Prevention of Destructive Chewing in Dogs

1) Teething

Many owners may contribute to the problem by improper training (pups are not able to distinguish between old and new shoes, etc.). You have to manage the environment by puppy- and dog-proofing your house. We need to learn to put clothes and shoes in the closet, and put pups in a crate when we are not actively supervising them.

2) Medical Problems

Dental pain or stomach irritation may lead to chewing. Have your dog checked out by the vet to rule out pain.

3) Anxiety

One of the leading causes of chewing in adult dogs. Disturbing situations to a dog may include: separation anxiety, change in owners schedule, or the addition of a new family member (human or animal). If you suspect separation anxiety, the first thing you need to do is schedule an appointment with the veterinarian. Separation anxiety is a very serious matter. It is your dog’s panicked response to being left alone.

Treatment of destructive chewing behavior involves finding and removing the cause, encouraging the dog to chew proper items, and guiding the dog away from items the owner does not want chewed.

In order to help determine the cause of the inappropriate chewing, the owner should keep a diary where he can document when chewing occurs, time of day, day of the week, and items chewed.

To promote desirable chewing, the owner needs to find toys that the dog likes to chew, encourage the chewing, and reward the dog every time it chews the toys. The owner can make the toys more appealing by rubbing the toys in a small amount of cheese, peanut butter, or honey. The dog should receive small food rewards or a large amount of praise every time it initiates chewing. We do not recommend rawhide chews, as pieces of the rawhide may be broken off and become lodged in the intestine.

Discouraging unacceptable chewing involves keeping the dog under constant supervision until the owner can trust the dog. The owner may consider keeping the dog in a crate, run, boarding the dog, or hiring a dog sitter. As the dog is allowed more freedom, it can be taught to avoid previously chewed items by making them taste bad. Bitter Apple spray or gel can be used on objects as a deterrent. A small amount of cayenne pepper mixed with water or petroleum jelly may also be used, as well as oil of citronella.If young children are in the household or if many items must be protected, the owner can offer the dog an object smeared with Bitter Apple, cayenne pepper and a small amount of air freshener. When the object is spit out, the dog should be praised. This should be repeated several more times. The air freshener will become a cue for the dog to avoid items carrying the scent. Then a small amount of air freshener can be sprayed throughout the house as a signal for the dog to avoid other items.

The dog should not be spanked, slapped, or physically punished in any way by the owner. It is better to use a verbal reprimand followed by encouragement to chew on a chew toy. Reprimands can backfire by either teaching the dog to be a sneaky chewer or by teaching it not to chew anything, even toys, in the owner’s presence.

In summary, there are many causes for destructive chewing behavior in dogs. Therapy is aimed at finding and removing the cause, encouraging the dog to chew proper toys, and guiding the dog away from inappropriate chewing.