Reasons Behind A Dog’s Chewing Behaviour
Scratching, digging, rolling in mud, barking and chewing are common dog behaviors. Dogs are well loved pets. These loyal and loving animals have indeed made of lot of change to human lives. On the other hand, an owner that highly values the affectionate and loyal temperament of the pet can’t help but be annoyed by the destructive behavior of the pet. Destructive chewing is one of the most common concerns of pet parents. No pet owner would want to constantly replace the things destroyed by the dog’s indiscriminate chewing habit.
Chewing is innate in dogs. Puppies at the age of three months would be noticed trying the strength of their gums and teeth . In the absence of hands, puppies use their mouth and teeth to investigate their surroundings . Chewing things is the only way by which puppies satisfy their curiosity about their new world . A puppy’s inclination to chew gets stronger when it starts to teeth. A teether would strengthen the gums and ease a baby’s teething pains. Puppies that are not provided with chew toys would find their own teethers to manage their teething pains. This indiscriminate chewing can have dangerous results. A dog that has been chewing can swallow an object that can create a life threatening blockage. Indiscriminate chewing in puppies can be managed easily by providing the confined pet with safe chew toys. The excessive chewing habit is noticed to gradually decrease as the puppy matures.
What concerns most owners is when a well behaved mature dog suddenly grow into an indiscriminate and excessively chewing pet. The dog’s unwanted behavior can be due to an underlying reason. Loneliness, inactivity and boredom can be the cause for the dog’s destructive chewing behavior. Knowing why dogs chew is only the first step. You must also know what to do when it chews. A dog is a social animal. A cat would be contented to laze on the window sill all day but not a dog. It is necessary for a dog to have someone to interact with. Naturally, dogs would not know the value of things. A dog craving for the company of its favorite person would make do with a shoe that has the person’s lingering scent. A dog has to have outlets for the pent up energies. Confining the dog inside the home without toys or playmates would not be a good idea as the pet would find its own source of enjoyment.
Learn more about destructive chewing and combat excessive chewing in your dog by reading more about what to do when your dog chews.
