If you’re a dog owner or you’re new to the world of dogs, one thing you should know from the onset is that your pup is bound to chew on different things in your home. As a result, your furry friend can destroy your valuable property, but the good news is that you can direct their chewing to appropriate items. Preventing your pet from chewing valuable items in your home is the best remedy to set her up for success and meet your expectations. But how do you achieve this? This article explores the measures you can take to stop your puppies from chewing up the house.
Understand Your Puppy
During their formative years, puppies like infants explore their environment by chewing on different things. The early months are also characterized by teething, which often causes discomfort. Chewing improves the feeling of sore gums and also enhances teething. Puppies also engage in chewing because of the following reasons:
- No access to appropriate and safe toys to chew
- Boredom
- Chewing might be fear-related
- They’re experiencing separation anxiety from their mother
- Chewing feels good for most dogs
- Chewing is a coping skill
Therefore, you should try to understand the behavior of your dog first before determining the course of action to address the problem. For instance, if chewing is caused by factors like teething, boredom, or other factors, you can get appropriate toys for your dog to influence behavior change. You should consult a professional veterinarian if you suspect that your dog’s chewing is related to fear and serious anxiety.
Secure Your Home
Naturally, puppies want to play and explore, so the best way to control their chewing is to secure your property. Keep away valuable items from the reach of dogs in your home, and make sure the puppies can only access safe objects. Creating a dog-safe area secured by a gate is another option you can consider to protect your belongings. Ensure there are no valuable items in the confined space for your pup. If at any moment you cannot supervise your dog, safely confine her to this place. Ensure your designated area has a crate, comfortable bedding, toys, and a bowl of water. Dog-proofing helps your pet quickly familiarize with the new environment in your home.
Divert and Interrupt
If you bring a new puppy home, it will not immediately know the items not to chew because she does not reason like humans. Therefore, it is imperative to interrupt and divert your dog’s attention when you see her chewing on something valuable. For example, when you see your pup chewing your shoe, find her a toy to set the expected standard behavior. Always try to play with your pet in an animated way to divert its attention to the toy it should chew or play with. Squeaky toys are a great deal since they draw your pet’s attention. Once you give your pup the fun toy, remove the valuable one she was initially chewing on. Your puppy will learn the “drop it” command if you interfere and offer it a more desirable treat.
Avoid Punishment
You may be infuriated when your pup chews on a special item, but you should never use punishment as a method of reprimanding your friend. No matter how frustrated you may be, yelling at your dog or pulling items out of its mouth should never be an option because this can lead to the development of behavior issues. Instead, utilize positive reinforcement
Your dog pup feels threatened by your body language, tone, or facial expression when you’re angry. As a result, it may end up hiding from you. Building a positive relationship with your dog can go a long way in helping you achieve your goals about stopping it from chewing. Remember to set realistic expectations when you train your dog because it will remain an animal.
As a dog owner, you must learn to keep your belongings in a safe place to prevent your pet from accessing them. For example, keep your shoes, magazines, trash, books, clothing, remote controls, and other important items out of your pet’s reach. Giving your dog toys distracts their attention from household goods. You should never expect your dog to distinguish between trash and valuable items.
Supervise Your Dog
Constantly supervise your dog until it learns to chew on appropriate things like toys consistently. Only allow your pup to certain rooms in your home and keep it on a leash so it cannot make mistakes when out of your sight. Include toys in your dog’s daily routine so it does not run out of items to chew. You can put your pet’s food in a puzzle toy and rotate it so your pup can enjoy variety. To keep your dog occupied, you should always introduce it to new things.
Additionally, you should also keep your dog busy by giving it sufficient mental and physical exercise. Once your pup is bored, it will find something to entertain itself like chewing on different items in your home. However, when your dog is tired, it will rest, and this will help protect your property.
Treat Your Property
One effective way of stopping your pup from chewing your home is to treat your furniture and other valuable items with a taste-detention solution. This solution is unappealing, and it can keep your dog away from your household property. Be sure to supervise your dog and reapply the deterrent to maintain its effectiveness. Remember to keep small items out of reach of your puppies.
If you own a dog, you should know that it can chew on different household items, and this is a natural process that should not distress you. The good thing is that there are various methods you can consider to stop puppies from chewing the house. By following these tips, you can set up your dog for success and achieve your expectations.