My Dog Chews Everything - How to Stop Destructive Chewing

So, why does your dog chew up everything? And how does she know what the best things are to chew up, the stuff that really gets your blood boiling? Here are the three main reasons:

- Most dogs have a natural desire to chew. They just can't help themselves, it's fun, and in many cases, what the dog is chewing tastes good to them.

- For an anxious or nervous dog, chewing provides relief and comfort. Chewing for a dog is just like comfort food for a human.

- Chewing expends nervous energy or relieves boredom for a dog. Dogs need something to do, and if you are not exercising your dog enough, chewing is a great release for them.

Rest assured, if you have a dog that likes to chew and is into destructive chewing, it is for one of these reasons. Your dog is NOT chewing just to make you mad, to see your reaction, or to get back at you when you leave them alone. Really.

Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to stop destructive chewing. Using current dog obedience training techniques will give you the best results.Here are the top six steps to stop a dog from chewing:

1. Dog proof your home. The best rule is this: If it's on the floor it belongs to the dog, anything else belongs to you. It is fairly simple to teach your dog this rule. Remember though, that food doesn't work in this equation. Dogs are opportunistic and will grab any food they can get, if they think they can get away with it.

Items that are still within a dog's reach might be sacrificed until your dog learns the boundaries, so if you are not going to use the "on the floor is your rule", you need to put anything away you don't want chewed up.

2. Don't set up your dog for failure by blurring the boundaries between her stuff and your stuff. Don't give her one of your old shoes, and then expect her to no the difference between the shoes she can chew and the shoes she can't chew.

3. Don't let your dog feel the joy of illegal chewing in the first place. Keep your dog confined in a dog proofed area until you have taught him the difference between your stuff and his stuff.

4. Spend a lot of time in active supervision of your dog, and make sure she gets plenty of exercise. Remember, this isn't a goldfish you own, and your dog requires companionship.

5. Provide your dog with lots of tasty alternatives to chew on. Toys and treats work really well. Most dogs do have the desire to chew, and if you own a puppy, the need is even more pronounced.

6. When you do catch your dog chewing on something they aren't supposed to, interrupt the behavior by making a loud noise, like clapping your hands , or yell out "Oi" or "Ah-ah-aaaah!". Immediately provide your dog with one of his toys and praise him as soon as it is in his mouth.

The final word on how to stop your dog from chewing stuff up is to be realistic with your expectations. Your dog is going to make mistakes, and needs time to learn the rules. Remember that it is a lot easier to train a dog than you think, because a dog's main goal is to please YOU. All you have to do is show the dog what it is that pleases you.

For further information on typical doggie behavior, including a fantastic resource for training how-to's and loads of detailed information on preventing and dealing with problem behaviors, check out the #1 Dog Training Site on the net. Visit Kingdom of Pets by Clicking HERE.