Why does a dog chew things?
Favorite chewed things, furniture, wires, wallpaper do not give the owner a favorable impression and provoke negative reactions to the pet’s behavior. He begins to wonder, “How to stop a dog from chewing everything?” Usually, owners themselves create situations in which the pet chews things. Let's take a closer look at them.
When a dog chews everything, the owner suffers
The dog's owner couldn't find an alternative
If the dog behaves well only in the presence of the owner, and when he is not around, begins to look for things to chew on, then it is necessary to apply alternative training, which consists of the following actions:
- When the owner notices that the pet has grabbed an object that should not be chewed, he should scare the dog with something, for example, throw the keys, something heavy and loud, or splash water on the pet;
- when the dog reacts, you need to pretend that everything is normal and nothing happened;
- the process must be repeated until the dog stops biting the thing.
The method is effective, but the thing that the pet has chosen as entertainment will most likely have to be sacrificed.
Note! The dog quickly learns the cause-and-effect relationship between the owner and the action that frightens him. She understands that in order to avoid punishment, the thing must be left behind.
There is a technique that recommends noisily and demonstratively leaving the premises where the dog is gnawing on a prohibited item. It is based on the fact that the animal will follow the owner out of curiosity. In practice this method is not effective. Often the dog does not even think about accompanying the owner, but continues to chew the thing and does it even more diligently in the absence of the person.
The dog has no toys
The dog is bored waiting for his owners all day, without having any legal ways to entertain himself. Most likely, without toys, she will begin to chew on things she doesn’t want. Therefore, when leaving, you should definitely leave toys for your pet from the pet store’s assortment; there shouldn’t be a lot of them. Optimally 3-4 pieces, but of different types:
- hard rubber ball;
- skin, tendons or hooves;
- special bones for dogs.
It is strictly forbidden to use boxes, newspapers, soft toys and clothes as dog toys, as they will quickly become unusable and will not entertain the animal for a long time. In addition, a pet can swallow soft filling in toys, which often leads to tragic consequences.
You should not give your dog soft toys to avoid intestinal problems.
The dog is not accustomed to the place
The reason for chewing on something that is not lying well is often due to the fact that the dog is allowed to wander throughout the house. From early puppyhood, you need to accustom your pet to its place - a rug, rug or bed.
This disciplines the pet, accustoming it to the fact that in the absence of its owners it is impossible to wander around the apartment in search of things for entertainment.
The owner did not remove his things
All prohibited items must be placed out of reach of the dog. If the owners are messy and not used to cleaning, then the pet will feel able to take what he wants.
It is impossible to remove some wires, wallpaper and furniture, but they can be sprayed with a special repellent spray sold at the pharmacy. You just need to use such products carefully, in minimal quantities.
The dog is not punished
Dogs that are accustomed to their owners never punishing them may chew things even in their presence. This becomes a psychological release for the pet and develops into a habit.
You need to wean your pet off from this activity gradually, alternating the carrot and stick methods. It is optimal to scold the animal first and this should be done until the dog takes his eyes off, this will be tantamount to an admission of guilt. Then you need to immediately offer your pet a toy, preferably a new one. If the dog takes it and begins to chew it, you should not skimp on praise.
Note! If your pet is not interested in toys from the pet store, you can lubricate them with something tasty and attractive to him!
The method is focused on the fact that in the future the dog will take only permitted toys, expecting praise from the owner for this. If the dog is not interested in the new toy and continues to chew things, it must be punished for this. In addition to words, it is often necessary to use physical force in moderation. You shouldn't hit the dog too hard, but clapping your hand won't hurt it. You should never scold a dog after some time has passed.
Dog toys can be lubricated with lard or grease
Preventative measures that can be taken
Preventive measures depend on the reason for the dog’s actions, its age and character. For a good result, it is recommended to use several measures aimed at stopping prohibited behavior.
