How to Stop Dog Chewing and Save Your House!

The destructive power of a puppy or dog can be considerable! That's why it's important to know how to stop dog chewing before your home is destroyed!

You might ask why dogs are such habitual chewers? Dog and puppies love to explore things with their mouths. Sometimes they chew because they're bored and have nothing better to do. Chewing can be a sign of anxiety, extreme boredom, loneliness, and a manifestation of frustration and a high energy level. Chewing can be a sign of separation anxiety where your dog becomes anxious when you leave home for any extended period of time. The first step may be to look at your dog's living environment and see if there are any factors that could be contributing to his chewing such as loneliness or separation anxiety.

If your dog appears to simply be bored, there are a wealth of interesting dog toys on the market you can tempt him with to stop dog chewing! Just be careful not to give him a rawhide bone or other toy that could lodge in his throat when you're not at home. Also, don't give your dog something to chew on that resembles an item you're trying to keep him away from. In other words, no old shoes or pillows etc. You want him to know these items are off limits. Some good suggestions would be sturdy rubber dog bones, rubber balls, and teething rings. One trick to keep your dog entertained is to buy a hollow rubber bone and put peanut butter in the middle. He'll enjoy licking the bone for hours to get every last taste of that peanut butter! If you should catch your dog chewing on an off limits item, quickly take it away from him and replace it with one of his toys. When he starts to chew on the item you've given him, lavish him with praise.

Another way to reduce chewing is to help your dog release some of that pent up energy with long walks and play time. Before you leave home for work, spend some quality time with your dog. This will also help to reduce separation anxiety, plus it will help to keep his weight under control.