How to Stop Dog Chewing

Most dog owners have come home at some point to find some treasured item chewed to pieces by their beloved pet. It could have been shoes or a remote control, or a cellphone or something personal. Or, like one poor man, it could have been the Super Bowl tickets that the Fed Ex man slipped under his door. His Labrador thought they tasted delicious. Learning how to stop dog chewing becomes an important issue for many dog owners.

There are several approaches toward how to stop dog chewing and it’s usually best if they are used in combination. If your dog is a chronic chewer and tries to taste many things in your home, such as your furniture or the woodwork along your walls, you can begin by coating the things that tempt him with some kind of bitter agent. Pet supply stores and pet catalogues sell ointments and sprays for this purpose to make things taste bitter or bad to dogs and discourage them from wanting to taste them. You simply spread the ointment or spray on the places where your dog has been tempted to chew (or where he may be tempted). This discourages many dogs from using their teeth where they shouldn’t. Bitter apple is a flavor that is often used for this purpose.

If your dog is more apt to chew out of frustration or boredom, such as when you leave him alone in the house, you can consider crating him when you must leave him alone. Crating has many benefits, including keeping dogs out of trouble when you’re away. It also provides a dog a quiet, restful environment for short periods of time. Most dogs sleep or relax when crated. You can provide your dog with his favorite toy and some safe chews when he’s crated. Remember that crates are not intended to be used for extended periods of time.

If your dog is more of an opportunistic chewer — chewing things when they are left in easy reach for him — the easiest solution is for you and your family members to try to remember to put things away where your dog can’t reach them. Many dogs, long after the puppy stage, will still chew up a remote or a pair of eyeglasses if they are left conveniently at nose level. One way dogs explore the world is through their mouth and with their teeth. And anything that has your scent or a family member’s scent on it will be tempting for your dog.

You can also work on how to stop dog chewing in general by making sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Tired dogs are less apt to get into trouble. They are not as likely to explore and look for things to chew on.

If you do leave your dog loose in the house make sure that he has plenty of his own things to chew on, such as Kongs and other safe chew toys. Give him toys that will keep him busy, such as Buster Cubes, which make him have to think to get the treat inside. These chews and toys, in many cases, keep a dog busy so he doesn’t think about chewing your things.

Learning how to stop dog chewing can be challenging because there are different reasons for it in different cases. Some dogs are much more prone to it than others. But if you follow the suggestions in this article you can, hopefully, stop your dog’s chewing.