Many people complain about their new dog chewing everything in sight and tearing up their gardens and admit that they don't know how to stop the dog from doing this. Here are some solutions which may help to stop this problem, although the first one didn't work very well for mom and dad.
A dog usually chews and digs when it's bored. This is often the result of the owners working long hours away from the home, leaving the dog to entertain itself. One solution is to purchase a second dog, which will keep the first dog company. But this can also lead to two dogs chewing and digging, especially if they are only pups. A number of years ago, mom and dad got two pups at the same time. They were German Shepard/Keeshond crosses. Mom and dad had to go away for a while and the pups were left in the care of a working daughter who lived at home. While she was out, the two pups, who had outgrown the kennel, were restricted to the kitchen and the family room. Over a period of just under two weeks, they nearly destroyed these two rooms. They chewed the carpet off the stairs separating the sunken family room from the kitchen. They chewed the corner off the coffee table and a seat off a kitchen chair. They ripped the upholstery off the bottom of a loveseat, knocked over a floor lamp which hit the console television gouging the cabinet. They then chewed up the flattened lampshade. They also got their claws caught in the Berber carpet and pulled long strings out of the carpet. Mom and dad came home to thousands of dollars of damage. Fortunately their insurance policy had a one time pet damage clause, so they got everything fixed or replaced and only had to pay the deductible. Two bored pups “egged each other on” to find ways to make things less boring. Mom and dad said afterwards that the only thing worse than one bored puppy is two bored puppies.
A better solution is to keep the dog entertained by giving it something to do. This can be achieved by hiding treats in the yard, designating a play area (like a small sandbox) or by giving the dog special toys. If your dog is a house dog, you can hide treats or special toys around the area of the house that the dog is restricted to.
Dog toys are readily available from most stores and are relatively inexpensive to buy. The only concerns are the size of the toy. It mustn't be so small that the dog will be able to swallow it whole. The material the toy is made from should be hard rubber or plastic that is difficult to bite into small pieces.
Essentially you want a toy that will stand up to the dog's sharp teeth without falling apart too quickly and without small pieces being chewed off and swallowed by the dog. These small pieces can get lodged in the dog's throat or stomach and cause all sorts of health problems, including death.
There are a large variety of toys available which should keep the dog amused. Some are capable of hiding treats inside them, making the dog work for its reward by rolling the toy around until a treat falls out. Others can be placed into the freezer overnight and given to the dog on a hot day, letting the dog lick the cool treat over a period of time as the toy defrosts.
Many other variations can be found or can even be made out of existing household items, just be sure to make them safe for the dog.
An extra step that involves dog toys is to alternate or swap toys on different days, so the dog thinks it is getting a new toy to play with. Yet another option is to smear some edible paste onto the toy, like vegemite, marmite or promite. This is a method used by many animal shelters to give dogs something to do whilst confined to their kennels.
With a little ingenuity and planning, you can entertain your dog with a vast assortment of treats and toys that will keep them amused for hours.
Until next time,
Teia
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