What to Do With a Chewing Dog
A dog's jaw muscles are among the strongest of all animals. The average-sized Golden Retriever has the ability to untie the knot of a rawhide bone in minutes. Actually, it can tear the rawhide bone apart in as quick an amount of time as well. What a shame they can do the same to furniture as Too!
Different breeds will have different tendencies to chew and that is why owners need to know their own breed's behavior patterns. However, mostly all dogs will chew on objects in and about the house. This is why it is important to focus their attention on objects intended for them. Still, making the dog do this can be very difficult.
Puppies and younger dogs definitely do not discriminate between whatever they chew. However, owners can train dogs in such a manner that they do not chew on objects which Owners want them to keep away from.
Foremost, it is important to point out that a little prevention can help avoid a number of problems. That is why it is wise to keep shoes, laundry and other items where dogs will be unable to gain access to them. Keeping children's toys separated from the dog's toys so mix ups do not occur is a good idea.
It is important to maintain an attractive variety of toys available and keep them indoors or outdoors so the dog may chew on them. Rawhide bones are very attractive to a number of dogs while other breeds will prefer hard rubber or unique plastic dental bones. With rare exception, giving the dog a real bone is often not a good idea. Oversized beef bones are usually safe, but chicken and pork bones are known to easily splinter which can lead to injury.
Thankfully, there are a great many special toys that can be used instead. Many will even have hollow interiors designed to hold treats. Often, the dog will need to struggle a little in order to get to the treat at the center which is the whole idea. This will keep the dog occupied and presents your pet with a solid mental and physical workout which keeps them striving to reach their reward.
You can try talking to the dog extremely firmly when it tries to chew upon any unsuitable object. But do not yell or punish the dog with physical punishment. Not yelling is quite difficult, but one has to look at other options for venting one's frustrations, all in the upholding of a harmonious owner and pet relationship.
One way to help develop specific habits is to take a little time (on a daily basis if needed) to put the dog on a leash and present an inappropriate object in front of it. If the dog moves towards the object, jerk the leash sideways firmly and enforce it with a sharp NO!
Remember that the leash always has to be jerked sideways, instead of the neck being yanked back. The muscles of the neck are strong, but the throat can be bruised easily. The jerking movement is not a punishment, but reinforcement.
If when outside the dog has a tendency to chew on plants, fences, or other exterior items, you can take advantage of a few commercial mixtures or home recipes to discourage such bad behavior. A little cayenne pepper paste smeared on the leaves of plants the dog is attracted to can generally eliminate chewing in merely one lesson. Then, there are commercial preparations which contain 'bitter apple' which has been known to discourage a number of dogs.
Successful dog training can only be done with consistency, patience and a lot of persistence. The idea behind stopping chewing is not to start a new behavior pattern, but to "suppress" a natural behavior pattern.
Often, redirecting the dog to acceptable objects is the best bet since it is impossible to eliminate the dog's instincts. That is why it is necessary to be calm and vigilant. Keep your cool even when the dog chews on the new carpet. Objects can be replaced. A good relationship with a pet cannot.
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