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Training-your-Puppy---How-to-Stop-Him-Chewing-Everything-in-Sight
I know it's not much comfort to you, but chewing and minor destruction is normal for a puppy. It's his way of exploring his new world. And it gets worse while he's teething.
Once you've started his training –- particularly his socialization training –- this behavior should stop. And of course, teething is only temporary.
The problem is particularly prevalent in dogs who have a free run of the house and furniture! If you mainly keep the dog in one room - where his crate or bed is, and where he eats -– and leave him in that room when you go out, you're less likely to have the problem in the first place.
And I have seen research indicating that almost every dog who is allowed in sleep in their owner's bedroom –- and even more if they sleep on the bed –- displays destructive tendencies when left alone.
Let's see what we can do if it doesn't stop.
There are 3 main reasons for continued destructive behavior and chewing.
One is boredom; two is attention seeking; three is stress related separation anxiety.
Here's how you tell the difference.
A bored dog will usually 'attack' the same thing every time he's left by himself. He'll generally have what passes for a guilty look when you find what he's done.
Solution: exercise your dog physically and mentally for about half an hour just before you go out. I've heard good reports of leaving a stout rope chew soaked with a little tuna – apparently the scent work stimulated by the tuna holds his attention for quite a while.
The attention seeking dog will chew all sorts of things -– whether you're in the house or not -– and never looks 'guilty' or anxious.
Solution: don't give in to this call for attention. Correcting the behavior can be a little time consuming, but is definitely worth it.
Put the dog in the room he's usually left in when you go out. Close the door and listen. If he starts chewing, slap the door with your hand –- but don't speak. When he's stayed quiet for a couple of minutes, go into the room but ignore him for a little while.
Depending on how quickly he gets the hang of this, increase the time to 5 minutes, then in 5 minute chunks up to half an hour.
It sometimes helps while doing this -– and afterwards when you go out -– to leave some recently worn clothes just outside the closed door to the room so that he thinks you're still there.
A dog suffering separation anxiety will tend to chew your clothing, or the items you passed on your way out of the house. In other words -– anywhere your scent is.
Solution: try to reduce his dependence.
If there are other people living in the house, try to share out who does the walking and feeding so the dog doesn't form an excessive bond with one person.
Should this not be an option, you'll need to cut back a little on physical contact with him while you're in the house. Start with maybe 2 minutes of no contact at all, and gradually increase it. Perhaps put him in his crate for a little while. You can sit in the same room with him, but read or watch TV.
You can also do this if there are other people living in the house. But it won't work unless everyone does it.
It also helps when you go to leave the radio on, or you can leave a recording of your voice or a family conversation playing.
Although these solutions do work, remember that prevention is better than cure.
A dog is not a solitary animal. If there's no-one at home for 8 to 9 hours a day, every day – the dog may suffer separation anxiety. This is really not fair on the dog.
Try to keep the house tidy. If you don't leave things lying around he can't chew them.
Give him plenty of toys to play with – but not ones that look like slippers or other things that he shouldn't chew. He won't be able to tell the difference. The same thing applies to giving him an old shoe of yours to play with. He won't know the difference between that and your brand new party shoes!
Phillipa Baxter offers sensible, effective dog training tips that have helped over 9,000 puppy owners worldwide build strong, loving relationships with their new dog. For more useful advice you are very welcome to visit her at DogTrainingCourses.com |
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