Stop Puppy Chewing

This article addresses a very big problem for most puppy owners, how to make your dog stop chewing on things. I am the proud owner of three dogs all of which have been chewers at one time or another. I will at least tell you what has worked for me.

First things first, your puppy doesn't speak English, so when you kindly explain to him that chewing on your favorite shoe is a naughty thing to do, he really has no Idea what you are talking about. When you scream “don’t chew that," he still really has no Idea what you are talking about.

What Dogs do understand is food, some dogs will inhale just about anything and be perfectly happy, others will turn their nose at you until you have their favorite treat in your hand. Either way get something your dog likes.

First find a very fun toy that your pooch is sure to enjoy tearing to shreds. Next find your shoe that your dog also loves tearing to shreds. Lay them on the floor about three feet apart. Now let Rover see. If Rover picks up the toy and happily wags his tail, then Rover gets a treat. If he goes for the shoe intervene. Any loud noise should do. I use the word STOP. Short and firm "rover stop." Now give Rover his toy and toss the shoe aside. Tell Rover what a good dog he is now, by using a happy excited voice.

Remember dogs don't understand English. If you tell him he is and awful ugly dog in your happy excited voice I bet he'll wag his tail and give you a kiss. Repeat this drill over and over with different objects around your house and different toys to keep Rover entertained. Every time Rover doesn't chew something that is not his give him a treat.

Some dogs are too stubborn to learn the nice sweet give Rover a treat way, so I'll give you another Idea. Go to your local dollar tree and get a tin with a lid. Fill this with about 20 pennies. At this point you have two options. If Rover is the type that will chew on anything and everything he comes in contact with then you need to keep the tin with you at all times. Bond with it, take it where ever you go with Rover. Every time your dog even touches something that is not his with his mouth. Shake the tin. Dogs hate this noise. He will stop. Immediately give him his toy, tell him what a good dog he is in your happy voice.

Option two is for the dog that only chews one thing, this also works well for the food snatching dog. Tie your tin can to a string. Tie the other end of the string to the object of your dog's affection. Set the object on the edge of the counter for rover to steal. Set the tin up there as well, just set it back further. You can imagine what will happen when Rover the thief tries to steal the item. Rover in general will hate this item from now on, for the evilness it has brought upon him.

I hope some of these tips will work for you. Remember teaching your dog what you expect from them early on will pay off in the future!