How can I stop my dog chewing and biting things (and me!)?
Those little puppy teeth are just that; little. Little and cute, and sweet, and even fun at first.
It’s not until your new dog is chewing your baseboards into sawdust that you realize it’s not so cute anymore.
If you are having a problem with a dog biting and chewing on things, Devan Johnson of AZ Dog Sports has some tips for you.
Finding a solution for your dog chewing on everything
Type of Dog
Higher drive dogs need more stimulation then a lower drive dog. Every dog, no matter what, loves to chew. The type of dog you have will determine the level of effort needed on your part to alleviate this issue.
Amount of Exercise Your Dog Gets
Determine how much exercise your dog is actually getting in a day and how much training you do with them each day. A dog should be getting anywhere from 30 min-2 hours of physical exercise daily.
Keeping Your Dog Occupied
Teaching your dog fetch, or tug, playing with them. Giving them mentally stimulating things to chew on such as Kong’s, fun treat dispensing toys, bully sticks, cow hoofs, antlers, Nylabones, raw bones; are all good options to keeping a dog busy. (Make sure you monitor your dog when chewing bones, small pieces can break off so make sure your dog knows a drop it command first.)
Keeping Your Dog Safe
Crate training is a great way to make sure a new dog or puppy is safe and not chewing on things that can harm them.
Redirect! Redirect! Redirect!
When you are playing with your dog and they start to bite; try not to move your hands and body around like a fun toy, stand still and slowly remove yourself if your puppy thinks you’re a chew toy. (A pen area is a good place to make sure you can get away from him/her if they chew on you.)
If your puppy knows a marker word you can redirect them by introducing a toy. Show them the toy, and when they show interest in it, mark and reward near the toy so they learn good things happen when I chew on my own toys.
Extra Tip For When You Are Getting A New Puppy
Always have a toy handy when going to pet a puppy, they want everything to go in their mouth, that’s how they learn and explore their new world! Set them up for success and make sure they are properly exercised and have something to teethe on. You can even freeze some toys to help soothe sore puppy gums.
Remember, all dogs love to play, chew and run! Give them proper outlets for these activities and you will have a happy dog and happy household!
AZ Dog Sports has new puppy classes starting all the time!
If you think your dog is too old to learn a new trick….you might be wrong! We also have beginner obedience classes starting all the time for those dogs over 1 year old.
Check out our classes or call us at 602-237-6775 for more information.
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