Remove all things
It is necessary to remove objects of value from the dog’s field of vision:
- Place items in the closet that are on the lower shelves of the shelves, which the dog can reach or knock them down with his tail during the game.
- Use skirting boards or carpets to cover the wires.
- Put the shoes in boxes and put them in the closet.
It is necessary to remove not only expensive items from the dog’s field of vision, but also voltage cables
Buy toothpicks
During the teething period, the puppy will definitely chew on foreign objects if there is no alternative. He needs to purchase special toys with which he can scratch his gums and grind his teeth. A wide variety of such toys are available in pet stores.
Movement restrictions
If a puppy under the age of 6 months, unattended by the owner, begins to chew things, he can be locked in an enclosure or in a separate room, provided with toys and food. If this method does not help, a collar and leash can be an alternative, but you cannot tie your pet and leave it alone for a long time.
Caught - punished
Some pets are willful and ignore toys, preferring the owner's things to them. Such disobedient dogs are dealt with more harshly, but without using physical force. At the moment of committing hooliganism, it is enough to say “Ugh” to the dog and take away the object. As a punishment for such an act, it must be ignored for about 20 minutes. Dogs are smart, and they understand that such behavior of the owner is a manifestation of dissatisfaction as a result of their action.
Make things less interesting
In this case, it is worth treating all items with dog repellent spray and starting with the wires. As an alternative, you can use home remedies with a distinctive scent.
Treating objects will help stop your dog from chewing them.
Borrow an animal
To discourage your pet from destroying household items, you should give him a good workout. This method only works if your four-legged friend chews things out of boredom. The best solution would be a walk, and both the street and the dog park are suitable for it. The walk should be accompanied by physical exercise.
Important! If your pet does not show interest in toys from the pet store, you can lubricate them with something tasty or pleasantly smelling, which will certainly attract attention.
How to wean your pet from a bad habit
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Once the owner understands the cause of the problem, he can take action to resolve the situation. There are quite simple ways:
- The dog should have toys of different levels - balls, hard rubber rings, a small rope, tendons and leather goods. There should not be more than three of them at once.
- To stop chewing furniture, you can use special sprays based on synthetic pepper (they are safe for the animal).
- You should always put things out of reach of your pet and not leave anything in a visible place that might attract his attention.
- If the cause of a bad habit is boredom and excess energy of the animal, then you need to walk with it more. Active games in the fresh air are useful not only for people, but also for pets. Having been exhausted outside, the puppy will most likely sleep at home.
- For those who like to chew, special delicacies are ideal - bones made from dried skin, toys with elements of ropes.
- You can’t scold a dog after a crime has been committed; it still won’t understand the reason for the punishment.
- Small puppies can be rapped at the withers as a physical measure; for large trained dogs, the commands “Lie down” and “Sit” can be used repeatedly as a measure of punishment.
- You should definitely teach your dog the “No” command. When your pet plays with his toy, he should be praised.
Special bones will keep your pet busy for a while
Dog owners need to remember that to wean their pet from a bad habit, it is not enough to buy the entire range of toys at the pet store. Most likely, the dog will never appreciate the money spent on it and will continue to chew on its owner’s slippers.
To increase the dog’s interest in toys, you should show him a new product and throw it to provoke the pet to catch up with the prey. You can tie the toy to a rope. This will create the illusion that she is “running away” from the dog. You can also hide a toy and force your pet to look for it.
Note! We must try to switch the dog’s attention to toys when she wants to chew something and be sure to praise her for good behavior.
If a rubber toy is filled with a tasty edible filling with a pleasant smell, then with such entertainment the owner can leave the pet alone at home for several hours without harm to property. He definitely won’t find time not only for forbidden things, but also for barking alone, which neighbors often complain about.
Use of special means
To stop a dog from chewing the owner's things, systematic punishment of the pet or distraction methods are recommended. But an active Labrador, beagle or husky always finds something new for their fun, and constant punishment does not really work on some pets. Disobedience turns into a habit and there is little joy here, especially when the offense occurs in the absence of a person.
