Stop Dog Chewing on Objects at Home
Is your dog ruining your shoes and furniture with its incessant chewing? When a puppy starts to teeth, its natural behavior propels it to gnaw to relieve its teething irritations. When a dog is curious, bored or lonely, this impels it to chew on objects to relieve boredom as it can’t expend excess energy through exercise when you’re not home. You can stop dog chewing with the right strategies and techniques.
Control Your Anger
In order to stop dog chewing you must learn to deal with your dog’s chewing tendencies and not fly off the handle when you witness the destruction it’s wrought on your household furniture. Your pooch isn’t aware that chewing is bad behavior. By controlling your anger, you’ll be better able to train your pet not to chew. Tap your dog gently on the mouth and repeat the word ‘NO’ and ‘BAD DOG’ whilst pointing to the chewed item.
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Be Realistic
You have to be realistic in training your pooch to stop chewing as it may take some time for your dog to cease its wreckage. Purchase a few chew toys and encourage your pet to chew them. Praise your dog, saying ‘GOOD DOG’ and pet it affectionately. Pamper your dog with treats each time it chews on the toys to reinforce the behavior. You must be patient, consistent and persistent when embarking on this training regime.
Control Access To Your Home
Don’t give your dog complete access to your home. Confine your pet to areas where you’re comfortable to prevent it from roaming unsupervised and ruining your furniture with its chewing. Repeat the command ‘NO’ strongly when your dog wanders into a room that’s out of bounds as you gently push it out with your feet and close the door.
Don’t Punish Your Dog
Although you may be on the brink of hitting your dog when you discover its bite marks on your leather shoes, don’t punish your dog for chewing. This will only aggravate the situation. Instead, give your dog several canine chew toys instead. Constantly praise your pet with ‘GOOD DOG’ when it gnaws the chew toys. Heap plenty of treats on your canine as an added incentive for it to focus its chewing attention on the toys instead of your shoes.
Keep Message Clear
Part of training to stop dog chewing is to keep the message clear that chewing anything other than its chew toys is considered unacceptable behavior. You have to say the command ‘NO’ firmly in a sharp tone when you find your dog chewing your things. Tug its leash sideways to inform your dog that chewing is not allowed. Don’t pull it backwards as this may bruise its neck.
Provide Together Time
Your dog becomes lonely and depressed when confined indoors for hours. It may then vent out its frustrations on the furniture. Take your dog out for long walks and let it explore the outdoors. Allow your pet to run freely in the park. Throw Frisbees or sticks saying ‘FETCH’, then let your dog chase after them and fetch the items back to you. Pet your dog and play with it, giving it plenty of attention during your together time.
You don’t have to live with your dog’s destructive chewing on your furniture and shoes. You can effectively train your dog to stop chewing with proven techniques and strategies. You’ll get excellent results if you are consistent, patient and persistent in your training to stop dog chewing.
To read more about how to stop your puppy from chewing on your things, see page 2 right here: stop puppy chewing