Destructive Chewing

Puppies and dogs use their vision and sense of smell to explore their world.  However, one of their main ways to take in new information is to put their mouths to work!  It is important to teach pups what they can and can’t chew on, but until he learns this it is up to the human to manage the situation.

Controlling the situation

A good rule of thumb is that if you don’t want it chewed, don’t make it available.  Don’t allow your dog to chew on your old slippers or socks if you don’t want them to chew on the newer ones.  Provide toys that are actual dog toys as opposed to personal or household items. 

Until you have the “to chew or not to chew” program going, confine your dog in a crate or room when you cannot keep an eye on them.  This is a “safe place” for the dog that needs to be dog proofed, have fresh water and safe toys. 

Your dog needs to have lots of time and attention from you.  If they are left on their own a lot, they won’t know what appropriate behaviour is and he can’t learn that on his own.

If you catch your dog in the act of chewing on an inappropriate item, make a loud noise or clap to interrupt the behaviour.  Once the item has been given up, you can give them an item that they are allowed and praise him once he takes the toy.

Chewing behaviour is normal for puppies as they are curious and may be teething.  Adults tend to engage in this behaviour for other reasons.  In these cases you need to determine why your dog is chewing, and keep in mind that they are not doing this to spite you.  Keep in mind, negative attention is still attention.  Give your dog attention for behaving nicely!

Social isolation, Boredom or Play

There are times when play behaviour gets out of hand, digging or shaking objects

Some reasons of why your dog may be chewing:

He is left alone for long periods of time without being able to interact with you (social isolation & boredom)

His environment is relatively barren, with no friends or toys (Boredom)

He is a young dog and has no outlet for his energy (Boredom)

He is very active and needs to be occupied mentally (Boredom & isolation)

What can you do?

Playing and exercising your dog is a great way to use up your dogs excess energy.  On leash walks are a great way to bond, to stimulate them mentally as well as exercise.  Allow time for sniffing, instruction, praise and exploring.  Add in some commands such as “sit” and “stay” to provide mental stimulation.  Enroll in a basic obedience class, they are fun and they teach commands for your dogs safety as well as the opportunity to work towards a calm, well mannered dog!

As for toys, new ones are always more interesting than old ones so rotate the toys.  Only provide a few at a time so they remain attractive for the dog.  There are toys that can have treats or peanut butter stuffed inside; these help your dog focus on toys as opposed to unacceptable objects.

Make your dogs favourite off limits chewing areas unattractive by covering them with an unpleasant texture such as aluminum foil or sandpaper.  Anti chewing sprays can also be effective (make sure your dog doesn’t like them before you buy them!).

Opt for a doggie day care or doggie hiking program one or two days a week.  This allows the dog to have exercise, socialization and lots of fun.

Separation Anxiety

Dogs with separation anxiety tend to display behaviours that reflect a strong attachment to their owners.  They may follow you from room to room, get very overexcited when they see you and feel anxious when you leave the house.  Certain events can precipitate a separation anxiety:  Change in your schedule that leaves the dog alone more, moving, loss of a family member or pet, or staying at a boarding kennel.

Punishment will only make this problem worse, it can however be resolved by counter conditioning and desensitization techniques.  Your dog’s destructive behaviour may be a response to a fear (e.g. loud noises).  Chances are, you will notice more destruction around the house during times of these events (thunderstorms, construction noise, and if you see damage to walls, doors and window coverings).

Solutions

A safe place is best, look at where he likes to go when he is anxious and then allow him access to that space or a crate when that stimulus is present. 
Be sure to avoid comforting him when he is showing anxious behaviour.  Try to get him to do a command he knows and praise him for positive behaviou.  Rewarding fearful behaviour only reinforces the fact that he should be afraid. 

Only crate your dog if he is crate trained and sees the crate as a safe space.  This will help avoid any self damage if he is not used to being confined.

What should you avoid?

Avoid punishment as it is rarely effective when dealing with destructive behaviour.  If you do not find your dog in the act of destroying an item, you cannot correct him as it is too late to teach the proper lesson.  Your dog will not think in terms of “oh, I shouldn’t have chewed those shoes two hours ago”.  People also tend to think that their dog makes this connection because their dog looks guilty, however they are merely responding to the humans body language, tone or facial expression.  They do not know that they have done something wrong, only that you are upset.  Correcting them after the fact does not teach a lesson, but can instead lead to further problems down the road.

Adapted from The Humane Society of the United States "Pets for Life" series