Many dogs understand well that it is better to chew in the absence of people, and the owner’s task should be exactly the opposite - to teach the pet to chew only those things that he allows even in his presence. Pointing out things to your dog that you shouldn’t chew is a useless exercise. The way out of this situation is to use special means designed to wean pets from bad habits.
Domestic "Antigrizin" is not considered effective; it has earned a lot of negative reviews from consumers. Imported products, for example, Beaphar Stop It, performed much better.
Note! Experienced owners advise using the famous “Zvezdochka” balm, which discourages animals from gnawing furniture, wallpaper and other decorative elements.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies for fighting “rodents” have the main idea - to turn the animal away from an element of decor or something valuable to the owner. To do this, owners use products that have a bitter taste, causing bitterness in the mouth. The products are quite effective, since the pet does not like the taste of the toy and the realization that it cannot be touched comes very quickly.
It is possible to use a mixture of black and red pepper. The owners' fantasies are limitless: they use pharmaceutical gel with a strong menthol smell, Tabasco sauce, and local treatment with vinegar.
When a dog chews furniture, you need to take action
But it is better not to smear shoes and wires with these compounds, for which excess moisture is harmful. A safer option is grapefruit or orange essential oil, in small quantities of course. A drop will be enough to scare your pet away from the gnawing area.
Important! The smell of grapefruit or orange essential oil is harsh for dogs, although it is pleasant for people.
What methods don't work?
An absolutely ineffective method, but often used by owners, is to punish the dog for spoiling something several hours after it has done it. If the dog is smart enough, it usually hides from the owner itself, hiding under the bed or in another room, but a pet with low intelligence greets the returning owner with ordinary joy, as if nothing had happened. He will not be able to understand why he receives punishment for his sympathy and love.
How to stop a kitten from chewing wires - care and education
The complete absence of punishment is also harmful, when the owners do not show their negative reaction at all. The pet must clearly understand that it is impossible to tear apart the owner’s favorite things. He himself, of course, will never understand this if the owner just shakes his head and continues to smile and play with the pet as if nothing had happened. Even if a person is rich enough to allow himself to indulge in the pranks of his four-legged pet, one should not cultivate such permissiveness in a dog: someday it will definitely chew up valuable papers, documents and an important gift, and then the owner will no longer have time to smile.
Note! An ill-mannered dog is a disaster for its owners, and the sooner the owner begins to punish the pet for inappropriate pranks, the greater the chance of instilling in him the correct upbringing, which is expressed in good behavior both on the street and at home.
It is imperative to take into account the physiological characteristics of puppies - they are teething and need to chew. During this period, the puppy chews everything he can find. We need to find a remedy that is safe for everyone, that can soothe swollen gums and reduce the pet’s discomfort associated with it. The process of weaning puppies from chewing things is best done when they have permanent teeth. During the period of formation of the puppy's dentition, owners should take care to simply put all valuables out of the reach of the pet.
Note! Physical punishment for small dog breeds is not acceptable, as it only leads to resentment, fear and the desire for revenge. A Jack Russell Terrier, Spitz or Yorkie may stop ruining shoes and chewing wires, but they will definitely do mischief in small and large ways over time.
If the owner allows the pet to play with old shoes, then the new ones can easily become damaged, since the pet does not at all distinguish between the value and degree of wear between them. For him, both old sneakers and designer boots are equally attractive. Therefore, the best way out is to never put shoes in your pet’s teeth, even if the owner is going to throw them away.
Never let your dog chew even old shoes.
How to treat furniture to prevent a dog from chewing it
You can buy a product to prevent your dog from chewing furniture at a pet store. They have an unpleasant taste and a repulsive odor.
