Dog Obedience Training - How to Stop your Dog from Destructive Chewing
By: Sandra Moore

For dogs, the act of chewing seems to be a matter of individual preference. Some dogs have an innate desire to chew as an act of pleasure, while others have absolutely no need to chew unless they are driven to it out of sheer boredom.

In this article,'destructive chewing' is referred to as inappropriate chewing of your own possessions and household items by the dog, as opposed to your dog's own designated chew toys. Dogs have strong jaws full of sharp teeth so anything that your dog starts to chew on will show its effects inside of a minute.

There are 3 main reasons why dogs like to chew:

Most dogs have a instinctive desire to chew because for them it is fun, self-rewarding, it passes the time, and it is a self-reinforcing activity (i.e. your dog is chewing on something that tastes good to her).

Dogs that are not getting enough exercise use chewing as a means to burn up nervous energy and it passes the time.

Dogs also use chewing as a means for dealing with boredom, loneliness, or nervousness. For a dog who is anxious, the act of chewing is very soothing to the animal and is the same as having a 'dogie comfort food.'

Ways to prevent destructive dog chewing are:

With a little effort on your part, your dog can be trained not to chew your stuff.

1. The first thing you will need to do is dog-proof your home. This means managing your own possessions by taking control of the situation. Even if your dog is well behaved, it doesn't make sense to test her self-control knowing well that all dogs like to explore the
world with their mouths.

Your first step is to take whatever your don't want your dog to get at and make it unavailable. When deciding if something is out of her reach, consider your dog's size and agility: will she be able to jump, climb or leap onto something else to get at her desired object? Also consider how tall she is when she is standing on her back legs.

Dog-proofing your home means removing things like shoes, clothing, eye wear, books, garbage and smaller appliances like cameras, cell phones, and remote controls.

All food needs to be securely put away. Don't make the mistake of leaving food on low tables or even on counter tops as your dog will get at it. Keep all food in the pantry or put food in containers. Clean off all food scraps and rinse dirty plates before leaving them in the sink.

2. The best way to prevent your dog from chewing forbidden substances like a pillow, a running shoe or a chair-leg is by confining your dog in a dog-proofed area of your home until you are confident that she understands the house rules. If you can prevent your dog from chewing your things in the first place then she will have a better understanding of what is expected of her. The more often your dog manages to snatch something that you don't want her to chew, the more she will go after those things down the road.

3. It is important that you do not set your dog up for failure by confusing the boundaries of what is o.k. to chew in the way of her stuff and your stuff which is not o.k. to chew. What I mean by this is don't offer your dog old things of yours such as old clothes, towels, or shoes. Your dog cannot differentiate between your current shoes and the old one she has in her mouth that you gave her five minutes ago.

4. Provide your dog with lots of tasty alternatives to your things. You can't possibly blame your dog for going after your things if her environment is devoid of attractive, appropriate chewing objects. If your dog is an adolescent (under three years old) or a puppy (under one year) then her needs will be even more pronounced. Remember, most dogs have an inherent need to chew. Get your dog some chew toys and give her two or three to play with at a time. Remember to rotate the toys and this will keep the toys interesting to her.

5. Make sure your dog is given the opportunity to explore the boundaries of your expectations so she learns what is appropriate and what is not. What I mean by this is don't keep your dog penned up in a crate, run or the yard as this will be boring for her and it won't allow her to learn what is expected of her. This in turn, will allow you to actively supervise your dog's behavior and see what she is learning.

6. If you catch your dog chewing on something that is inappropriate, get her attention by clapping your hands or making a loud noise such as 'Ah-ah-aaah!' Once you have her attention, hand her a tasty dog-appropriate alternative such as a rawhide bone or other chew
toy. As soon as her jaws close in on it, give her lavish praise! This way you reinforce to your dog that chewing 'her' toys means praise from you but anything else will equal trouble.


-Always maintain a productive attitude-

Remember that you are not perfect and neither is your dog so keep your expectations realistic for the sake of you and your dog. There will be a least one incident when a cherished item will get damaged by her curiosity.

It will take your dog awhile before she is completely reliable as she will be learning the ropes especially in the early stages of your relationship with her. If your dog is left on her own for too long or is feeling neglected, she may resort to chewing your stuff over hers. Give her a reasonable amount of time to learn the rules and lots of 'you-time' to help her learn faster. Take precautions and keep things out of reach until she has the hang of the chewing rules!

For more information on dog training techniques and how to deal with problem dog behavior (like chewing), check out SitStayFetch. It’s the complete manual for dog ownership and is designed to fast-track your dog’s learning.

You can visit the SitStayFetch site by clicking on the link below:
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