Is Your Dog’s Chewing Habit Gnawing at You?

Let’s face it – as much as we love our puppies there is one habit they have that annoys us greatly. They love to chew things. Sometimes they chew things that they should not chew ruining your valued possessions and perhaps even placing themselves in harm’s way. Yet, this is the way young dogs explore the world. Therefore, it is our job as owners to understand this instinctive behavior and to control it so that it does not become too destructive. Try some of these tips to control your puppy’s chewing.

  • Rule out medical problems: Sometimes dogs will chew on things due to some nutritional deficiency. Therefore, it is important to schedule regular visits with your vet to immediately rule this out as a cause of excessive chewing.
  • Make sure she has chew toys: Your dog should never view your hand or any other part of your body or anyone else’s body as a toy. Make sure that your puppy has plenty of chew toys. This way you can focus on directing their instincts elsewhere as opposed to scolding them for chewing.
  • Puppy-proof your home: Before you bring home your white golden retrievers, make sure that you remove any objects that it could chew on and harm itself such a exposed electrical cords, etc. Also, remove objects such as shoes and socks, children’s toys and similar items. Finally, you may wish to block off your new puppy’s access to certain rooms in your home by buying and erecting a barrier.
  • Give your dog attention: Sometime dog will chew for reasons other than it being in their nature to do so. Sometimes they will chew things in order to get your attention. Make sure that you give your dog enough attention so that it will not seek it out in destructive ways such as chewing or even destroying your possessions. Use the time you are with your pup to show it what is and what is not appropriate behavior in generalchewing
  • Engage in playtime with your dog: A tired dog is a satisfied dog that will be too content and exhausted to engage in inappropriate chewing. Play with your dog on a regular basis in order to expend its energies and to strengthen your bond with it.

Finally, the most important thing to remember is to have realistic expectations of your dog. Dogs – no matter how domesticated they have become – do still retain some of their wild behaviors and we must respect them for this. Our English cream golden retrievers make excellent pets as long as you remember this and provide them with a loving home.

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