Training Your Dog to Stop Chewing

Puppies are going to naturally go through a developmental phase that includes chewing almost everything in sight. They do this to help with the pain of their teeth cutting through their gums. This is very similar to what infant babies go through. Usually puppies will stop this chewing behavior at about nine months old when all of their teeth have come through. If your dog has reached one year of age and is still chewing everything in sight, it may be a sign that you need to look at the behavior further.

Chewing can be a habit that your dog acquires because of boredom, anxiety, or even frustration. It doesn't matter why your dog chews, the behavior can be dangerous to your dog and can very expensive for you. The first step in stopping your dog's chewing problem is to catch him in the process of chewing something. You can limit the amount of items your dog has available to chew by offering them constant supervision and eliminating some of their favorite chew items such as shoes.

Once you catch your dog in the process of chewing and item, make it known that this is not the correct behavior for your puppy. Continue to offer your puppy very limited time to roam the house and always supervise. With this constant supervision, it offers you the opportunity to catch your dog in the act of chewing. When you are not able to offer the constant supervision necessary to keep your dog from chewing items, it is important to combine them in a small area or crate. In their crate, offer them appropriate chew toys so they begin to learn which type of toys they can chew and which items they should not be chewing.

Give your dog a special spot in the house where they can keep their favorite chew toys. Always keep these safe dog toys in this area alone; that way the dog will always know where to go when they feel like they need to chew on something. Some of the most popular chew toys for dogs are old socks, rawhide, safe toys, and knucklebones. Many people say that Rawhide should only be given to dogs while you are there to supervise because sometimes pieces can break off and cause your puppy to choke.

Anytime you are trying to teach your puppy to behave in a certain manner, it is important to provide stability in the training. Be consistent in your commands and provide only appropriate toys to chew on. If you do not want your dog to chew on shoes, don't offer them an old shoe as a chew toy. If you want your dog to stay away from the children's squeaky toys, don't offer them squeaky dog toys to chew on.

One final tip - many dog owners have returned from a quick dash into the grocery store, only to return to their car and find a massive chunk of the back seat chewed through. To protect against this, equip your vehicle with a car seat cover designed for pets. This will serve as a barrier & your puppy won't be able to sink his teeth into the meaty seats.

After a successful long term period of being chew-free, give him a comfortable dog bed to rest on (now that you are confident that he won't destroy it!)

Other recent articles by Kelly Marshall include topics on pet health care concerns and grooming long haired dog breeds

Top Tips on How to Train Your Dog

Dogs are sociable, lovable and excitable and it's why we love them. However, these sweet traits can also be the root of major behavioral issues like chewing furniture, biting, not coming when called, barking or running away.

So, it's important to start training your dog from a very early age. As an instinctive pack animal and follower, they will become subdued and more comfortable in a variety of social situations. To learn some of the best tips on how to train your dog, keep reading for suggestions from some of the top trainers in the country.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Starting a dog training program is not as simple as it sounds. You need to begin with positive reinforcement. That means instead of yelling at or scolding your dog when he does something wrong, you reward him when he does something right. It's a good idea to mix up treat awards with praise and petting, unless you want an overweight, but well-behaved pet.

The dog will learn that good behavior is rewarded. Just like humans, dogs respond best to praise and encouragement. They will learn faster and equate good behavior with a tasty treat.

Avoid Bad Habits

One of the most common mistakes amongst dog owners is to yell at their pets when they're barking incessantly. Why doesn't this work, and why does it make the problem even worse? It worsens the problem because your dog's barking at something, whether it's a squirrel in the yard or a car driving past. When you start yelling at them, it thinks that you're "barking" too, therefore reinforcing the behavior that barking is okay.

Remember, your dog can't understand your words. He can learn a few commands and understand your tone. To solve an incessant barking problem, try using a spray bottle of water. When your dog begins barking uncontrollably, say the command "quiet" softly and give him a small spray of water. Eventually, they will learn that "quiet" means he should stop barking or he'll get sprayed with water.

Another method involves ignoring your dog completely when he's barking. Sometimes dogs bark because they're bored or want attention, so it's best to ignore this behavior. Once the dog stops, reward him with a treat. Because they may be barking out of boredom, sometimes a simple distraction, like turning on the radio or throwing a toy, will work.

Normally though, dog training is most effective when you use rewards and positive reinforcements, not scolding or yelling. Remember, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

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