Dog Proof Your Home: Naturally the best cure is prevention so you really need to dog-proof your home.
This is especially important for a puppy.
Dogs are smarter than you think and they can really get creative with what they chew.
If you have items in your house that cannot be removed, spray them with some sort of SAFE deterrent.
Bitter apple spray or a mild hot sauce works well.
They hate these smells and won't want to chew anywhere near them.
Teach Your Dog The "Drop" Command: You need to teach them the command for "drop.
" This will come in handy when you catch them taking something that should not be chewed whether it's in your home or someone else's.
Don't yell, but be firm.
Start by taking an old shoe you don't care about and put it somewhere in the house where he can get at it.
As soon as he grabs it say; "Drop".
Help him take it out of his mouth.
After a while he'll get the picture that "drop" means he can't have it.
Make sure you watch him closely.
Dogs normally catch on to this very quickly.
You will begin to love this command, especially when you're outside playing with your dog and he tries to pick up something that is very foul.
Redirect an inappropriate item for an appropriate dog toy: When your dog puts something in his mouth that is inappropriate, tell him "drop" and then replace it with one of his chew toys.
When he begins to chew on his own toy make sure you praise him so he understands that it's OK to chew only on specific things.
It's what we call "constructive chewing".
Make sure the toy he is chewing promotes healthy teeth and gums.
Dogs need this daily.
Dental chews are great and so are chew ropes.
They will love these.
Go to the pet store and find a toy that is labeled "active toy".
These type of toys will definitely keep your dog busy for a long time.
A company by the name of "Kong" makes excellent chew toys that you can stuff with treats and will entertain your dog for quite a while.
Always Praise Them for a job well done: This is the last step, but is one you should never forget to do.
Understand that dogs will eventually grow out of the destructive chewing stage.
It just takes some dogs longer than others.
If for some reason your dog continues with his chewing problem, it is likely that he has nervous energy.
This is usually caused by a lack of exercise.
Please try to take your dog out for at least 30 - 60 minutes a day.
With so many people having busy work schedules, some dog owners find it easier to give them a brisk 15 minute run in the morning and evening.
However, this is NOT the best thing for your dog.
You have to realize that he is going from "sleeping" to "running".
Then he is going from "lying around" your house all day to "running" again.
If they are not warmed up it can be very hard on their joints and this can cause arthritis.
Try to do at least a 10 minute walk before running them.
This is especially important for a puppy.
Dogs are smarter than you think and they can really get creative with what they chew.
If you have items in your house that cannot be removed, spray them with some sort of SAFE deterrent.
Bitter apple spray or a mild hot sauce works well.
They hate these smells and won't want to chew anywhere near them.
Teach Your Dog The "Drop" Command: You need to teach them the command for "drop.
" This will come in handy when you catch them taking something that should not be chewed whether it's in your home or someone else's.
Don't yell, but be firm.
Start by taking an old shoe you don't care about and put it somewhere in the house where he can get at it.
As soon as he grabs it say; "Drop".
Help him take it out of his mouth.
After a while he'll get the picture that "drop" means he can't have it.
Make sure you watch him closely.
Dogs normally catch on to this very quickly.
You will begin to love this command, especially when you're outside playing with your dog and he tries to pick up something that is very foul.
Redirect an inappropriate item for an appropriate dog toy: When your dog puts something in his mouth that is inappropriate, tell him "drop" and then replace it with one of his chew toys.
When he begins to chew on his own toy make sure you praise him so he understands that it's OK to chew only on specific things.
It's what we call "constructive chewing".
Make sure the toy he is chewing promotes healthy teeth and gums.
Dogs need this daily.
Dental chews are great and so are chew ropes.
They will love these.
Go to the pet store and find a toy that is labeled "active toy".
These type of toys will definitely keep your dog busy for a long time.
A company by the name of "Kong" makes excellent chew toys that you can stuff with treats and will entertain your dog for quite a while.
Always Praise Them for a job well done: This is the last step, but is one you should never forget to do.
Understand that dogs will eventually grow out of the destructive chewing stage.
It just takes some dogs longer than others.
If for some reason your dog continues with his chewing problem, it is likely that he has nervous energy.
This is usually caused by a lack of exercise.
Please try to take your dog out for at least 30 - 60 minutes a day.
With so many people having busy work schedules, some dog owners find it easier to give them a brisk 15 minute run in the morning and evening.
However, this is NOT the best thing for your dog.
You have to realize that he is going from "sleeping" to "running".
Then he is going from "lying around" your house all day to "running" again.
If they are not warmed up it can be very hard on their joints and this can cause arthritis.
Try to do at least a 10 minute walk before running them.
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