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Dog Obedience Training Now! - Destructive Chewing - Part I |
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By Angelina Brown
 Dog Obedience - Part I
The act of chewing seems to be a matter of individual preference among pets: some have an innate desire to chew as a pleasurable activity in itself, and some seem to have no need to chew whatsoever unless theyre compelled to it out of absolute boredom.
The phrase destructive chewing may seem to be redundant, because by its very meaning! all chewing is destructive. Your dog has powerful jaws full of sharp, pointy teeth: just about anything she starts to chew on is probably going to show the effects of it inside of a minute. Im referring to inappropriate chewing: the kind of chewing thats focused on your own things and household items, instead of on your dogs own designated toys.
In Part I of this 3-Part Series, we will be concentrating on the first reason why animals chew:
FIRST - Most animals have a natural desire to chew. Its fun, it passes the time, and its a self-rewarding, self-reinforcing activity (for example, if shes chewing on something that tastes great!)
* What
Can You Do? *
Dogs are completely capable of learning not to chew your stuff you just need to put in a little effort first, thats all.
1. Take control of the situation: manage your own possessions. Your first step should be to dog-proof your home. After all, pets explore the world with their mouths.
Dog-proofing your room means taking whatever you dont want to end up in her mouth, and making it disappear. Consider these things: can she jump? can she climb?, or can she leap onto something else to reach the desired object? How big is she when standing on her back legs?
Common targets are tapes, eye wear, clothing, shoes, trash, and small crunchy appliances like cameras, cell phones, and remote controls. Wow that hurts!.
We all know that all food needs to be put securely away: dont leave snacks on low tables (or even counter tops youd be surprised how acrobatic she can be when theres food at stake!), put all food into containers or the pantry. Rinse your dirty dishes clean of any food scraps before leaving them by the sink.
* Maintain a productive attitude *
Most importantly, remember to keep your expectations realistic. Youre not perfect, and neither is your pet: theres likely to be at least a few incident where a precious item is damaged by her curiosity.
To learn more information on dog training techniques and how to deal with problem pet behavior (like chewing), check out the complete manual for dog ownership that is designed to fast-track your pet's learning. Learn about the "Secrets to Dog Training" by clicking on the link: http://www.happy-petz.com/dogs/obedience.htm
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