10 Reasons Why Dogs Chew
December 4, 2011
Chewing is a normal dog behavior, and as you’ll see from this list, chewing is driven by many things. It’s important to understand why your dog chews. You may or may not know, you have a huge influence of what a dog chews on and how long the chewing lasts. You can keep destructive chewing to a minimum with proper exercise, training and redirection techniques.
1. Testing: What else are the items around your home for anyway? it’s a table to you, but to your dog, it’s wood. Throughout your dog’s life they may test items by chewing them to see if something good comes of it.
2. Teething: Around 2 months old when their milk (puppy) teeth are coming in, and between 4-6 months (start of the destructive stage) as the milk teeth fall out and are replaced by the adult teeth. Puppies must instinctively chew to help their teeth go through this process. It also helps relieve tenderness of the teeth and gums.
3. Keeps gums & teeth, clean & strong: Humans brush, dogs chew.
4. Responsibility: As your puppy goes through the teenage months, approximately 6 months to a year, they must chew because instinct tell them they may need to go hunt for food, protect family members or themselves.
5. Exercises jaw muscles: We go to the gym, dogs chew. Around 7-8 months old is the height of the “destructive stage” for chewing. Chewing can last for months, even years, if modification or redirection techniques aren’t used.
6. Anxiety, tension or comfort: Chewing helps relieve a dog of tension or anxiety. Some dogs carry items in their mouth to help comfort them.
7. Boredom: A lonely or bored dog will be more destructive and chew for longer periods of time.
8. Practice: Instinct tells them to practice. OR practice with you; if you get them fixated on their toys using play or praise, this will increase the chewing on the items you want them to chew
9. Smells good, tastes good, feels good, or they may just be hungry and want to chew on something.
10. An obsession: Dogs can develop obsessive chewing disorders .
If you wanted to add something, leave a comment below.
I would like to know how to stop a dog from chewing on bedding? She is now 2 yrs old and only get to lay on bedding while I am there. If bedding in put in her kennel she will shred it and eat the remains. That is why she does not have bedding in her kennel.. I have tried sheets, towels, quilts, rugs. She loves them all. When it is cold she will be ok for a day or two, but then she is back at it. When she goes to work will me she can lay on a blanket but I still need to watch her. She will hide her head and chew on the corners of the blankets. I got her when she was 4 months old and she did not have a very good puppyhood. She is very active and can be nervous. She would chew on my hands any time she was not getting her way. When I first got her she would chew on everything around her. She was my hover machine. She is much better but still I would love to give her a bed to sleep on. I give her food from a squirrel she never get food from a bowl. I play with her and have taught her tricks. Please if you have anything on your website that could help me let me know. Thanks for you time
Karen
Hi Karen, I’m sorry but I don’t have time to answer individual questions. Your situation could be a little more involved than giving a few suggestions. Can’t direct you to any specific blog of mine to help; ask your Vet who they recommend to handle such behavioral issues. Good Luck and again, sorry