Knowing how to stop your dog chewing everything is essential as it is not just an expensive problem it can be dangerous and distressing too.
Furniture, skirting boards, carpets, shoes and clothing can all become targets which is where the financial cost comes in, but having once caught my puppy chewing on some computer wires under my office desk, I'm all too clear about the danger that chewing can hold for the dog itself. Ask any vet and they can give you endless stories about the things dogs can chew on and swollow completely!
The troubling part of dog chewing is when they turn the chewing on themselves and repetitively chew their paws or tail until the area is raw.
Why Do Dogs Chew?
Understanding what lies at the roots of your dogs chewing problem is critical if you want to find a way stop it.
The most obvious chewing is when a pup is teething. This is both easy to understand and to deal with. Provide lots of toys they can chew on and start to demonstrate to them what is and is not acceptable to chew on.
But chewing is also a natural form of anxiety relief (think how many folks chew their nails when nervous) as it helps produces a natural endorphin that calms you down. Your dog may be chewing for exactly that reason.
The difficulty becomes worse when a dog starts chewing on paws or other areas of themselves as the process can gradually take away the fur and even goes through the skin on occasions and they don't appear to be concious of the damage they are doing.
Have You Got An Anxious Pack Leader in the Hosue?
A dog who has decided they're pack leader is probably going to be very anxious. Dogs, fundamentally need a leader, and if they do not believe you are , they will take on the responsiblility themselves.
The problem is, dogs don't understand our human world, which is the reason why they can bark at the TV screen mobile ringing or delivery man at the door as it's all a potential threat. They cannot handle the responsibility of being pack leader and so the anxiety starts and as we've already said, anxiety will drive a dog to chew everything it can get it's teeth round.
Separation Anxiety In Dogs
You could have realized that your dog only chews when you're out. They never touch your things when you're around or chew the furniture or door frames. In reality it's just when you leave them home alone the trouble starts.
I have heard some dog owners say that their dog is doing it to hurt them for leaving them alone, and others who believe that it is simply dog behavior issues. The reality is that your dog is doing it for a reason.
The Best Way To Stop Your Dog Chewing Everything
The solution is easy, take the task of pack leader away from the dog, give them time to calm down and trust you and the anxious chewing should stop.
The proper way to do it? Good leadership is all about creating confidence, not fear, so there isn't any need to use dominance or force. You just need to learn how to prove that you are the one that the dog can trust with the decisions. Once the dog knows that you can be trusted with the job, then it'll happily (with some relief too) hand over the reins and give up chewing for stress relief!
Furniture, skirting boards, carpets, shoes and clothing can all become targets which is where the financial cost comes in, but having once caught my puppy chewing on some computer wires under my office desk, I'm all too clear about the danger that chewing can hold for the dog itself. Ask any vet and they can give you endless stories about the things dogs can chew on and swollow completely!
The troubling part of dog chewing is when they turn the chewing on themselves and repetitively chew their paws or tail until the area is raw.
Why Do Dogs Chew?
Understanding what lies at the roots of your dogs chewing problem is critical if you want to find a way stop it.
The most obvious chewing is when a pup is teething. This is both easy to understand and to deal with. Provide lots of toys they can chew on and start to demonstrate to them what is and is not acceptable to chew on.
But chewing is also a natural form of anxiety relief (think how many folks chew their nails when nervous) as it helps produces a natural endorphin that calms you down. Your dog may be chewing for exactly that reason.
The difficulty becomes worse when a dog starts chewing on paws or other areas of themselves as the process can gradually take away the fur and even goes through the skin on occasions and they don't appear to be concious of the damage they are doing.
Have You Got An Anxious Pack Leader in the Hosue?
A dog who has decided they're pack leader is probably going to be very anxious. Dogs, fundamentally need a leader, and if they do not believe you are , they will take on the responsiblility themselves.
The problem is, dogs don't understand our human world, which is the reason why they can bark at the TV screen mobile ringing or delivery man at the door as it's all a potential threat. They cannot handle the responsibility of being pack leader and so the anxiety starts and as we've already said, anxiety will drive a dog to chew everything it can get it's teeth round.
Separation Anxiety In Dogs
You could have realized that your dog only chews when you're out. They never touch your things when you're around or chew the furniture or door frames. In reality it's just when you leave them home alone the trouble starts.
I have heard some dog owners say that their dog is doing it to hurt them for leaving them alone, and others who believe that it is simply dog behavior issues. The reality is that your dog is doing it for a reason.
The Best Way To Stop Your Dog Chewing Everything
The solution is easy, take the task of pack leader away from the dog, give them time to calm down and trust you and the anxious chewing should stop.
The proper way to do it? Good leadership is all about creating confidence, not fear, so there isn't any need to use dominance or force. You just need to learn how to prove that you are the one that the dog can trust with the decisions. Once the dog knows that you can be trusted with the job, then it'll happily (with some relief too) hand over the reins and give up chewing for stress relief!
About the Author:
The author has faced dog anxiety problems with her own rescue dog, including the problems of a dog chewing everything. Vsit her site to find out how dog anxiety could be affecting your dogs behaviour.
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