How to Stop Dog Chewing
There are very few things that will enrage a loving dog owner faster than to come home and find out that your dog has casually chewed a hole through one of the rooms in your house or chewed up your favorite pair of shoes. That is exactly why thousands of dog owners seek out answers on how to stop dog chewing.
My Dog Chewed Off All My High Heels
Years ago, I recall a story from a friend of mine who went out with his wife. When they came home, their dog had chewed all the heels off of his wife’s shoes. Now, that’s hilarious on the surface but I’m sure that she was not happy and that’s putting it mildly.
Most of us already know that a dog’s teeth are his primary tool of life so chewing is a natural thing for dogs. However, it can be very dangerous if they chew the wrong things so it’s important to find a way to help them stop. Needless to say, it can also be extremely expensive like the time my dog started chewing off the dining room table.
The difference between a little dog chewing on a dining room table leg and a small dog is that a big dog will literally chew it off and take it outside to play with later. It’s funny, but it’s true.
Why Does My Dog Chew Up Everything?
There are many reasons that can cause your dog to improperly chew on things so it’s important to try and pinpoint the exact reason, and then you can find the right solution.
- Are they bored
- Too much energy
- Young and teething
- Hungry
- Feeling Trapped
One of the things that Cesar Milan (famous Dog Whisperer) likes to emphasize to owners is the need for good and consistent exercise. A well exercised dog can help to eliminate three of the primary causes of chewing and those are boredom, too much energy, and feeling trapped.
Another important tip is to give your dog items that he enjoys chewing. You need to make sure that he likes them or they won’t keep his attention. Sometimes, you have to test different toys and chew items before you discover which kinds your dog loves. This can certainly help in keeping him distracting from chewing things he shouldn’t.
Can Hot Stuff Stop Dog Chewing?
One of the better known tips that dog owners and trainers like to throw out there is to smear some kind of bad tasting or spicey substance on the area that your dog is chewing. That may or may not work for some dogs but it didn’t work for me…
After having my two Rotts chew up the PVC pipe and foam insulation to the air conditioning unit a couple of times, I contacted their vet for some advice. He told me to mix up a paste using tobasco sauce, pepper and a few other ingredients and smear it all over the pipe.
Well, I got the pipe fixed for a second time and did as he instructed. When I got home from work that day, they had eaten the hot paste as an appetizer and chewed the pipe in half for a third time. That fact that I was in a place that averaged 100 degree summer days did not help the situation.
There are some good online dog training courses that can help you to stop dog chewing if you are still having problems with your pet.
