Dog Behavior Problems - Chewing

How many of your belongings has your dog destroyed? Chewing is a behavior problem that is so frustrating because it can mean big bucks when it is your carpet, sofa, or expensive leather shoes. This is one dog behavior problem that you’ve got to nip in the bud.

The first thing to consider is that dogs need to chew for their mental and dental health. In the wild, chewing is not a dog behavior problem, but a necessity. Make sure that your dog has plenty of safe chew toys to play with. This isn’t going to fix your dog’s chewing problem, but it is only fair to give your dog a healthy outlet for his need to chew.

Once your dog has some toys he is allowed to chew, now you can go to work on showing him what he isn’t allowed to chew.

The first line of defense I recommend to all of my clients is a bitter apple or dog training spray. This is a spray that is manufactured to have a nasty taste to a dog. The idea is that you spray it on the things that your dog wants to chew and when he does chew, the taste will be so unpleasant that it will discourage him from ever chewing on that item again. This spray can work. I have seen several reactions from the spray:

1. Your dog will hate the taste of the spray so much that it will cure him on the spot from ever chewing again. Consider this dog behavior problem gone.

2. Your dog will dislike the taste of the spray so he won’t chew. But then the spray wears off and he goes back to chewing. You can combat this with regular spraying or you can go on to a solution I will discuss later.

3. Your dog doesn’t mind the taste and will keep chewing. You can try a different brand of spray or you can try the following solution.

4. Your dog actually likes the taste of the spray and it is like putting gravy on mashed potatoes. He can’t get enough.

If your dog fits somewhere in number one or two consider yourself lucky. Many dogs are in category three or four. For them you must take a different approach with this dog behavior problem and get a bit more aggressive with your behavior modification techniques.

Supervise your dog. Most times dogs chew out of boredom or obsession and often they do it while you are close by. You must supervise your dog so that you can catch him in the act of chewing. It does you no good to find out that your dog has chewed on something 5 hours, 5 minutes, or even 5 seconds after he has committed his naughty behavior. It must be within one and a half seconds of the act of chewing for you to be able to adequately make your dog link the act of chewing with the associated correction. And correct you must. The best way to correct your dog for chewing is to have him wear a dog training collar (preferably a pinch collar or prong collar ) and a leash while in the house. When he goes to chew on your sofa you can quickly grab the leash and give it a very strong jerk while telling him “No” with a firm voice. If you can catch him in the act of chewing every time several times in a row, and give him a strong correction with the leash, you can get ride of this dog behavior problem while you are around. I will discuss in a moment how to proof this behavior when you aren’t in the room. But for now make sure that you supervise your dog constantly. If you catch him in the act only sometimes when you are paying attention, and not at other times he will soon learn that chewing is ok when you aren’t paying attention. If you can’t supervise him, leave him in a crate or in the backyard where he won’t be able to chew on undesirable things.

This should cure your dog of chewing while you are around.

A problem that I often encounter, however, is the clever dog that has already learned to only chew when someone is not paying attention. It is difficult to correct this dog for chewing because you don’t ever see him do it. It is time to trick this dog.

Smear some peanut butter or cheese (I know, it is going to make your shoes or sofa smell with food smeared on them, but it will clean off) on certain items in the house. Now, make sure your dog is wearing his dog training collar and leash, and get ready to supervise. If your dog is like most dogs he will quickly smell out the delicious smeared foods and go to lick them.

The second he licks the peanut butter grab the leash and give several strong corrections while telling him “No”.

He may not understand why he is being corrected so allow him to try to go after the peanut butter again. If he does, repeat the corrections. Then lead him around the house to all the different areas where you have smeared the peanut butter. You will soon find that his association has changed. The idea of chewing these items, even with food on them, has such a negative feel to it that it can curb the problem quickly.

Some dogs will get pretty clever and realize that they can’t chew when you are around, but the second you leave the house, chewing is fair game. You must out-clever your clever dog. Make him believe that you have left the house but spy on him through the window with your items properly smeared with food. The second he goes to chew, burst in the door, grab the leash, and give several strong corrections. If you do this properly your dog will soon believe that you are omnipotent, and it is better to not chew because who knows where mom or dad may be lurking.

Important: Your dog must be corrected for even licking the ‘baited’ furniture or shoes. It doesn’t matter that he technically isn’t chewing, just the act of him putting his mouth on your stuff is reason enough to correct him.

Be consistent. Be patient. Be clever. Do these things and you will soon be rid of this dog behavior problem.