How to Keep Your Dog from Chewing on your Furniture

Chewing is a normal behavior of dogs. There are certain breeds that tend to chew more than others. These breeds are those that were used in searches or hunts with the help of their mouths. These include hunting dogs like hounds, retrievers and spaniels. However, all dogs do chew for leisure. Just as people need to have some pastime, your dog needs to chew for enjoyment and just to pass their time when they are bored.

For a lot of dog owners, their dog’s enjoyment and boredom has become a grim trouble. Furniture and other things inside the house are not made to be chewed and gnawed by anybody – much more by your dog. Dogs also have unusual tastes: others would prefer chewing on leather shoes while others would just chew on anything they see.
Here are some tips that could help you prevent and minimize your dog’s urge to chew on your furniture and other household things.

How to Protect Your Furniture from Your Dog

• Your dog’s boredom is the primary reason for chewing. Is your dog left on his own most of the time? Dogs find it boring to just sit around there all day, everyday which results to chewing. The act of chewing gives a dog something to do to keep him busy. Your dog also needs your attention and your company for him to be physically and mentally stimulated. If he is chewing on your furniture excessively, that is a sign that you do not have enough time for him to keep him satisfied and happy.
• Your dog needs to be mentally stimulated to keep him happy. If you are busy the whole day which means that your dog is left on his own pretty much most of the time, try to have someone to look after and play with him or take him outside for a walk. You could find someone that you trust like a friend or a relative but there are also agencies that cater to dog-sitting. You may also take your dog to a day care for dogs where he will be looked after and played with by trained professionals. This might be the best option but of course it’s also the most expensive.
• Dogs need enough exercise. Dogs need more or less 20 minutes of walk every day, depending on their breed. Some breeds even need hours of rigorous vascular exercises every day. You must make sure that your dog gets the correct amount of exercise for him or else, excess energy will lead him to boredom and eventually to chewing on furniture.
• Dogs have their minds, too. Dogs get bored also and they differ on their attitudes of handling their loneliness. Some just put up with their loneliness through silence throughout the day while some breeds especially the working ones choose to express their boredom through running around, digging and chewing. This means that your dog needs to be mentally stimulated also. Try to find some games and puzzles for your dog.

If you are looking for more advanced techniques in trying to stop your dog from chewing on your furniture, We recommend the book “Secrets to Dog Training” by Daniel Stevens available at his site: http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining

Related article:

• Dog Behavior Problems: Dealing with Chewing