About Dog Chewing Behavior

Dog chewing can literally ruin several pieces of your furniture if you do not get the situation under control. Puppies of course are chewers because they are teething but normally outgrow this stage. However, some adult dogs have a strong urge to chew but there are ways you can stop this behavior.

Not Enough Exercise 

Many adult dogs have chewing behaviors because they are bored and are not exercised properly. Some breeds have a lot of energy and when they are not given the proper amount of exercise to work off, they can develop destructive behaviors such as chewing. Provide your dog with daily exercise and you allow him to get his high energy level out during the exercise and probably see much less chewing.

Did not Learn to Chew on Toys as a Puppy

Every dog owner knows that puppies will chew on just about anything when they are teething. If the owner does not redirect this chewing to dog toys and allowed to continue chewing on other objects such as furniture, he will grow up to think these items are okay to chew. Therefore, getting plenty of toys for your chewer will certainly cut down on the amount of chewing he does on your furniture.

Separation Anxiety

Some dogs chew because they suffer from separation anxiety, which means when they are left alone they can become destructive. These behaviors can include chewing and digging on furniture. Many dogs with separation anxiety can tear up your home completely while you are away. Confining your dog to one area of the home is probably your best solution. It will make him feel safer as well to be in a smaller area. Make sure you leave your dog with plenty of toys and a worn shirt of piece of clothing to help him feel less fearful when you are away.