only leave them confused.
Consider teaching them to "leave it" command too.
