Five tips for curbing your dog's chewing habit

photo / supplied

Chewing is a big part of a dog’s life: it keeps them entertained, it lets them exercise their autonomy, it relieves stress and it keeps their teeth clean. But let’s face it – we don’t want them chewing on our shoes, kids’ toys or other expensive goods lying around the house. In reality, some dogs just can’t help themselves. So how can we curb bad habits?

Ask yourself if your dog is stimulated enough
Sometimes destructive behaviour can stem from lack of exercise or mental stimulation (or both). Are you walking your dog enough, playing with them and paying them enough attention in general? Think about it – and be hard on yourself. You'd be surprised how far a bit of extra love and attention can go in the behaviour game.

Try a new food bowl
Out with the old-school food bowls, in with the food-dispensing toys. If you haven't tried these before, get ready for a whole new world: selective food dispensers make your dog work for their food, keeping them occupied and exercising their brain. The more time it takes them to eat each meal, the longer they'll stay out of trouble (or your closet).

Try new chew toys and snacks…
Does your pup love to chew up your child's soft toys? Try a plush toy designed for dogs. How about stationery? (Yep, some dogs love to chew on pencils – don't ask us why.) Try tough dried tendon sticks and pigs' ears. It's worth paying a visit to your local pet supply store and seeing if there's anything that'll tickle your dog's fancy – it might take the pressure off the rest of your possessions.

…and treat them like gold
Meaning: new toys alone do not a well-behaved dog make. When introducing the new toys, make a big deal out of each one. Make your dog 'earn' the new toys by sitting or doing tricks – this will let them know it's a special toy, gifted only to the most well-behaved of canines.

Reinforce their good behaviour
It's Doggy Daycare 101 really: positive reinforcement can go a long way. On days where your dog resists chewing your favourite pair of shoes (or let's face it, anything else in the house), let them know how good they are – and reward them for it. Likewise, when they chew their designated chew toys, reward them for that too.