Controlling Dog Chewing

Controlling dog chewing can be difficult at first because the small nipping of a new puppy seems like a harmless, and almost sweet, sentiment to let a new owner know that their dog loves them. Unfortunately, though, this sweet nipping can actually hurt, as puppies have extremely sharp teeth, but it can also lead to biting or excessive chewing that may result in the harm of a person or the damage of owner property.

All dogs need to chew, especially as puppies when they are teething. This is also a way that they learn about their environment. Just as small babies will chew on things when their teeth hurt or when they are curious as to what an object is, so will puppies. Adult dogs need to chew in order to help keep their mouths free of bacteria and plaque, but many adult dogs end up chewing out of boredom, lack of socialization or exercise, or just because they still have a lot of puppy play in them. Whatever the reason, controlling this habit needs to happen in order to protect your personal property as well as preventing your dog from trying to chew on a family member or visitor.

Preventative methods

In order to control dog chewing, it is essential to stop all biting and nipping before it gets out of control. If you have a puppy, this is a perfect time to begin subsiding this behavior. As cute as it is to have your sweet little pup chewing on your wrist or fingers, this only promotes the behavior. If they begin nipping or play biting at your wrists, immediately stop the behavior, tell them no and move them to a dog toy or a rawhide chew. This should be adamantly repeated and even during puppy playtime, chewing or biting should not be tolerated.

Having a small collection of dog toys, rawhides or safe dog bones is an especially helpful way to control the chewing habit. It will also be helpful to always keep a watchful eye on a pup or dog while they are chewing to make sure they do not move on to other items that are not on their list of approved chew toys. Another helpful tip is to place them inside of their dog crate once you have given them a chew toy, this way they can begin to learn boundaries of what is theirs and what is off limits to them.

Another important preventative method is to never allow dogs or puppies to chew on anything that is a personal possession. Even if you have an old set of shoes that you were just going to throw away, letting your dog chew on these only gives them the signal that they can chew on other shoes in your closet. Remember that they cannot differentiate between old and new shoes or expensive and cheap ones!

Probably the most effective measure for preventing your dogs chewing habit is simply to socialize and exercise your dog. If you are boggled by your dog’s constant chewing and you were to ask the veterinarian about it, his first question will be whether or not the dog receives enough family play time and walk time. Dogs that are not exercised will find an outlet for their frustration and more often than not, this becomes a negative outlet, such as dog chewing.

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