Chewing

Though you all have very wonderful dogs, it can be the hardest to love them when they are eating everything in our house! Take a deep breath, it is absolutely possible to get your dog to stop chewing things that aren't theirs. First, realize that your dog was born into the world with no idea that everything isn't a chew toy. Wild dogs are welcome to chew on anything they like and your dog too is programmed this way. We must show the difference between "legal" things to chew on and "illegal" things that they may not have. Chewing is also a drive behavior so feeding your dog from work-to-eat toys can help decrease chewing immediately.

Step 1 - Give Them Something To Chew

Dogs have a natural drive to chew on things. It's like they have voices in their head saying, "Chew, find something to chew on, chew something now!" The easiest way to get them to stop chewing your shoes is to give them something they can chew on. So first, buy them lots of the following:

Rawhide Bones
Nyla-Bones
Pig Ears
Greenies
Kong toys or other rubber things to chew

NOTE: Not all things made for dogs to chew on are safe. Please read our article No Bones About It in the April Newsletter for a guide.

Step 2 - Interrupt and Redirect

Now once your dog has many things that she likes to chew, you can help her choose the right things to wrap her teeth around. When you catch your dog chewing on the wrong thing, say "Ah ah ah" which means, you're doing something that is okay but not in the right context. For example, it's okay she chews but it has to be a bone and not the TV remote. So you interrupt her with your cue "Ah ah ah" and then you redirect her to the right thing. When you catch her chewing your shoes, interrupt her and give her a tasty hickory smocked bone.

Dogs hate being interrupted when they are chewing so she will begin to stop picking the wrong things. You can even help her by putting all the right chew toys in a basket (although it's likely they'll be around the living room by the end of the day.) And that's it. Your dog will begin to understand what she can and cannot chew and so your shoes will be saved!

Frequently Asked Questions - Chewing

My dog doesn't seem to like her bone. What do I do?

Not all bones are created equal. Your dog will have a preference AND it might change. Try taking her to the pet store to pick out her own favorites. Also, you can boil whichever toy/bone you bought in chicken brother to help get her interested. Keep changing what she gets so it stays exciting.

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Green Paws Training Options

This type of training is best done at home but we are happy to add it to your Board and Train list of behaviors that we will teach your dog during her stay. (Back To Top)

Books and Tools

Chewing Booklet By Ian Dunbar

Website to buy chew toys coming soon!

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