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Articles / TULARC / Dogs / Behavior / |  |
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012. Chewing |
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This article is from the Dog Behavior FAQ, posted to rec.pets.dogs newsgroup. Maintained by Cindy Tittle Moore with numerous contributions by others.
Many puppies like to chew on everything they encounter. Certainly, very young puppies explore the world around them by tasting most of what they find. First of all, as a practical measure, remove anything harmful from the dog's way. Put electrical wiring behind furniture wherever possible, put cleaning supplies up out of reach or secure the cabinet doors to them. Clean small objects off the floor.
Make sure you have a supply of allowable chewing items on hand. Whenever the dog is in a crate or small room, there should always be some of these toys to chew on. Whenever you are at home and see the dog about to chew on something it shouldn't, say "AH-AH" and give it one of its toys.
There are products available to spray on items to make them taste unpleasant. Some caveats: a few dogs are not bothered by the taste; it's not really a cure for the underlying problem, but it does help you train the dog; you must make sure the product does not harm the item to be sprayed first. Bitter Apple and Bitter Orange are available at most pet supply stores; veterinarians have other formulations they may sell to you.
The judicious use of crating, toys, and watching the puppy closely will be the way you teach it to leave your house alone.
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