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If the beloved family pet is a consistant chewer, you may already be at your wits end trying to find a solution to the chewing big.
Have you ever come home to find the arm of your new sofa gone?
So what does a frustrated dog owner do?
First you have to determine the cause. In some chewing cases the dog simply is not getting adequate nutrition.Your vet can do routine testing and determine if your dog is getting all the nutrients for its size and activity level.
Chewing is a very common but serious problem and can even become life threatening. If your dog or puppy should happen to get a piece of chewed material stuck in its windpipe and no one would be home to help the animal: it would die.
In puppies, chewing is natural behavior. Even in young dogs that are still teething the red flags should not go up and you should not be overly concerned about the chewing unless it becomes very destructive.
In older dogs excessive and destructive chewing is a behavior or nutritional problem.
Treating the symptoms can be challenging.
Most older dogs chew out of boredom.
Dogs that have a high energy or intelligence level will chew for the same reason; lack of anything better to do.
Many time the household schedule and work clashes with the dog's need to play and no longer be bored. In your area many kennels have day care where your dog can go and run and play his or her heart out for a very nominal fee.
This activity helps enormously.
No dog is a spiteful or vindictive creature.They do not chew your shoes because they are mad at you , or to punish you for something you have done to them.In most cases it is due to anxiety and even loneliness along with lack of play.
Introducing a sturdy and interesting new toy can sometimes break bad behavior of chewing on inapropriate objects.
Some of these toys recommended are "Kong" type toys , or "Bite a Bone".
Never give an animal an item made of anything that you don not want him or her to chew on.
For example, if you do not want chewed shoes, never give your dog an old shoe to play with. By you allowing the dog to chew on an old shoe they get the idea that all shoes are fair game.
Finally the answer for a chewing dog may be another dog.
Since boredom and lonliness have been sited in most of these cases of chewing a playmate may be the ticket. Company for your pet may be the solution especially if you spend alot of time away from home. It gives your dog the chance to learn socilaization and also alieviates the lonliness and anxiety with staying alone and bored.
Whatever solution works best for your chewing animal give it all you have. Many of these chewing dogs are disguarded and left to the pound. Whatever you do, DO NOT give up on your chewing dog.
With a little, sometimes hard work these animals with behavior problems have turned out to be the most loyal of companions. They eventually turn around and spend their lives working to make you happy.
Find the cause, treat the symptoms, and redirect the chewing and with a little time and effort you will see a miraculous change in your pet.
It is the very least you can do for the years of love and loyality that are ahead for you and your family.
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