Chewing and Digging Issues

[CynthiaWebster]

My puppy (Lexi) is a chewer which is new for me.  I have had several dogs and none of them were power chewers like Lexi.  Fortunately, we have only lost a sock, a remote, a pen and one shoe.  She loves the wood chips that we have in the flower beds and she is a digger which is also something new to me (which I also need help stopping). I am afraid she is going to get ahold of something that could make her sick.  I am working with her on the leave it, but we aren't quite there yet.  I just started your program (which is very good by the way).  I was hoping she would outgrow this stage, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.  She usually sticks to her toys, but I am constantly buying chew toys, which is getting expensive, for her because they get so rough (the nylon kind because the rubber and soft toys last for 5 minutes).  She even chewed a Kong into pieces. Fortunately, she doesn't eat the whole thing - she usually just chews things up into small pieces and spits them out, however, she does swallow some of what she chews.  Is there anyway to curve this?  

 

[Adrienne]

At 8 months, Lexi is at the peak adolescent stage, a time when it is quite normal to see an increase in chewing, only that now the jaws are much stronger and capable of causing more significant damage. It's as if these dogs go through a "second teething stage," but instead of chewing as a way of getting relief from sore gums, adolescent dogs instead are prepping their jaws for a lifetime of hunting and chewing bones. Sure, while it's true that dogs no longer need to hunt to survive as we feed them kibble in shiny bowls, the instincts to chew at this life stage remain strong nonetheless. You can read more here about the dog adolescent stage:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/survive-dogs-adolescent-stage/

As you work your way in training a fluent "leave it" tackling this stage of chewing is more a matter of management and helping the dog make good choices considering that dogs don't chew out of spite. Chewing in dogs is a natural, instinctive behavior that is self-reinforcing considering that it feels good to the dog (there is belief that when dogs chew, feel-good endorphins are released) and helps maintain good dental health. So for tackling the chewing here are some tips:

-Manage your dog's environment by keeping items you don't want your dog to chew  out of reach. In other words, try your best to dog-proof your home. 

-At the same time, help your dog make good choices! Leave out in the yard only safe items to chew.  Adult dogs may enjoy chewing on stuffed Kongs (for powerful chewers there'sa black Kong known as Kong Extreme), bully sticks, dental treats and Himalayan dog chews. It goes without saying that dogs should always be supervised when chewing. Ask your vet for safe and appropriate chews for your dog.

-You can invest in a Kong Wobbler to give her some longer-lasting challenges. I like to stuff a portion of a dog's meals in the Kong Wobbler and add some larger treats that slow down the speed of the kibble coming out for longer-lasting entertainment.

-In young dogs, boredom and excess energy are often the most common triggers for chewing. That need for mental stimulation and excess energy must go somewhere! We may sometimes send dogs out in the yard in hopes of them stretching their legs and getting some fresh air, but often, once in the yard, dogs engage in undesirable behaviors. The end result is often dogs who pace and bark at anything that moves, dogs who dig to their hearts' content "dogscaping" the yard into what may look like planet Mars, and dogs who chew anything they find in their path. These dogs benefit from daily walks, games, interactive toys, socialization, sniffing adventures, brain games, training and play. 

-When you cannot actively supervise your dog, keep her in an area where she can be confined with a safe chew toy. An exercise pen, a dog kennel or an area closed off by a baby gate that is dog proofed, can help. On top of the Kong Extreme, other toys crafted with powerful chewers in mind include Goughnuts (which I think come with some sort of guarantee for being indestructible or they'll replace it) and I think West Paw still makes some sturdy line of indestructible toys too.  

-Now it is also true that in dogs, there may be different causes for chewing.  On top of boredom and excess energy, dogs may chew from frustration and anxiety. Frustration may occur when dogs face a situation in which they cannot achieve their goal. Excess restraint or confinement, routine changes, over-stimulation or unmet expectations may all trigger bouts of frustration chewing in dogs. If you suspect your dog suffers from a low frustration tolerance, aim on offering interventions that garner a better development of general frustration tolerance and coping skills. Some suggestions can be found here: how to train your dog better frustration tolerance. Here is a guide: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/impulse-control-frustration-tolerance/

-Dogs chewing from anxiety may benefit instead from an anxiety-reduction program through the use of calming aids (pheromone diffusers, calming sprays, prescription meds from the vet)  along with behavior modification. 

-If you catch your dog chewing something in the yard or in the home that she shouldn't, don't just try chasing her around trying to pry his mouth mouth. This can lead to problems such as playing hard to catch and even resource guarding and biting. Try instead swapping the object with something else, you can read more about the art of fair trading in this article at the bottom section: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/overprotective-of-toys/

With diggers, fencing off an area and dedicating it for a dog's digging pleasure can help. More tips on digging can be found here:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/behavior-training/digging/

[CynthiaWebster]

Thank you for the information.  That is helpful.  I will just keep working with her.  It will help when we can get a fence installed.  They are months behind here in Alabama.  It may be January or February before they can get to us.

 

[Adrienne]

You are very welcome. Fences make good neighbors, but I think they also make great dogs!