Four Big Reasons for Dog Chewing
Problems
Author: Darlene
Norris
Has this ever happened to you? You come home to find that
your dog has been chewing on your favorite shoes--again! If dog
chewing problems are a headache for you, read on to discover
the four big reasons for destructive chewing.
A Bored Dog Is A Dog That Will Engage In Destructive
Dog Behavior
Dogs tend to play rough. They chew on things and pick them up
in their mouths to shake them, thereby "killing" them. Tearing
their toys to shreds is all part of the game. This is natural
dog behavior. The problem starts when it's your things the dog
is playing with, not his own.
A bored dog that's left by himself too much with nothing to do
will usually find something to do. Unfortunately, his idea of
fun often involves destroying things, especially if he's a
puppy or adolescent, and he doesn't have anything else to do to
use up all his energy.
What's the solution? Get your dog plenty of exercise. Play
fetch with him. Go for long walks, and give your dog plenty of
time to sniff at interesting things. Walks are great training
opportunities, too. They're much more than just bathroom breaks
for your dog.
Make sure your dog has plenty of toys. Rotate them so he always
has something new to interest him. Toys that can be stuffed
with food will keep your dog happily occupied for a long
time.
Separation Anxiety In Dogs
This problem often shows up with dogs who are too attached to
their owners. Your dog has a panic attack whenever you leave
him by himself. Dogs with separation anxiety often chew on
things to comfort and soothe themselves when they're alone. It
makes him feel better.
The important thing to remember is that your dog isn't chewing
on your belongings to get back at you for leaving him alone.
He's doing it because he's scared; punishing him will add to
the problem.
Separation anxiety in dogs is a tough problem to solve, but
with lots of time and patience, you can desensitize your dog so
he doesn't react so strongly to your leaving.
Your Dog Wants Your Attention...
And he will do anything to get it, even if the attention is
bad. A dog who doesn't get much attention unless he misbehaves
is a dog who's being trained to misbehave.
It's a hard thing to understand, but dogs are reward-based. The
best way to get a dog to stop doing something is to ignore him
when he does it. If he gets your attention, whether it's good
or bad, he's been rewarded for what he's been doing.
Give your dog lots of positive attention. Play with him, take
him for walks, just spend time with him. If your dog is getting
lots of good attention from you when he behaves well, he won't
resort to destructive chewing to get your attention.
Fearful Dogs
Anxiety in dog is often a problem with canines who are scared
of loud noises like thunder or fireworks. He'll attack doors,
door frames, window coverings, screens, and walls, because he's
trying to escape from whatever is frightening him.
Don't comfort your dog when he reacts fearfully to things.
You're rewarding his behavior with your attention, which will
only serve to reinforce it. Play with him and reward him when
he responds to you, instead of whatever is scaring him.
Provide a place where your dog feels safe during a scary
situation. This way he can retreat there when you're
absent.
To sum up, it's important that you find and correct the reason
for dog chewing problems. A good dog training course is
essential so that you can learn how to end destructive dog
behavior without making the situation worse.
About the Author:
Darlene Norris has worked at a vet clinic and an animal
shelter, and has had lots of experience with dogs. If you're
dealing with dog chewing
problems, visit No More Bad
Dogs at http://NoMoreBadDogs.com to learn more
about a dog training course that will help to solve your
problem.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Four Big Reasons for Dog
Chewing Problems
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