Imagine, you are relaxing at home in the evening and everything is quiet. Then you realize; it's a bit too quiet! You get up, you hear a sound, it's coming from your bedroom. As you enter the room you are shocked to find out your cherished dog is chewing up your favourite shoes!
Perhaps your dog needs training because of behavioral issues or maybe it is something more serious like dog anxiety. But you don't care now, the shoes go in the bin and you have had enough.
So, Why do dogs chew?
Dogs do not think about what items they decide to chew up, however many owners report that their dog only destroys up their favorite personal items like clothing or shoes. The most appropriate answer for that is that your dog is attempting to feel closer to you by only chewing on things that have your body smell.
Dogs have a good sense of smell and to feel just like you are there with them they will have a chew on clothes or shoes you had worn the day before.
There are 4 real reasons why dogs love to chew.
1. Dogs have a natural instinct to chew. It is a good time for the dog, helps spend the time, it is self rewarding and it is a self reinforcing activity. For example when your dog is chewing on something that tastes great this is a rewarding and reinforcing activity.
2. Chewing serves a purpose. If a dog is a victim of dog anxiety, is upset or bored chewing is like an release for their emotions, and also distracts from anxious feelings. For a dog that is suffering from dog separation anxiety, the constant act of chewing can calm and soothe anxious feelings.
3. Shortage of exercise. Many dogs will use chewing as a way to use up excess energy reserves and basically gives them something to do.
4. Puppies and teething. Puppies, like human children, put everything in their mouths to learning about the world around them. Teething puppies chew on everything to help to bring their new teeth up. Some breeds are more inclined to chewing all though their adult lives also.
Perhaps your dog needs training because of behavioral issues or maybe it is something more serious like dog anxiety. But you don't care now, the shoes go in the bin and you have had enough.
So, Why do dogs chew?
Dogs do not think about what items they decide to chew up, however many owners report that their dog only destroys up their favorite personal items like clothing or shoes. The most appropriate answer for that is that your dog is attempting to feel closer to you by only chewing on things that have your body smell.
Dogs have a good sense of smell and to feel just like you are there with them they will have a chew on clothes or shoes you had worn the day before.
There are 4 real reasons why dogs love to chew.
1. Dogs have a natural instinct to chew. It is a good time for the dog, helps spend the time, it is self rewarding and it is a self reinforcing activity. For example when your dog is chewing on something that tastes great this is a rewarding and reinforcing activity.
2. Chewing serves a purpose. If a dog is a victim of dog anxiety, is upset or bored chewing is like an release for their emotions, and also distracts from anxious feelings. For a dog that is suffering from dog separation anxiety, the constant act of chewing can calm and soothe anxious feelings.
3. Shortage of exercise. Many dogs will use chewing as a way to use up excess energy reserves and basically gives them something to do.
4. Puppies and teething. Puppies, like human children, put everything in their mouths to learning about the world around them. Teething puppies chew on everything to help to bring their new teeth up. Some breeds are more inclined to chewing all though their adult lives also.
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Next, discover what you can do to stop a dog from chewing and other helpful tips, suggestions and ideas for coping with dog behaviour issues finding out if dog anxiety is a problem for your dog.