by Wayne Hunthausen, DVM
Dogs are incredible chewing machines. I am no longer surprised, although occasionally amazed, at the amount of damage that an energetic young dog can do in a relatively short period of time. Virtually all dog owners are confronted with the chewing problem, and I am constantly deluged with questions on how to stop dogs from chewing on things around the home. It is very important that you address this problem properly, not only to save your home, but to prevent the pet from swallowing dangerous objects.
The
goal is not to stop all chewing. As
a matter of fact, it’s
virtually impossible to teach a dog not to chew, and certainly not the
most healthy approach. But
you can teach a dog what you want it
to chew. An important key to
handling this problem is to appreciate the fact that dogs have no fingers,
so they use their mouths to explore their environment and to play.
So strategies for prevention of problem chewing are very important.
Young dogs should be within eyesight at all times or confined to a
safe, dog-proofed area in order to prevent unwanted chewing from
occurring. By doing this, you
can set your dog up to succeed.
Teach
The Dog What You Want
The
only way the pet can learn what you want it to chew is by taking the time
to teach it. There is no way
that a dog intuitively knows that those chunks of rubber and nylon you
bring home for it are toys. It
has to learn from you. To
start with, you need have the pet help you find the toys it likes best.
Bring home safe, solid toys of several different varieties.
Toys with holes and crevices in which food can be wedged are the
ones that you’ll find work the best.
You want to be able to give the pet toys that are more interesting
than your toys. If you
haven’t been out to a pet supply store recently, check a few out in your
neighborhood or go online. There
is a whole new generation of toys out there that are safe, fun and provide
mental stimulation for young dogs. Kong™
toys are the old standbys. Made
of durable rubber, they will hold a biscuit wedged in them that gives the
pet a real challenge. For
some mental stimulation, look for toy balls with holes that hold small dry
treats. When the pet pushes
one around, a treat occasionally falls out.
Don’t
take good chewing behavior for granted.
You need to be actively involved in shaping the dog’s chewing
behavior. Keep a jar of
small, tasty treats nearby. Whenever
your pet picks up a toy and starts chewing, occasionally toss a treat up
into the air so it falls right next to it.
If your pet learns that chewing on its toys causes food to fall
from the ceiling, it will quickly learn to stay with the toys instead of
table legs and pillows.
Don’t
Get Started
Be
sure not to give your pet anything that is similar to things you don’t
want chewed. If you give old
shoes, towels, t-shirts and blankets to chew, you take the risk of having
your pet chewing on newer objects that you would rather not have in its
mouth. Besides, fabric items
and clothing are some of the most dangerous items a pet can swallow.
If panty hose hangs up in the intestinal track it will literally
saw through the intestines, causing a life threatening infection.
While large, hard knuckle bones are safe for most pets, no dog
should ever get bones that can easily be splintered or swallowed.
Punishment
is a poor training tool for shaping acceptable chewing. First of all, you can’t use it unless you catch the pet in
the act. No matter how guilty
a pet might look when you catch it after the fact, years and years of
research on learning has proved that dogs learn very poorly, if at all,
when punishment is applied more than seconds after the act.
Punishment can also weaken your bond with the pet, cause injury, as
well as lead to hand shyness and biting problems.
For your sake and your pet’s, don’t even let punishment be a
consideration.
And Finally
Exercise
can be another extremely helpful tool for curbing destructive chewing.
Tired dogs are good dogs. Young
dogs should have lots of aerobic exercise each day.
The less energy left for chewing, the less chance for damage in the
home. Fetch is a great game because it teaches your dog to put its
mouth on acceptable items. Agility
and flyball training are wonderful, because they provide exercise as well
as mental stimulation.
Remember,
all dogs chew. It’s part of
being a dog and shouldn’t be discouraged, especially with harsh
punishment.
Concentrate
on using positive reinforcement and develop a strategy for prevention of
unacceptable chewing. These
are key ingredients for keeping your home and pet safe.