Redirect your dog’s chewing towards a chew toy.
Dog owners often face the challenge of keeping their dogs from chewing or biting on their furniture. At Shultz K9, we understand this behavior isn’t just a nuisance; it can also be costly and potentially harmful to your pet.
Why Do Dogs Chew Furniture?
- Teething Relief: Puppies chew to alleviate the pain of new teeth coming in. Chewing helps them ease gum discomfort, which can often be directed towards furniture, shoes, or other objects throughout your home.
- Boredom or Excess Energy: Dogs often chew to relieve boredom or expend excess energy. If your dog doesn’t have enough physical or mental stimulation, your couch may become an appealing target.
- Anxiety: Chewing can also be a coping mechanism for anxious dogs. Separation anxiety or stress from changes in their environment can lead to destructive behaviors like chewing.
Strategies to prevent your dog from chewing your furniture
- Provide Appropriate Chew Toys: Ensure your dog has access to plenty of chew toys. These toys should be engaging and durable enough to withstand heavy chewing. Rotate the toys regularly to keep your dog interested.
- Increase Exercise and Playtime: A well-exercised dog is less likely to engage in destructive behaviors. Increase the amount of physical activity and playtime your dog receives each day. Consider activities like long walks, runs, or fetch games.
- Training and Commands: Train your dog with commands to stop them from acting in a destructive manner. Consistent training sessions help teach your dog what is off-limits and encourage good behavior. Reward your dog for obedience and gently redirect them from inappropriate chewing.
Your dog is in your home. They need to learn how to behave properly.
You should not have to restrict your dog’s access to rooms with valuable furniture when they’re unsupervised. Some dog owners resort to using baby gates or closing doors to limit their dog’s access to rooms.
The fact is if your dog is biting or chewing furniture, they are misbehaving and require training, behavior modification, and positive reinforcements to keep them from tearing up your furniture or other belongings.
Dog training from Shultz K9 can help your dog learn what is off-limits in a friendly environment with experienced dog trainers.
If none of the above methods fail to curb your dog’s furniture-biting habit, it might be time to consider professional help.At Shultz K9, our experienced trainers offer customized training programs that address specific behavioral issues, including inappropriate chewing. Our methods are designed to provide long-lasting solutions and help strengthen the bond between you and your pet.
