Chewing

                                                                   Chewing

Does it look like a tornado hit your living when you get home from work? Are you convinced that your dog may actually be part goat? Is your dog giving your furniture a more "rustic" look? Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs but if you've bought 3 remote controls since your dog moved in it can cause serious problems. Destructive behavior can be a sign of boredom.

As with everything, making your sure your dog has plenty of exercise & mental stimulation is the most important thing. However prevention is another easy way around this:
     * Your dog can't chew shoes or phones if they're in a crate or puppy proofed room.
     * Keep electrical cords covered or hidden - or use a taste deterrent (Fooy/Bitter Lime Gel etc.)
     * Shoes can go in a closet or shoe rack. Do not give them old shoes to chew on!! They can't tell the difference between an old sneaker & an expensive pump!
     * You may need child locks on cabinets that have house hold chemicals in them.
     * Remote controls can be stored in a drawer or basket that's kept out of your dogs reach.
     * Get a trash can that has a lid.
     * If you have children, avoid dog toys that look like kids toys.
You can always restrict where your dog is allowed in the house. Pack leaders get to go where ever they want, if you limit your dogs access to certain rooms this helps them understand that they are lower in the pack than your kids. 

Making sure your dog has something appropriate to chew on is a must! If you do catch them with something they shouldn't have, do not yell & chase them. This becomes a super fun game of chase & teaches them that they can get your attention this way. Also, if you try to grab the item to take it away, it can sometimes create a guarding behavior. Offer them a trade; something of higher value. This may be a treat or another toy. If you do use a treat to trade, you should then give them something appropriate to chew on. 
Edible chews are a must - toys are great but we tend to expect our dogs to play with them rather than destroy them. My favorite chews are made by a company called Merrick & they're all made in the U.S.A.
They have bully sticks, pig ears, pork snouts, beef snouts, lamb ears & various bones. With puppies under 6 months be careful with actual bones (wait for their adult teeth) & stay away from rawhide as they can't digest it yet. Always watch your dog with a chew, if they are trying to swallow big or sharp pieces offer them a trade & take it away. 
Antlers are another favorite of mine as the don't splinter or crack. They are also porous so you can soak them in broth to give them new flavor should your dog become bored with them. 
As always, make sure your dog has plenty of mental stimulation, exercise & appropriate things to chew on.
            * The pictures of my dogs are staged :) They never chew things they shouldn't.