It is not a secret that dogs love to chew. It is actually their way of learning about the world. While chewing is a normal dog behavior, it becomes pretty much a problem when it becomes destructive. Intervention is necessary, and the owner should be very committed to teach the dog about what is and what is not an acceptable chew toy.
How to Handle Inappropriate Chewing
To avoid this behavior, you need to keep your valuables out of your dog’s reach. If there are certain items that are at risk of chewing, you shouldn’t leave them lying around where they can reach them. Books, socks, magazines, children’s toys, and underwear seem to be attractive to a dog’s mind. Put everything in its rightful place, in a drawer or basket.
Do not let your dog chew on an old shoe for a toy, and then expect him to be able to tell the difference between an old shoe and a new one. Be very realistic in your expectations. Dogs will always be dogs; they’d somehow chew on something that they shouldn’t. Then that happens, correct the behavior immediately and offer something that is acceptable like dog’s chew toys. Do not scold your dog for chewing, most especially if you haven’t caught him doing it.
Mitigate their inappropriate behavior by giving opportunities to be mentally stimulated. Give your dog interactive toys that have treats inside, or give him toys meant for active chewing. Be creative when giving him dog bath, let him bathe in a pool (actual or inflatable) with pool noodles in it. Teach him to retrieve thrown toys (like Frisbees or balls); but do this on-leash at first so they won’t get the idea of chewing on the item. Reel him back toward you by encouraging him, and then throw back the toy again.
If your dog chew on kitchen tables or deck rails, spray them with bitter-tasting substance or cover them with aluminum foil. Doing so may prevent them from chewing the item until they grow up and don’t feel the need to chew.
Chew Toys
There are a lot of chew toys available in the stores today for both puppies and dogs. This will keep them entertained for an hour or two, satisfying their need to chew on something. Avoid toys that are too hard to chew on as these may crack your dog’s teeth. Also, don’t give him a small toy that is easy to break apart as they are choking hazards. Always ensure to match your chew toy to their size and strength.