As much as we love our dogs, they can be very time consuming. Between the endless walks, feeding times, baths, pooping and all the other stressful parts to owning a dog the last thing you want to have to be dealing with is a chewing problem. Dogs, biologically and ancestrally speaking, have evolved from animals that are used to tearing things apart for their survival. Now that they get their food in decorated bowls there’s no real need for that, but the instinct remains, more dormant in some than in others. If your dog has a chewing problem, then you already know how bad it can get: pillows torn apart, wooden furniture gnawed at, shoes completely eviscerated. It’s time to find some solutions. So, with that said, let’s take a look at what can be done about your dog’s chewing problem.

Adapt Your Life

Toughest lesson first. The reality is that, until you’ve gotten to the bottom of this issue with your pup, nothing will be safe unless you make it safe. That means you need to hide anything that you really don’t want chewed. Make sure no clothing, trash bags or shoes are left lying around by your kids. Protect the legs of any valuable, immovable furniture you might have in the house. For a little while this is the best solution you have, sadly.

Get Chew Toys

Finding a more appropriate surrogate for your favorite pair of shoes is a really good step towards keeping their chewing problem in check. “A good chew toy, or set of toys, gives them something to chew, naturally, but it also helps reinforce this idea of differentiation. Teaching your dog it’s wrong to ever chew is impractical, but teaching them that some things are appropriate others are not is a perfect solution”,

Give Your Dog Enough Play Time

Frustrated dogs, dogs who aren’t getting the time they need outdoors experiencing the world and playing are more likely to display behaviors within the house that you would prefer them not to. Dogs are naturally adventurous, and chewing is but one of many ways in which they explore the world around them. Deny them this outside of the house and you’re far more likely to find that they’ve done their exploration in the house, leaving your living room rug torn half to bits. If you’re having trouble finding time, then you might want to consider finding a dog walking service.

If It’s A Puppy, Check For Teething

Just like human babies have as their teeth develop, young puppies will go through the exact same teething process. Puppies tend to be smaller, but the carnage they can cause is still immense. Furthermore, it can actually be a pretty painful process for your pet, so you want to be sympathetic towards them if they start causing havoc. One easy trick to try out is freezing a wet washcloth. They can then use it as a little chew toy. As they chew it, it melts, and the cold water will help soothe their aching gums. Just don’t let them eat any of the cloth.

Supervise Your Dog

There are a few benefits to supervising your dog the whole time. Firstly, dogs love company so your bond will strengthen. Secondly you are able to act as a preventative measure against your dog doing anything to any of your treasured objects. “One of the biggest reasons why dog supervision can be effective is because when you do see them chew something you can replace it with a different object. This builds the right association for them mentally”, It’s hard to emphasize how important the mental aspect to dealing with a chewing problem is, but this should really help in the long run.

Conclusion

Overall, having a dog that has a chewing problem will have a very large impact on life with them. That’s the reality. Fortunately, you love your dog and you’re willing to make a few sacrifices to help it solve its problem. Hopefully this list will serve as a good start for you.