Help! My Dog Chews EVERYTHING!

It's a question we get all the time: "How do I make my dog stop chewing on X, Y, and Z??" The truth of the matter is that dogs are naturally inclined to chew. Dogs explore the world with their mouths the same way we explore and investigate with our hands. They also chew when left home alone because it's something they enjoy doing! The problem comes when your dog decides that it would be fun to chew up your nice new pair of shoes. So what can you do to solve the problem?

First of all, you can prevent our dogs from chewing non-dog items by keeping them all out of his reach. You can make sure to put our shoes away on a shelf when we get home. Or to put away all of your socks in the place he can't get to. If your dog likes paper, pick up a couple of trash cans with lids to keep him from getting at any Kleenex or napkins. If you need to, don't be afraid to use a crate for your dog while he is learning what he can, and can't, chew on — just put his favorite toys (such as a stuffed bone or Kong) in his crate when you leave. And remember: a tired dog is a well behaved dog! Before you leave in the morning, take your dog to the park, go for a jog, or even play fetch in the house — get him running and panting any way you can.

You also want to teach your dog what he's allowed to chew on by providing plenty of legal alternatives. Have a good variety of types and textures of toys for your dog to play with and chew on. He will be less likely to get bored with what he has and more likely to find a fun toy to play with. Also, notice what your dog likes to chew. If he tends to chew on socks or gloves, make sure he has a nice plush (but durable) toy that he loves. If he starts to devour the baseboards in your home, get him a nice hard stuffed bone or an antler to chew on. You can use they toys (especially the plush ones) to play games like fetch or Tug of War to get him interested in the new toys — and to tire him out!

To help him learn what he can, and cannot, chew on you will want to keep a sharp eye on him so you can interrupt him when he goes for something he shouldn't then refocus him on one of his toys. When you see him start to sniff or chew something other than his toy, simply tell him "uh-uh", stop him from chewing and offer him one of his own toys. If you take a minute to play with him with his toy, he'll turn his focus to his own toy more often. By using these three steps, you will be well on your way to teaching your dog what he can, and more importantly can't, chew on!

If you notice that your dog primarily chews while you are gone, or tends towards more destructive chewing, it might be a sign of a larger issue. If you have questions or are concerned please give us a call at (617) 233-5496!

To learn more about Solving Problem Behaviors, check out Zen Dog Training Online!

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/francapicc/

Puppy's First Night: What to Know About Bringing a New Puppy into Your Home for the First Time

I want to address some important questions that clients often ask me about bringing a new puppy home.  Firstly, why do we recommend using BOTH a crate AND long-term confinement area? In addition, do we recommend these tools even if they live in a small apartment or condo? 

The short answer is yes. Even with a small apartment, most clients should use both a confinement area and a crate.

The reason is crates and confinement areas help with house training and home alone training. It also reduces the amount of destruction a new puppy can do when you inevitably  leave them alone first time.  (Think showers, trips to the bathroom, short errands, work, etc).

By using a confinement area (restricting your puppy's access to only one room) you don’t have to “puppy-proof” the entire house and it's easier to supervise and interrupt unwanted behaviors.  People usually baby-gate a high-traffic area that is easy to clean up, like the kitchen.

Crates are important for differnent reasons. Getting a young puppy can feel a bit overwhelming, so having a place your dog can go where you don’t have to worry is a big relief. Think of it like a crib for a child, a safe place they can learn to “self-soothe” and nap.  Odds are you will need the break as much as your puppy will!   

Housetraining

The most important reason for to use a crate is that it makes housetraining SO much easier. Dogs have a natural tendency to not "soil the den," so using a crate takes advantage of those instincts. It also helps us predict when your dog needs to go so you can

1. Minimize accidents.
2. Teach your puppy where's a good place to go.
3. Reward your puppy when he does!

Independence

Finally, teaching your young pack-animal that he will have to be left alone for 3-4 hours (at least!) while we go to work, out to dinner, movies etc. is important!  So is quickly teaching him where to go to the bathroom.  Finding ways to reduce destructive behaviors with tools like confinement areas and crates makes training so much easier!

Remember, being alone doesn't come naturally to our dogs, so it's important to be proactive and teaching them right away how to be comfortable when left alone. 

For more information on Housetraining, Home Alone Training and raising a puppy, visit Zen Dog Training Online.