Tips to Prevent Your Pet from Chewing Up Stuff

Do you have paper chews, broken shoes, broken table legs, or exploding pillows? 

A dog's ability to chew through objects can swiftly ruin quite a few items in your home. Believe it or not, dogs chew holes through walls during panic attacks caused by separation anxiety, which otherwise would be impossible to analyze.

Pets chewing household items can be annoying, but it can also be costly to replace broken home objects. Furthermore, it might be harmful for your dog to chew on hazardous or toxic objects like battery-operated remote controllers or power cords.

Gnawing frequently damages eyeglasses, shoes, headphones (airpods), and other apparel. Scents captivate pets, making the objects we sweat on highly attractive to them. Moreover, the materials used to make slippers and shoes mimic those of dog toys, providing your dog with entertainment as they destroy them.

 

Why do pets chew household items?

There are three primary reasons:

1. They have just started teething.

When pets are between the ages of 12 weeks and 6 months, they lose their birth teeth and develop permanent replacements after the puppy chewing phase. Once the 42 permanent teeth erupt, 28 new teeth will emerge. In pain, your pet may want to gnaw on anything to relieve gum pain or mouth itching.

 

2. Its Inherently Seeking Nature

Puppies have a strong sense of curiosity and want to learn new things. Additionally, placing something in their mouth and having them chew on it is the best technique to conduct research because they lack hands. This provides your puppy with details regarding the consistency, weight, taste, and texture of their new discovery.

 

3. Play behaviour

The puppy may initially put something in his mouth out of curiosity, but if he finds something entertaining, such as the leg of your table or your favourite slipper, he will chew, tote, or toss it like a game. He uses it as a form of amusement and enjoyment.

 

How to Stop Dogs From Chewing Things

Although chewing is a normal pet behaviour, you don't have to accept that your clothes will get torn to pieces and your house will be a mess forever. Here's how to stop chewing and save your belongings.

 

Make your house pet-proof.

Our pups should play and explore, but we also need to keep them safe. It's imperative that we make it simple for pups to discover what items are appropriate for play and keep them safe. You can accomplish this by simply puppy-proofing your house.

Establishing a pet-safe area in your house is the simplest method to puppy-proof it. You can close off a small room or cramped space in your house. Anything you wouldn't want the puppy to get into should not be kept in that area, and that’s how you can stop the dog from chewing. When active supervision isn't possible, keep the baby pet securely confined to this space.

 

Select pet-approved toys.

In addition to taking away something your pet shouldn't chew on, you also need to provide him with enjoyable chew toys. Provide your puppy with a selection of safe toys to choose from. Pet parents should choose toys in a range of colours and textures, as well as the proper size and consistency for their particular puppy.

Stuffed dog toys with squeakers are ideal for puppies who love to chew on things. To keep your dog from getting bored, it's crucial to regularly rotate the toys. 

 

Amusement

Try teaching your dog to associate alone time with beneficial things to help lessen boredom or separation anxiety in dogs that spend a lot of time alone. To keep your pet engaged, give them a puzzle toy filled with food and a selection of entertaining items that they can only play with during your absence.

Having lots of fascinating toys for your dog to play with can not only help them develop a positive association with time spent alone, but it will also divert their attention from the things you don't want them chewing on.

 

Disrupt and change courses

It is your responsibility to teach new dogs and puppies what objects are off-limits for chewing. They won't know this on their own.

Get your dog's favourite toy and play with it in an upbeat, energetic manner if your dog does manage to get their jaws on a shoe or other household item. Squeaky toys are excellent here because they quickly capture your dog's attention. Your puppy will likely approach you soon to see what you're enjoying so much, and he or she may even have abandoned the boring shoe to do so. Give your puppy a "fun" toy, and remove the object he was initially gnawing on during the puppy chewing phase. This is an excellent chance to teach your puppy the instruction to "drop it."

 

Employ an Aversive

Pet parents can use an aversive to prevent their puppy from chewing on big objects or going into specific places. These implements, which are common aversives, can prevent your puppy from gnawing on your couch's or table's legs.

Importantly, these create a bad association for your dog with the place they attempt to gnaw on, and you fail to stop the dog from chewing. Anaversives work best when your puppy has toys or other mouth-watering items nearby. The puppy will quickly pick up on acceptable chewing behaviour, at which point you can take out any unpleasant objects.

 

Prevent unwanted chewing.

To stop your dog from chewing on something inappropriate, say "no," take it away, and give them a chew toy. Make sure to give your dog lots of praise when they chew on the chew toy instead. Try using a dog deterrent spray to spray any objects you don't want your dog chewing on if none of the preceding methods work to stop their destructive chewing. 

 

Final Words: Punishment is ineffective.

Your dog may occasionally chew on something that worries you, starting from the chewing puppy stage to the big old days. Having them trade you for treats makes them give up the best. Taking objects out of your dog's mouth or scolding them can lead to behavioural problems. When positive reinforcement works better, why abuse your dog's trust? The "guilty look" that dogs give when they sense danger or threat is actually a submissive dog stance. 

When you're unhappy and furious, your dog may hide or adopt submissive poses because they see your body language, tone of voice, and/or facial expressions as a threat. A successful life with your dog is based on developing and preserving a healthy, trustworthy relationship!