November 25th, 2010 by Jenny

All dogs are known to bark, to dig, to roll in mud, to scratch and to chew. Dogs are one of the most loved pets. After all, these loyal and loving animals have made a significant difference to humans way of life. On the other hand, an owner that highly values the affectionate and loyal temperament of the pet can’t help but be annoyed by the destructive behavior of the pet. Destructive chewing is one of the most common concerns of pet parents. A pet owner that needs to replace the things destroyed by the dog would certainly be annoyed by the pet’s excessive chewing habit.

Chewing is innate in dogs. Puppies at the age of three months would be noticed trying the strength of their gums and teeth . In the absence of hands, puppies use their mouth and teeth to investigate their surroundings . These lovable fur balls are forever curious and gnawing at things is their way of learning about the environment . Teething pains entices puppies to chew more. Babies are usually given teethers to ease teething pains and to strengthen the gums. Teething puppies not given chew toys would chew rugs, furniture, the master’s clothes or any other object to manage their teething pains. This indiscriminate chewing can have dangerous results. A dog that has been chewing can swallow an object that can create a life threatening blockage. Indiscriminate chewing in puppies can be managed easily by providing the confined pet with safe chew toys. The tendency to chew is generally outgrown by most puppies.

An issue that concerns most pet owners is when a mature well behaved dog develops a destructive chewing habit. The dog’s unwanted behavior can be due to an underlying reason. Boredom, loneliness, inactivity are the most common causes of destructive chewing. Finding out what makes your dog chew is only the beginning. It is also a priority to know what to do when it chews. A dog is a social animal. A cat can satisfactorily exist lying around and being idle all day but not a dog. A dog would need to have another dog or a person to interact with. Naturally, dogs would not know the value of things. A dog pining for its master would be enticed by the shoe that has the master’s scent. A dog would require opportunities where it can expend its excess energies. Confining the dog inside the home without toys or playmates would not be a good idea as the pet would find its own source of enjoyment.