The Causes of Destructive Dog Chewing

The fact that your dog chews your stuff may not be your fault. Some
dog breeds have a natural desire to chew as a pleasurable activity.
Other dogs don't have that need to chew, but may resort to chewing
when utterly bored.

The phrase "destructive chewing" may seem redundant since, by nature,
chewing is destructive. A dog's jaw is strong and filled with sharp
teeth. Most items, apart from chew toy, are quickly shredded by your
dog's chewing. The term "destructive chewing" can therefore be
refined to mean chewing of inapropriate items. Chewing should be
limited to items only designed for that purpose.

The 3 reasons for a dog to chew:

-It's natural for most dogs to enjoy chewing. It passes time and
it's fun. If a dog is not given the right chew toy and the
appropriate reinforcement to chew only those toys, they will resort to
chewing table and chair legs, books, shoes, and pretty much anything
else.

- To a nervous, bored or lonely dog, chewing provides a source of
emotional comfort.

- A dog that doesn't do enough exercise will need a way to burn off
extra energy. It no other stimuli are provided, they will resort to
chewing.

If you are struggling with a chewing dog, you should first evaluate
the situation. Try to determine the reason for the bad behavior and
then use the appropriate actions to remedy the problem. If your dog
needs more activity, make the effort to walk him more often.
Alternatively, if you have a work dog, you could use a work pack
during your walks. This adds weight and increase the workout of each
walk.

If your dog is bored or lonely because you work long hours, you could
have him go to doggy day care, hire a dog sitter or have a neighbor
come by sometime during the day. Remember that your dog is a part of
your family and deserves only your best.

For more information on dog training and how to deal with problem dog
behavior, like chewing, check out <a href="http://dog-obedience-
training-101.blogspot.com/2008/01/dog-behavioral-problems.html">Dog
Training: Stop Dog Chewing</a> Today!