Chewing is normal canine behavior. Also, regular chewing is essential for maintaining the health of your dog's teeth, jaws and gums. Puppies especially have a strong urge to chew, both to relieve the irritation and inflammation of teething and also, to investigate their surroundings. The owners must communicate to the dog that they do not want to stop the dog from chewing altogether - they simply want to redirect the dog's chewing activities to appropriate objects.
If the owner tries to look at the situation from the dog's point of view, he/she will realize that there are only so many thing a dog can do to entertain itself when left alone. In comparison, there are numerous activities that humans can enjoy on their own, including reading, writing, listening to music, watching television, computer games and a wide variety of other hobbies. Canine activities are limited to chewing, digging, and barking. If the dog is left alone for long periods of time, it is likely to become bored and lonely. Puppies especially require a high level of stimulation to keep them amused.
Chew toys should be indestructible and non-consumable. Consumption of non-food items is dangerous for your dog's health.
Kongs, and sterilized long-bones (both available from pet stores) are by far the best buy. They are hollow and may easily be stuffed with goodies to heighten your dog's interest and entice it to chew them exclusively.
To prevent your dog from pigging out, ensure the "treats" are actually part of your dog's daily diet. Use a little peanut butter to stick a piece of freeze-dried liver inside the Kong before filling it with kibble and different shaped biscuits. Some treats fall out easily to reinforce your dog as soon as it shows interest, whereas other treats only fall out after your dog has worried at the Kong for several minutes. But the liver never comes out. Your dog may smell the liver, see the liver (and maybe even talk to the liver) but it can never get it out. So your dog will continue gnawing at the Kong until it falls asleep.
Most dogs want to chew as soon as they are left alone and immediately prior to their owner's expected return. Whenever leaving your dog alone, confine it to a single room/crate, with nothing else to chew but half a dozen intelligently stuffed chew toys. When you return, instruct your dog to fetch its chew toys so you can remove the liver pieces and give them to your dog. Obviously, if confined to the kitchen, for example, the dog cannot destroy items in the rest of the house. Instead, your dog will happily play with its Kongs as soon as you leave, and it will be more inclined to search for Kongs when it wakes from its afternoon nap in anticipation of your return.
Once your puppy has developed a Kong habit, it will happily refrain from destroying carpets, curtains, couches, clothes, chair legs, computer disks, children's toys, or electrical cords. It will be less likely to develop into a recreational barker or digger. And, it will not become bored or anxious when left alone. When you are home, periodically confine your dog to its bed or doggy den (crate) with nothing else but a couple of stuffed chew toys. If you make a habit of doing this from the very first day your impressionable puppy comes home, your puppy will soon develop a good chew toy habit. And remember, good habits are just as hard to break as bad ones.
Any questions that we can help you with, please feel free to contact us anytime.
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