Destructive Chewing

behavior dog training
behavior dog
dog obedience training

The act of chewing seems to be a matter of individual preference among dogs: some have an innate desire to chew as a pleasurable activity in itself, and some seem to have no need to chew whatsoever unless theyre driven to it out of sheer boredom.

The phrase destructive chewing may sound redundant, because by its very nature! all chewing is destructive. Your dog has strong jaws full of sharp, pointy teeth: just about anything she starts to chew on is probably going to show the effects of it inside of a minute. So just to clarify, when I use the phrase destructive chewing, Im referring to inappropriate chewing: the kind of chewing thats focused on your own possessions and household items, instead of on your dogs own designated toys and chews.

The three main reasons why dogs chew:

– Most dogs have a natural desire to chew. Its fun, it passes the time, and its a self-rewarding, self-reinforcing activity (for example, if shes chewing on something that tastes good.)

– Chewing provides a nervous, bored, or lonely dog with an outlet for her emotions. To an anxious dog,...