Understanding Your Dog's Chewing Problems


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Understanding Your Dog's Chewing Problems

Chewing is usually a developmental phase that puppies pass through to relieve
the itch and pain of cutting new teeth. The majority of dogs stop chewing
everything in sight once their new teeth are fully erupted, at about 9 months old.

The few dogs that do not cease chewing by age 1, either have acquired the habit
of chewing from boredom, anxiety, and frustration, or have acquired an unusual
gourmet appetite.

Regardless of the reason a dog chews, the behavior of chewing can be very expensive and very dangerous to the dog's physical well being. Correcting
chewing, or any other behavior problem, requires that someone be present to
catch the dog in the act. Showing the dog a shoe that was chewed several hours
earlier and yelling at him may make you feel better, but there is little chance that
he will connect the correction with the idea that chewing shoes is wrong.

An unsupervised puppy left to roam the house may develop a taste for dangerous
chew toys such as electrical cords, cleaning supplies, and other toxic items. The
landscaped yard filled with possibly toxic plants, or rocks and wood that can
obstruct the dog's intestines is a similarly dangerous environment for the
unsupervised puppy. Dogs that chew and swallow rocks or other sharp objects
often require costly and risky emergency surgery.
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To avoid mishaps when you cannot keep a watchful eye on the dog, confine him
in an area where only appropriate chew items such as dog toys, rawhides, or
knuckle bones are available. You must exercise caution in which chew toys are
left in the crate, because dogs have been reported to choke on some toys and
rawhides. If you confine your dog to a crate during unsupervised periods, you
don't have to worry about him chewing up prized possessions and furniture, or
doing himself harm. You may choose to dog proof the house by removing any
prize possessions until the dog has passed through the chewing stage.

Products such as Bitter Apple or Tabasco sauce may be sprayed on furniture and
possessions to keep the dog from chewing, but check for staining before using
them. Ninety-nine percent of the dogs find the taste of these products repulsive,
but a few dogs think they are a gourmet delight.

One product that may not be attractive to any dog is ammonia. Be careful not to
spray the ammonia when the dog is close by; it could damage his olfactory
system and eyes. Read the instructions carefully to determine what is safe to
spray on valuable possessions. Your dog should be well supplied with
acceptable chew items such as old socks, safe dog toys, rawhides, chew
hooves, and knuckle bones.

Only knuckle bones are safe; other bones will splinter and get caught in the dog's throat or intestines. If you are worried that your dog will not discriminate between an old chewable sock and a new sock, you may want to take time to play fetch with the dog and an old sock so the item
will become his favorite toy. The old sock will carry the scent of the dog, whereas
the new sock has your scent. The dog quickly learns the difference between the
socks when you praise him for playing with and chewing the old sock and
reprimand him for chewing on socks with your scent.

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