The Dog Site

Why is destructive chewing such a common problem?  How to stop this destructive dog behavior is the question of the year for many dog owners.  Read on to find seven solutions for dog chewing problems.

Why Do Dogs Chew?

There are several reasons why dogs enjoy chewing on things.  The first is that chewing is instinctive for your dog.  Dogs play rough, and part of their play is to chew things up into little pieces.  If whatever they’re chewing on tastes good, that’s a bonus.

A bored dog, or one that’s anxious about something will chew on something to soothe himself, or to give himself something to do.This is similar to people who eat when they’re upset over something or need something to do.

Your dog needs lots of exercise to burn up his excess energy.  If he’s not getting the exercise he needs, he’ll find a way to use that energy, and he may turn to destructive dog behavior to do it.

Another reason for destructive dog chewing is that you’re not giving your dog enough time and attention.  Your dog craves your attention, whether it’s good or bad.  If your dog only gets attention from you when he’s engaged in destructive chewing, you can bet that he’ll keep doing it.

Six Canine Behavior Modification Tips

1. Your dog needs lots of one-on-one time with you.  Play fetch with him, take him for long walks, spend time with him.  Lots of exercise will use up the extra energy he has.
2. Dog-proof your home.  Put away things like shoes, cell phones, tv remotes, books, eyeglasses, and whatever other goodies your dog loves to chew on.  Dogs don’t resist temptation well, so don’t tempt him.
3. When putting things away, think about your dog’s size and agility.  Can he jump up on the counter to get at something?  Or is he a climber?  Or is he big enough to just stand on his hind legs and reach it?
4. Don’t leave your canine friend tied up in the yard all the time.If your dog is always left in a dog-proofed area all the time, he can’t learn what you expect from him.  He does need to push the boundaries when you’re there, so he can learn which toys are his, and which are off limits.
5. Speaking of toys, you’ll want to keep lots of toys on hand.  Give your dog two or three at a time, and swap them out every couple of days.  Dogs lose interest in the same old thing, just like we do, so give him lots of variety.
6. Don’t blur the boundaries.  Avoid giving your dog old shoes or clothing or towels to chew on. It’s unrealistic to expect him to know the difference between your old shoe and your new designer shoes.  To a dog, a shoe is a shoe.

The Seventh Solution – Catch Him In The Act Of Destructive Chewing

Now you have a teachable moment.  If he knows the “drop-it” command, use it.  If he doesn’t, clap your hands or say, “Ah-ah-aaah!” loudly.  In either case, give him an appropriate chew toy right away.  Praise him as soon as his mouth closes around it.  You’re training him that chewing on his own toys is fine, but yours are off-limits.

When it comes to ending destructive chewing, punishment is seldom effective.  If you don’t catch him in the act, he’ll have no idea why he’s in trouble.  And even if you do, he’s liable to just wait until you’re gone to chew on your things.

You can see how easy it is to inadvertently give your dog the wrong idea when training him.  Effective canine behavior modification is easy with a good dog training course.  If you’re already struggling with your dog’s behavior, just click on any link in this article to learn more about a dog training resource that will quickly solve your problems.

When we first adopt your dog, we never suspect that they will have destructive dog behavior.  Destructive dog behavior can show itself  in many ways.  It can manifest in the form of dog barking nuisance.  Or, it can manifest in the form of dog urination problems.  Dog biting problems and in general, dog obedience problems are very common.

How Do We Deal With Destructive Dog Behavior

That depends.  Some destructive dog behavior commands more intense training.  Most destructive dog behavior can be rectified quickly. Dog problems can easily be solved if you have the right dog training guide. For a review of the best dog training guides visit Canine House Training.

Dealing With Dog Barking Nuisance

{Certain dog breeds bark more so than others}.  It’s in their nature.  For instance, Retrievers are hunters.  So their natural inclination is to bark, bay or howl.  While you may not be able to eliminate (nor would you want to) this dog barking nuisance, you can do certain things to minimize the barking.

Destructive Dog Behavior #1 Stop a Barking Dog

If dog barking is a nuisance for you, rule out the obvious.  Maybe your puppy is bored.  Puppies howl because they often like attention.  Try to mentally stimulate your puppy.  Give him a toy with one of his favorite treats in it.  When you come home, make sure you lavish lots of attention on him. Next, your dog could be barking because he’s not getting enough exercise.  Beagles are high energy dogs so they need lots of physical exercise. If you don’t wear them out through physical activity, they will bark. Take your dog out for an hour run at least twice a day.  Play rough and tumble games with your dog that will leave him out of breath. 

