It seems like dogs chew on everything doesn't it? Especially puppies. You name it and they will chew on it whether it is old sneakers or new sneakers for that matter, your mattress and bedding, the coffee table and other furniture and let us not forget the wires and cords. You know the ones...behind your computer desk.
Yes dogs seem to chew on everything except their little doggy toys. But if you understand what causes them to want to chew you can respond appropriately and reduce his interest in chewing up your house. It basically comes down to giving him what he considers some good chewing options.
So why do dogs chew you may now wonder? Dogs instinctively chew on things for a variety of reasons. It could be your dogs mood even. If your dog feels lonely or bored he may start chewing just to pass the time.
Humans are lucky, we have chewing gum but dogs have whatever they can find when they are bored. Dogs will also chew if they are hungry as it's the next best thing to eating. If your dog is feeling anxious he may start chewing. Ever notice when you take out the old "vet cage" once your dog gets an eyeful of that he might start getting a bit anxious and start chewing.
If you have a puppy they often chew not only because of the reasons already listed but also because they are teething and just plain old curious. Let us not forget another important reason your dog may suddenly be chewing more: he could have sore gums and is trying to relieve the pressure. Usually this is accompanied by bad breath and chewing on one side.
So what can you do to stop your dog from destroying your house by way of chewing? First try to figure out what may be the cause of his chewing. If he chews on things when he is alone and bored it is probably due to the fact that the dog is experiencing some anxiety at being separated from you. You may try leaving something of yours with the dog that has your odor on it.
For puppies you may want to simply give them some puppy toys to chew on. But beware not to give your puppy toys that look like other things in the house that you don't want him chewing on. They wont know the difference. For instance if don't want your dogs chewing on your clothing then don't give him a cloth toy to chew on. Otherwise, next thing you know he will be chewing on your T shirt next time you leave it hanging around.
Try frozen dog treats...they love that usually. They get all excited and get right to work on their puppy treats. Rawhide bones are another favorite chewer. Ever seen a dog say no to a bone? Not usually. Hard rubber balls are another good one as they don't look like anything else in the house that the dog might get confused with.
Finally make sure you use cord covers to cover up your electrical cords as you don't want an electrocuted dog...and they will chew your cords.
