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My dog loves to chew and dig. What can I do?
It is natural for puppies to explore
their environment, however, their natural curiosity often leads to frustration
on your part when they chew your favorite slippers or dig up your flower bed.
While you may be tempted to punish your naughty pup, reinforcing good behavior
is much more effective and will keep you and your dog happier.
CHEWING
Destructive chewing may be
related to anxiety. It is important to train your dog to lie on its bed or in a
crate, rather than constantly at your side. Teaching your dog that he or she
cannot always receive attention on demand may lessen anxiety. For dogs with
separation anxiety, begin with short departures and then gradually increase the
length of your time away to lessen their anxiety.
Anti-chew sprays, citronella oil
or a small amount of cayenne pepper mixed with water can be used to deter your
pup from chewing on household items.
Chew toys are a great way to keep your puppy busy as well as relieve pain
associated with teething. Present your puppy with a variety of toys to determine
which types he likes best, but never give your dog chew toys that resemble
household items that you do not want him to chew, i.e. a toy shaped like a shoe.
Rotate different toys to keep your puppy’s interest and reward your puppy with
praise when he chews on toys.
DIGGING
There are many reasons why
dogs dig: to cool off, search for rodents, bury and recover bones or other toys,
escape confinement or just for fun. Dogs may be more prone to dig when they are
left alone without another diversion. To keep your dog stimulated and occupied,
provide him with chew toys and increase play and exercise time to tire him out.
You may also consider getting a second dog.
You can discourage digging by
changing the groundcover (replace dirt with rocks or concrete) or use remote
punishment (turn on a sprinkler or toss a tin can filled with pebbles next to
your pet to startle him). If your dog continues to dig, you may want to provide
a digging area for him to reinforce appropriate digging.
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