Destructive Dog Behavior #2 Dog Urination Problems

This issue is really simple to fix.  Always crate train your dog the minute you bring him home.  Crate training your puppy is the only way to stop him from peeing on your rug.  Why?  Because puppies don’t pee where they sleep.  The second part to this is that you have to put your dog on a strict feeding schedule.  That means don’t give your pet unlimited water. 

Also, once you pay attention to her feeding schedule, you’ll know exactly when she has to pee and you can take her out for her walk. 

Here is something I find critical to do once your dog has peed on your carpet.  Absolutely purchase an odor neutralizer.  If you try to use ammonia or store bought detergent, it will not only keep the stain and smell in your carpet, but it will encourage your dog to go in that very same spot.  Why?  Because a dog’s urine has ammonia in it.  That’s why you absolutely must neutralize the odor.

Curing destructive dog behavior is very simple.  In fact, it’s easier than you think.  I highly recommend Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer, which deals with dog destructive behavior in a very simple, easy-to-read format.  In fact, the eBook is so easy to understand, a 10 year-old could implement the dog training strategies in the book! 

You’ll also have access to a live dog forum where you’ll get answers to all of your dog destructive problems from expert dog trainers as well as members who have “been there, done that.”

Is your canine friend showing signs of separation anxiety in dogs?  This type of destructive dog behavior can make life an absolute nightmare for a dog owner.  In fact, it’s the second most common reason that dogs are either given away or even put to sleep.  

You can avoid a sad ending for your dog by learning the signs of this problem, and finding out what you should do about it.

Signs Of Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Different levels of bad behavior can be shown by dogs with separation anxiety.  A dog with a mild case may pace around, pant, and over-groom himself.  

A dog with a more severe case may bark frantically for hours, driving the neighbors crazy.  He may display destructive dog behavior, tearing up whatever he can get a hold of.  Your dog may urinate or defecate inappropriately in the house.  He may go so far as to mutilate himself by chewing on his own tail, yanking out fur, and licking himself until he bleeds.

If you dread coming home because you don’t know what kind of mess is awaiting you, it’s time to take action to solve this problem.

Is Separation Anxiety Really The Problem, Or Is It Simply A Bored Dog?

Is your dog is bored, or does he really have a separation anxiety problem?  Here’s how you can tell:

• Destructive dog behavior occurs only when you leave him alone.If he’s demolishing your house just for fun, he’ll do it anytime, not just when he’s alone.
• Your dog is “hyperattached” to you.He’ll follow you all around your house, wanting to sit in your lap all the time.  This is flattering for the owner, but it’s not healthy for your dog to be this attached to you.
• He’s learned what you do when you leave, and he starts getting distressed before you go.
• He begins destructive behavior within 30 minutes of your leaving home.
• He tries to destroy barriers, like a door.  A dog may go after the door he last saw you go out of.
• Your dog barks in repeated, high-pitched yips.  This is reminiscent of a puppy’s distress call when he or she is separated from mom.

Your dog may not do all of these things, but if your dog is showing some of these behaviors, this shows his problem is not boredom.

Suggestions For Dealing With Dogs With Separation Anxiety

You may be surprised to learn that separation anxiety in canines is related to dominance issues.  In a wild dog pack, the leader can leave.  The others, however, never go away from the leader on their own.  

If your dog thinks he’s the alpha dog, or pack leader, he’ll get very upset if you leave him, since you’re not supposed to do that.In his mind, he’s repsonsible for his pack members, and he thinks something might happen to you if you go away.  Many times, once you establish yourself as the pack leader, the separation anxiety goes away.

Your dog needs lots of exercise to use up all that energy he has.  You should take your dog for a brisk walk twice a day.  You need to understand that your dog instinctively knows that the pack leader goes first.  He should be walking next to you or behind you, so that he’s following you, the pack leader.  Allowing him to pull ahead of you on his leash is telling him that he’s the alpha male, not you.  

So there you have it; now you can see how easy it is to inadvertently train your dog to do exactly what you don’t want him to do.  You can avoid this by finding a dog training course that focuses on teaching you how dogs think.  Once you understand how your dog’s mind works, separation anxiety in dogs is much easier to deal with.

If you’re dealing with the problem of separation anxiety in dogs, visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about a dog training resource that will help to solve your problem.