Dogs love to chew on bones, sticks and just about anything else available. They chew for fun, they chew for stimulation, and they chew to relieve anxiety. While chewing behavior is normal, dogs sometimes direct their chewing behavior toward inappropriate items.

Both puppies and adult dogs should have a variety of appropriate and attractive chew toys. Dogs need to learn what is okay to chew and what is not. They need to be taught in a gentle, humane manner. Some dogs simply do not get enough physical and mental stimulation. Bored dogs tend look for ways to entertain themselves, and chewing is one option.

To prevent destructive chewing, be sure to provide plenty of ways for your dog to exercise his mind and body. Great ways to accomplish this include daily walks and outings, off-leash play with other dogs, tug and fetch games, clicker training classes, dog sports agility, freestyle, flyball, etc. To reduce this kind of chewing, try to avoid exposing your dog to situations that make him nervous or upset.

Dogs who are prevented from engaging in exciting activities sometimes direct biting, shaking, tearing and chewing at nearby objects. A dog who sees a squirrel or cat run by and wants to chase but is behind a fence might grab and chew at the gate.

I would suggest having lots of different types on hand — long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush squeaky toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing or fetching. Practice different ways of tossing her toys, or wiggling them enticingly along the floor until you learn what makes her light up with excitement.

What about petting? The list goes on. I know that these suggestions are well-intentioned. But none of them are necessary, and all have the potential to do lasting harm. The problem with punishment in this situation is twofold. First, it does nothing to help your puppy understand what she should do with her mouth. Remember that this drive to bite and chew on things is deeply hard-wired in young puppies — she was born with an instinctive need to put her mouth on something, all the time.

So instead of correcting her for this perfectly normal impulse, just redirect her to something more appropriate. You will need to look at her teeth, give her medication, and even remove things from her mouth on occasion if she grabs a chicken bone from the garbage. Although it might feel like forever, most puppies are biting and mouthing much less by the time they are months old, and fully grown adult dogs older than years virtually never use their mouths the way that puppies do.

Like everything else, there is some individual variation — so your particular puppy might grow out of this phase a bit earlier, or a bit later, than average. Below are links to some of the chew treats and puzzle toys I mentioned above. For cow ears, pig ears, and rawhide chews, the best online source I have found is Raw Feeding Miami. Their stuff is all natural, not processed with any chemicals or artificial ingredients, and great quality.

They are out-of-stock on certain items fairly frequently because they make things in small batches, but if you check back in a week or so they always get them back in. In my area, it seems to be difficult to find food puzzle toys in local pet stores, so I order most of these online as well. Amazon carries just about all of them, but they can also be ordered from Petco, Petsmart, or online retailers like dog.

Twist-n-Treats — these are a great alternative to a Kong. Similar idea, but much easier to clean since the toy comes completely apart and can be put in the dishwasher. My favorite refillable crate toy for puppies. Everlasting Treat Ball — a really good long-lasting chew toy. Tasty enough to keep most puppies interested, but difficult enough to eat that it takes quite a while to finish the treat. You can also get refills in a variety of flavors, to help keep things interesting.

Everlasting Treat Ball Small. Everlasting Treat Ball Medium. You have to feed your puppy anyway, so might as well use it as an opportunity to keep her busy for a bit. Heavy or aggressive chewers love to chew more than anything, and given the chance, they will happily chew their way through anything that is given to them.

Bully breeds like Pitbulls and Bulldogs tend to be heavy chewers because it is in their DNA to use their super-strong jaws. So-called Bully breeds are named as such because of their historic use in bloodsports like bull-baiting. For them, chewing and tugging are akin to running for Greyhounds and herding for Border Collies. But other breeds can be quite mouthy as well — some Bernedoodles for example are very heavy chewers.

Whilst the idea of heavy chewing might worry you, but it is much better to allow these dogs to exercise their instincts than to repress them and end up becoming destructive. In order to do this, owners should make sure that they provide adequate outlets for chewing. Your dog should never be allowed to destroy and ingest a toy or any part of it! That said, you also want to avoid anything that could be too hard on teeth.

This is especially important for elderly dogs with weakening teeth and those with poor oral health. Although no pet product is indestructible, there are plenty of hardy rubber chew toys on the market that are designed with heavy chewers in mind.

Pet brand Kong is well-known for making high-quality, heavy-duty toys for aggressive chewers, including plushes, balls, frisbees, tug-of-war ropes, and their classic treat dispensers. Spring poles are another fantastic outlet for heavy chewers, particularly for bully breeds. Spring poles are tug ropes attached to heavy-duty springs that secure to something in your garden to create the ultimate game of tug.

You can buy commercial ones or make your own with a strong spring and some rope. There are also edible chews such as buffalo horns; a popular, natural, nutritious treat that can last dogs anywhere from weeks to months.

Alternatively, you could try caribou antlers. Carrots are also nutritious and low in calories. Start training as soon as possible and try investing in some teething aids to help you out along the way. Chewing in adult dogs is also normal, natural, and healthy. Instead, invest in some healthy chewing outlets and allow your dog to nurture their instincts. Want to get a sniff on what SpiritDog's online training is all about? Join the 7-day free online course right away!

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