CHEWING

A chewing dog may be teething (under a year old), may be anxious, may be hungry, or may just find it enjoyable when they are bored. Depending on your dog’s motivation, provide “Dabney” with appropriate chew toys at all times. If they are chewing the legs off your grandfather’s antique chair when you aren’t home, they need to be crate trained and then safely confined when you can’t supervise them. The crate should be integrated into a dog’s life as a safe haven for them – it will be like their own bed or den – it is not a punishment. If your dog chews at will while you are gone, this could save their life by preventing a gnaw through an electrical cord or a bottle with poisonous cleanser. Your pet needs to be shown what they are allowed to chew (we don’t recommend items like old shoes because although your dog is smart, they do not differentiate between your old shoe and your new shoe), and as always, spend as much time exercising them and just hanging out with them to minimize problem behaviors often developed out of boredom.