How To Stop Your Puppy Chewing
You got your new pet almost a week ago. In that time, the little beast has eaten three pairs of shoes, four of your favorite Stephen King novels ( He left Cujo alone – Maybe he is a fan too? ), gnawed the trim around the bathroom doorway, chewed thru the power cord of your laptop and, just this morning, you found him gleefully chewing up your wallet with a side order of your credit cards. This is getting expensive really fast and starting to get dangerous for the pup also. Maybe it is time we intervened?
So how do we handle this situation? Once again, we want to be sure our young charge is healthy to begin, so off to the vets office if you have not been recently. There is a medical condition that can cause chewing in pups aside from the normal tendencies they have of chewing to explore their world. This illness is called Pica and causes your pet to eat non-food items in an attempt to deal with nausea. So please visit your veterinarian and make sure your animal has a clean bill of health.
The next step involves understanding that, while chewing is a normal and healthy part of any pup’s development, it has acceptable and unacceptable outlets. Puppies learn about their world thru chewing much the same as human children. They use their senses to explore the new world, which lies before them and their tactile sense, and sense of taste is brought into play as they chew on various objects. Much like human children, pups also need our protection from the dangers that lurk in their explorations. Electrical cords, needles, poisonous houseplants and household chemicals, even chocolate, all pose very real threats to your pet. It is your duty to protect the animal from these dangers.
Consistent training with the NO command can do this. No is a word your dog should learn early and respond to instantly. This one word has saved many dogs from many horrible fates. The pup is trained by repeatedly using the NO command every time a situation occurs. If you pet is caught chewing on your shoes, say NO in an affirmative tone and take the item from the animal. Do not let it become a game of tug-o-war. Rather, remove the item quickly or back up your NO with a spray from a water bottle, a loud clapping of the hands or a light but convincing tap on the nose. This little diversion is usually enough to make a dog lose interest in whatever they may have been chewing on.
Also, do not give chase to an animal chewing on an undesirable selection of chew toy. The will interpret this action to be a game and they will be most happy to play for hours on end. Instead, calmly work your way towards the animal and then remove the object. For items that are habitually mistreated, a chemical additive such as Bitter Apple may be in order to impart a foul taste to the item and make it unpalatable for the animal to chew on. Crate Training is also effective to stop chewing behavior and we shall discuss this course at length in later articles.
You do not want to completely destroy your dogs urge to chew however as this habit is healthy for them when exercised correctly. Instead, offer them suitable objects for their chewing pleasure. Perhaps a dog toy ( For quieter households, remove any squeakers from the toy. ) Rope toys and crunchy dog biscuits provide good outlets for a dog’s destructive behavior and also help to keep up the oral hygiene of your pet.
Also be aware that all animals are different. Your dog may react differently than another dog in a given situation. Some dogs develop aggressive stances upon attempts to remove an object from their possession. If your dog becomes aggressive and territorial, then professional assistance is highly recommended to avoid further problems or biting.
With these simple suggestions, you can ensure your pups good health and the well being of your book collection. You might even find the time to spend some quality time reading Cujo again with your new best friend.
Paul P. Duxbury
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-stop-your-puppy-chewing-92582.html
What is the best way to get your puppy to stop chewing?
We have a ten week old puppy and of course she loves to chew on anything she can get a hold of. So far we have been telling her "no" then giving her something appropriate to chew on made for dogs. Are there any other tips good tips out there? She ripped one of my good shirts this morning because she just latched on to it and pulled. I know you have to have patience with puppies and all that but I am tired of my pant legs and toes getting nipped at! advice please!!
When you tell her "No" hit the tip of her nose and say "Bad girl, No bite!" Sternly and loudly if this doesn’t work grab her mouth and hold it down. Dont hit her nose hard enough to hurt her, just hard enough to make her know what shes doing is wrong. Chewing is one of the hardest things to stop them from doing, so it might take awhile, but don’t give up! Good luck!
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Experience
You don’t"
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been there.
Buy bones and toys and when she chews on somthing tell her no, tap her on the nose and give her the right thing!!!
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Be assertive with her, say "no bite", stop playing with her when she tries to bite. You have to show her that you are the alpha and she needs to obey but do not strike her, just be stern. If she chews on your things spray them with Bitter Apple. It’s a spray you can buy at any pet supply store. It keeps them from wanting to chew on whatever you spray it on but it is harmless to the puppy. I used it with my Dashund when she was a puppy and it really worked.
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Your on the right track giving her something appropriate to chew on and saying no. This is completely normal behavior. You can also try a Kong stuffed with cheese or peanut butter, it will keep her interested on that instead of other things. If she grabs something, offer her something more appealing instead of pulling it out of her mouth, that just creates a fun tug game for her and rips what she has. When she releases the item praise her and give her a treat or the more appealing item you have. Also, never chase her, that’s another fun game. It sounds like she may need more exercise. She needs more to do. You can try Buster Cubes or Treat Sticks, that you fill with her kibble and she needs to figure how to get it out ( just watch her food intake, adjust her meals accordingly). The more exercise she gets the less mischief she will get in. A good dog is a tired dog.
When she bites you, take it seriously. Say ouch! and leave the room and ignore her completely for a few minutes. Dogs need to be with the pack, so withdrawing your attention is a punishment to them. Make sure you praise her when she chews on appropriate items. It will take a little time and effort, but it should clear up with consistency.
The two most important things to do from the start when getting a puppy:
Be a benevolent pack leader
Socialization
You will have a wonderful companion if you apply these important things.
Good reading:
The Other End of the Leash by, Patricia McConnell
The Power of Positive Dog Training by, Pat Miller
The Loved Dog by, Tamar Geller
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I am a Certified dog trainer
I keep a stock of nylabone edibles on hand, and she doesn’t bother anything or any feet unless she is out of them LOL. Good luck I hope you can find a solution.
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