Dogs Have to Chew

DOGS HAVE TO CHEW

Chewing is natural behavior for dogs. However, this activity becomes quite frustrating for a dog's owner when their pet chews on the wrong things. Don't give the dog toys that are made of cloth, leather, or wood because the animal can't differentiate between an old shoe and a new one, or a wooden toy and wooden furniture, etc.

Tug-of-war and other mouth games may contribute to making the "oral" oriented. This can predispose the pet to excessive chewing. A game of "fetch" causes no harm. Obedience training is also a positive activity that keeps the dog occupied without emphasizing its mouth. Dogs often chew due to anxiety at being separated from their owners. Other anxiety behaviors may include barking, digging, and urinating and defecating.

Whether adog chews from boredom or anxiety, the owner should not punish the dog unless the animal is caught in the act. In fact, the punishment can create anxiety in the dog, which can in turn cause the dog to chew nervously just before it anticipates the owner will return home because its not sure if it will be punished again.

The biggest factor in reducing chewing seems to be to reduce the pet's anxiety. If your pet hates to be left alone, plan some departures and arrivals, extending them in length until your dog is used to your being gone and coming home.

Cats sometimes chew, too, although they tend to concentrate on plants. A handy deterrent is to place mousetraps among the plants. Be sure to place the mousetraps upside-down so they can't hurt your pet. When they go off, they'll snap and pop up, scaring your cat. This is an immediate negative reinforcement which should convince the cat to leave the plants alone.