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Any new dog owner will know that chewing sometimes comes as part of the package. Slippers, furniture, even walls can all fall prey to curious puppy teeth! Believe it or not, chewing is a natural canine behavior, especially in young dogs. Just like human babies, puppies will often explore the world with their mouth, the new textures and tastes allowing them to make sense of their surroundings.
But we know that chewing can also be a frustrating and antisocial behavior, which while your dog is young can be tolerated and almost cute, as they get older it can cause problems.
We are going to take a look at the reasons behind canine chewing behaviors, what this behavior means and how to stop your dog from chewing up the entire house!
All dogs chew - this is just a fact, But there are different reasons why they do so, and these can depend on age, their emotional state and whether they are being properly stimulated.
Here are some of the main reasons why puppies and dogs chew on things and how this behaviour is often trying to communicate something to us:
One of the reasons why you may notice your dog chewing is because they actually need to; it is a natural instinct for them. Chewing not only helps keep their teeth clean and their jaws strong, it is often used as a calming behavior, the repetitive nature of the action is often soothing to dogs. You may notice your dog's chewing behaviors increase when they are left home alone as a way of trying to self soothe. Additionally, dogs chew to relieve boredom and can alleviate mild anxiety or frustration.
Happy brain chemicals such as endorphins, dopamine and serotonin are produced when your dog chews, making them feel good and helping them to regulate their feelings.
Similarly to how human babies will want to chew things when they are teething, puppies are the same. A teething pup will often be more prone to chewing behaviors as a way of trying to soothe the discomfort of their new gnashers coming through. Puppies go through a stage when they lose their baby teeth and experience pain as their adult teeth come in, which further drives their need to chew.
You may also find that your pup may try and bite or nip you more when they are in the teething process, so be mindful of this and redirect their attention appropriately with proper chewing toys.
Again, just like human babies, puppies like to explore the world with their mouths, and so their chewing could be because they are curious and exploring their environment - which is not such good news for your favorite slippers!
Chewing behaviors in dogs can also be a sign that your dog is bored or understimulated, and they are trying to keep themselves entertained with more destructive behaviors. Ensuring that your dog receives plenty of exercise and stimulative play during the day should help reduce this behavior. Mental stimulation can be as tiring as physical exercise and is essential to prevent boredom-chewing.
Our dogs' behavior is always trying to tell us something, and one of the things that chewing can communicate to us is that they are feeling stressed or anxious about something, and are using chewing as a self-soothing or attention-seeking behavior to get us to notice them and help.
The reason for a dog’s chewing behavior can be as simple as a play behavior - what starts as a curious nibble becomes full blown fun and can entice them to want to play. As pet parents we can redirect this behaviour by giving them appropriate chew toys to play with.
While chewing behaviors are natural and often harmless, they can become antisocial if not monitored and discouraged when needed.
We have out together a short guide on how to stop your dog chewing on things you don’t want them to, and how to redirect this behavior towards something more positive:
It is natural to get frustrated by your dog chewing on your favorite belongings, however they do not know any better, and so it is actually our responsibility to keep temptation out of the way of curious puppy mouths.
If you know your puppy is teething or has a penchant for nibbling on things they shouldn’t, whilst in the throws of training it is important to be mindful that leaving our things lying about will pose an invitation for pups who are still learning what they can and can’t chew. Keep anything you don’t want destroyed out of reach of your dog until they are properly trained.
As well as keeping precious belongings out of the way, you may want to consider puppy-proofing your home to make things easier. When you are unable to supervise your puppy, it could be helpful to confine them to a specific puppy-proofed area where they can’t get to anything they shouldn’t.
You may want to keep them in a specific room of the house and secured by a dog gate, or you may choose to set up a playpen in one of the larger rooms of the house so that they have a safe yet well defined place to play away from temptations.
The right toy can make all the difference - some dogs will prefer harder toys, others softer or more rubbery. Depending on your dog's preference, choosing toys that will keep them entertained and satisfy their chewing cravings will really help deter unwanted nibbling behaviors. Provide a variety of safe, durable chew toys in different textures and sizes to satisfy dogs' natural urge to chew.
If you notice your dog engaging in an unwanted chewing behavior, one of the most effective things you can do is interrupt this behavior and divert their attention onto something that they are allowed to chew. The more you do this, the more your dog will come to realize what they can and can’t chew, encouraging them to only bite appropriate toys and chews.
We’ve established that boredom can play a big part in unwanted chewing behaviors, and so keeping your dog occupied and appropriately stimulated will help deter this behaviour. Keeping them well stocked with exciting chew toys and making sure they receive plenty of exercise and sociable playtime throughout the day will stop the boredom creeping in.
Did your parents ever make you wear that bitter nail polish designed to stop you chewing your nails? Well, there are dog friendly options too! Some pet parents may choose to use an aversive product on areas of their home that they don't want chewed. Dog-safe bitter sprays can be applied to furniture and cabinets to deter problem chewers.
This can be anything from plastic covers and sticky tape to make chewing difficult or unpleasant, or even dog-safe bitter sprays that make chewing considerably less appealing.
If you catch your puppy chewing on something, it can be frustrating, particularly if they continue to do so - however there are some clear dos and don’ts when it comes to managing this behavior:
The best thing to do is remain calm and give them a ‘leave' or ‘drop it' command to help them understand that they need to stop. By not making a big deal out of the situation and quickly distracting them with another toy or activity, you show them that following the rules is a given and just how things are done around here. Teaching the 'Drop It' command can also help your dog exchange an item for a treat if they have something they shouldn't.
The worst thing you can do is punish your dog for chewing. Shouting at them or using physical punishment is not only considered abusive, it will also confuse and scare your pup and make them less receptive to future training. Remember, your dog doesn’t know how to be naughty, they are only ever trying to communicate something to you or follow their natural instincts.
Once you have an idea of the sorts of things your dog likes to chew on and why they do it, you will be better equipped to manage the situation. Whether they are anxious, bored or in need of a better puppy-proofed environment, the more time you spend with your pup, the better you will know what they need.
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