| You've just bought your dog his first soft-sided dog | | | | has already forgotten that he committed the act at |
| crate. It's an expensive, high-end model, and it set | | | | all, and the reason for your anger will be lost on him, |
| you back a pretty penny. You don't mind, because | | | | even if you "rub his nose in it". If you do catch the |
| your dog deserves the best. You want him to have | | | | dog in the process of chewing, you can apply firm |
| the most comfortable living area possible. And your | | | | but calm corrective measures, as your obedience |
| dog should appreciate that, right? | | | | trainer has taught you. Otherwise, you need to figure |
| So when you get home to find that tasteful, | | | | out why your dog decided to chew your valuable |
| well-designed, pricey soft dog crate reduced to a pile | | | | item up. Truly destructive chewing is usually the result |
| of shredded nylon, it's natural to feel like you've been | | | | of anxiety. Dogs, like people, like to have a fairly |
| "chewed out". The little ingrate has completely | | | | predictable routine, day by day. If you are late |
| destroyed a veritable work of art! After all the hours | | | | getting home from work, your dog will be aware of |
| you worked to buy that dog crate, just so he could | | | | this, and will naturally begin to fret. By keeping a |
| treat it like a chew toy, what could this be but an | | | | reliable pattern of behavior, you'll let your dog know |
| act of pure spite? Could it be that your dog hates | | | | that everything's ok, and reduce his desire to vent |
| you and wants to put you in the poorhouse? | | | | his fear and uncertainty through chewing. |
| The answer, of course, is no. In the heat of the | | | | Of course, the goal is not to eliminate chewing |
| moment following an epic chewing spree, it can be | | | | behavior altogether- that would be like trying to |
| difficult to remember that dogs do not feel hatred, | | | | teach your dog not to wag its tail. The goal is to |
| spite, or vengefulness. These are human emotions, | | | | eliminate inappropriate chewing. The best way to do |
| which we all too readily project onto our pets. What | | | | this is to present plenty of more attractive |
| your dog has probably been feeling to make him | | | | alternatives to your slippers, the arm of the sofa, or |
| commit this dastardly deed might be anxiety, | | | | the seams of your dog crate. Variety is a plus here- |
| boredom, discomfort, hyperactivity- or, most likely, | | | | as much as dogs are creatures of routine; they also |
| he was simply doing what came naturally! Chewing is | | | | appreciate stimulation and new sensations. Offer as |
| an instinctual activity for dogs, which gives them | | | | many different kinds of chew toys as you |
| satisfaction and relieves tension. To eliminate | | | | reasonably can. You can even soak rawhide or bones |
| destructive chewing behavior, yelling, striking, or | | | | in soups of different flavors- no piece of polished |
| other forms of punishment are useless. What does | | | | wood is going to be more attractive to a dog than |
| work is the offer of approved chewing items, lots of | | | | something that smells like beef broth. Whenever your |
| love and praise for using them instead of expensive | | | | dog chews an approved item, lavish him with praise |
| furniture, and a consistent and reliable daily routine. | | | | and affection. Pretty soon, he'll lose all desire to |
| To repeat, unless you catch your dog in the act of | | | | misbehave. |
| "bad" chewing, do NOT punish or scold him. The dog | | | | |