|
Some owners believe they are doing a good thing by giving the puppy an old shoe or sock to chew on. It keeps the puppy quiet, and that suits the owner. Unfortunately, the puppy knows only scent
and not descriptive articles. If you gave him an old shoe to chew on, don't get angry when he chews up your good shoes. Those "good" shoes have the same scent as the old ones. Socks? They have your
scent on them, and they're fabric. Your scent is everywhere. You told him it was okay to chew these things, and now he does.
Chewing by puppies is most often caused by the teeth breaking through the gums. Adult teeth will begin replacing puppy or milk teeth at about four to five months of age. Chewing is the only way a
puppy can get relief from this irritation. The best way to avoid chewing problems is to keep them from starting. Provide him with a nylon bone, beef or chicken flavored are best, and a hard rubber
toy, such as a Kong. Some of the hard rubber toys have a hole in them where you can place a little peanut butter or treat inside. This will keep your puppy busy for hours, and his chewing will be
directed where it can not cause any harm.
If you catch your dog in the act of chewing, correct him by saying "Leave it", and distract him with his own chew toy. If your puppy is insistent on getting back to the other article, move either
the dog or the article. You must be persistent in your instructions and consistent in your training. If he moves back 10 times, make the correction 11 times. Do not allow him win.
Keep in mind that more changes in teething occur at 10 months of age. Most people don't realize this and confuse it with a behavior problem. They believe the dog has become spiteful. This is not
the case. At approximately 10 months of age, the teeth will begin to set into the jawbone, and the chewing will begin again. Just be ready for it.
I discourage using rawhide, pig ears, cow hooves, and the like, because the dog or puppy will obtain a level of success in destroying these things. Once he has won a victory over this, he may
decide to challenge your sofa, table legs, woodwork, carpet or whatever he can successfully get his teeth into.
If you have a persistent chewer, try this: Purchase a can of Unscented Aerosol Deodorant (without hexachlorophene). When you find an article that has been chewed, take the dog to the item or area,
but do not let him see the deodorant can. As he approaches the item, spray at an angle across his nose. When he retreats, stop spraying. Place the dog in an area where he cannot see what you are
doing, and spray the article and/or the area with the deodorant. When he smells the deodorant, which he is able to do because of his keen sense of smell, he will remember the sound and discomfort and
stay away from the article. This practice may take a few days to cease the chewing, so continue the procedure until the action stops.
There are "no chew/stop chew" products on the market that are supposed to stop your dog from chewing. Some people have had success with them, and others have not. Hot sauce and pepper may deter
the chewing temporarily, but usually the dog develops a taste for it. The only tried and true methods are persistence and consistency.
Occupy your dog's attention with its own toys, discourage destructive chewing, and ensure that he gets the proper amount of exercise. Boredom will cause chewing, including chewing on itself.
Home | The Dog | Hints &
Tips | Services | About Us
|