Popular means include:
- Spray Mr. Fresh “Protection against chewing for dogs”;
- Spray Delix Charm “Weaning dogs from chewing household items”;
- STOP-SPRAY for animals “Does not scratch, does not chew”;
- Uniclean anti-gnaw-anti-scratch spray.
How to anoint furniture, folk methods:
- alcohol tincture of hot pepper;
- decoction of wormwood, mint;
- grate with chili pepper;
- spray with diluted vinegar;
- lemon, lime, grapefruit juice;
- Some pets cannot stand the smell of chlorine or alcohol.
Common mistakes owners make
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The most important thing is to seize the moment and stop the violation in time. If owners feel that they are not experienced enough in training and do not know how to stop a dog from chewing things in the absence of the owner, they can turn to a dog trainer or study the methods on their own on the Internet. You need to train your pet regularly, and be sure to use praise and encouragement.
Additional Information! On YouTube you can learn a lot of useful information from videos by experienced dog behaviorist Antoine Najarian.
The most common mistakes that dog owners make when trying to wean their pets from chewing things:
- A break in the educational process. You should never first forbid your pet something, and then allow it or not pay attention to it after a while. Moreover, the same prohibitions should come from all family members.
- Using old things as toys. Subsequently, the dog is not able to distinguish that the thing is valuable to the owner. Encouraging newspaper chewing can lead to chewed books and documents in the future.
- Encouraging destructive behavior. There is no need to scream and run after your pet with your fists if he was caught red-handed. This will bring nothing but aggression, fear and stubbornness, especially in such a large service dog as the Caucasian Shepherd.
What to do if the reason is related to a health condition
Sometimes, animals suffering from illnesses chew things. This behavior should not be regarded as hooliganism, but the source of the problem should be looked for. You can't do this without the help of a veterinarian.
If your dog has a health problem that causes it to destroy objects, you should consult a veterinarian
When to go to the clinic
If the owner has taken all measures to stop the pet’s unacceptable behavior, but it again and again causes damage to property, it must be shown to a veterinarian. The specialist will conduct a thorough examination, take samples and take measures to identify the problem.
If during the study it is determined that the dog is completely healthy, the canine specialist will be able to give advice that will help correct its behavior, or advise you to contact a zoopsychologist.
An experienced doctor will conduct an examination, prescribe treatment, and when the disease is eliminated, the dog itself will give up this habit.
Preventive measures
It is easier to prevent any problem than to solve it in a long and monotonous manner. Therefore, the first thing an owner should take care of when bringing a puppy into the house is to find a fenced-off corner for him, where the pet will have access only to certain objects. This should not be complete isolation; the puppy cannot be left alone for a long time. He should have toys and free space from where he can easily observe what is happening around him.
Note! A TV or radio turned on quietly will create the effect of the presence of people in the house. But the wires must be removed from the pet’s visibility; gnawing them is dangerous for his life.
Toys for your pet should be changed periodically so that he does not get bored with them. Be sure to praise your dog if he plays with a toy. If he tries to grab something forbidden, distract him with noise or voice and immediately switch his attention to the toy. You cannot offer old shoes as toys.
With an adult dog, you need to walk more often, play outdoor games, and spend more time outdoors. If the owner needs to go somewhere for a long time, it is better to walk the dog before leaving. The pet runs around, jumps, gets tired and, most likely, in the absence of the owner will simply doze off.
An active walk will help you avoid pranks at home
To stop your dog from chewing things, you need daily training. Patient work will definitely bear fruit over time.
Why is this behavior dangerous?
The fact that a furry comrade is tearing property with his teeth is not only harmful to the family budget. This can also be dangerous for the pet's health. He is quite capable:
- swallow synthetic threads;
- cut gums;
- spoil or break teeth;
- damage the esophagus;
- block the respiratory tract with a swallowed piece;
- receive an electric shock when biting through wires;
- become infected by chewing on shoes the owner wore while walking down the street.
For this reason, even if the owners do not mind things, weaning the dog from chewing is important and necessary.
