September 7, 2007

Ask the Animal Behaviorist

My dog chews on everything. What can I do?

Courtesy of the Humane Society Silicon Valley
Special to the Times

Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs. Some dogs chew because it feels good, some because they are anxious and others because they are bored. Chewing is essential to the mental health of your dog and it can actually reduce tarter build up if he is given correct items to chew. Use the formula below to help you:

1. Crate train so the dog is either crated or closely supervised 100 percent when indoors. He should never have the opportunity to chew the wrong item as you are watching him when out of the crate. When you cannot watch him, he goes into the crate with a chewy or stuffed KONG.

2. More daily aerobic exercise - walking a couple of times a week is not enough exercise. He needs daily running exercise - fetch, bubbles, Frisbee, swimming, etc. A tired dog sleeps and does not chew.

3. Give the dog something that he can chew on (a stuffed KONG, Nylabones, Buster Cubes, natural bones, etc.) and then praise the dog for chewing on those items. We always recommend stuffing the KONG with such tasty treats as cheese, peanut butter, or some canned wet food. Do not give pig ears or flimsy rawhide as these are snacks and will not last long enough to provide chewing satisfaction.

4. Spray areas that the dog has targeted (chewed) with a bitter tasting deterrent such as Bitter Apple. Renew the area daily for the next two weeks until he stops going back for a taste chew. Remember that you should be closely supervising the dog during this retraining phase; don’t rely on the taste deterrents alone to fix this problem.

5. Do not punish the dog if he is chewing the wrong thing. Punishment can cause the dog to be aggressive towards you and start to guard any object he has. Instead, call the dog away from the item and reward him for coming to you with a food treat.

6. Leave a leash on him when loose in the house so you can gently keep him with you and he can't sneak off to chew something. Put up baby gates so access is limited in the house or try tie-down training.

7. Hire a positive, private trainer to help you teach the “off” or “leave it” commands. Training establishes a common language between you and your dog thus increasing your communication and bond. We recommend that all dogs, regardless of their owner’s knowledge or skill, attend at least one positive, humane training course in their life.

8. Notice and reward good behavior. When he is chewing on his own things, praise him and pet him. Notice the good behaviors your dog does every day and reward it. If the dog is not rewarded for appropriate or correct behavior, then he will device his own games.

9. Supervise your pet. Your dog should not have one opportunity to chew the wrong item because you are watching him closely when he is loose in your house or he is crated indoors with an item he can chew. We want to set him up for success rather than failure. Don’t leave items out in easy reach for him; put away shoes, trash cans, clothing, children’s toys, etc. In order to help change your pet’s behavior, you also must change your behavior as well.

10. Avoid isolating the dog outdoors. This teaches him nothing except to become anxious and chew the yard up.
Do remember that young dogs are more prone to chewing and require much higher amounts of exercise than older animals. Make sure you are not setting your young dog up for failure by leaving him unattended at too young of an age. The general rule of thumb is that the dog should start with small amounts (15-20 minutes) of unattended freedom indoors around the age of one year and gradually work up to longer periods over the next six months.

Humane Society Silicon Valley Adoption news

Tenpa, the Rottweiler mix
My name is Tenpa, a 3-year-old Rottweiler mix. My meet-your-match color is orange, which means that I am a wallflower! I'm shy yet charming, and I'm searching for a patient owner with an active life style. I am good with other dogs, and I love to wrestle and play with them. I would love to go to training and learn good manners. I would love to share my toys and play fetch. I have good house manners, and I'm housetrained and crate trained too! I love to jump, run, and play. I am currently in foster care. If you are interested in meeting me, then please contact Caundra Cruz at (408) 727-3383 ext. 834. My ID number is 39630

Petuna, the Pittbull mix
Hi there, I'm Petunia, a 7-year-old Pit Bull mix. My meet-your-match color is purple, which means I'm a constant companion. I am a sucker for laps, especially if I am being petted. My loves in life include people and playing! I would love to go to training soon, so that I can boost my confidence, learn new things, and meet some friends in the process. I know I'll do well because I'm really smart. If you are looking for that perfect playmate and cuddle buddy, then look no further because you have found her. Come and see me today! My ID number is 46679

About Humane Society Silicon Valley
Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) is an independent, non-profit agency offering quality adoptions, medical care and education programs to enhance the human-animal bond. Established in 1929, HSSV has served Silicon Valley for 77 years and has adopted more than 500,000 animals into permanent, loving homes. HSSV is an “open door” shelter and accepts animals 24-hours a day, seven days a week. HSSV’s medical center offers affordable spaying/neutering, vaccinations and microchips to the public. More information about HSSV can be found at www.hssv.org.