Dealing with a powerful chewer can be a huge stress. You may find yourself going through countless pairs of shoes or personal belongings, which can add up quickly. A dog constantly destroying things in the house, especially if it’s the wall or base boards, is no fun to deal with.
1. If you have a crazed chewing dog who just can’t seem to get enough, the first thing you can do is think about what type of dog you have and what your activity level is like. Sometimes a dog with pent up energy will find another outlet to burn off steam if he isn’t getting enough exercise or mental stimulation. Is your dog still ready to go after you get back from a walk? Sometimes even running for 30 minutes with your dog can be enough to give him an adrenaline rush, amping him up for more.
2. Supervision is the easiest step. If you have a known chewer, don’t leave him alone in a room full of shoes, books, a remote, or other temptations you know he will go after. If you cannot supervise, crate him or use an exercise pen so you are sure to set him up for success.
3. Provide your dog with appropriate objects to chew, like antlers, knuckle bones, or natural bones with filling. When you see him going for the wrong item, give him a bone as a substitute. Getting really excited and happy about chewing on a bone can also show your dog that you like when he plays with those things.
4. Age can be a factor in chewing. A young puppy is certainly going to be testing his environment. Start showing him early which things are okay and which ones are not. There are also dogs who will be power chewers their whole lives. By setting the rules early, you can show him what you like him to chew.
5. Chew deterrents work really well for some dogs. There are a lot of items like Bitter Apple, Bitter Yuck, and Bitter Cherry that have an unpleasant taste to stop the dog from chewing. When you try a new product, always be watchful – you may have a dog who likes the bitter taste!
6. With children (and adults!) there are always consequences for actions. If you catch your dog in the act of chewing the base board, you can give him a correction and then lead him straight to his crate. This is fine as long as your dog likes his crate and you give him a treat any other time. You are showing your dog that chewing the wall leads to loss of free time, just like a child going to time out in his room.
7. Some dogs are seeking attention by grabbing things they know upset you. These dogs know that picking up the remote means you will yell “No!! Drop it! Drop it! Get back here!” as you chase them through the house, or yell at them after you’ve found it chewed up. This negative attention is still attention to them, and what they’re hearing is “Yea woohoo! Grab that remote and lets play chase!” If you think this is your dog, try ignoring him when he grabs something and go find something even more interesting, like a squeaky ball. Chances are that he will want what you have, dropping what he has because you did not make a big deal out of it.
Kersti Nieto
Certified Dog Trainer
K9 Solutions LLC
http://www.nck9solutions.com
K9 Solutions 