Train Your Dog To Stop Chewing on the Wrong Things

Most dogs go through a phase where they will chew on anything that will fit in their mouth. There are also dogs that don't even grow out of the chewing phase. There are even some breeds that have a tendency to chew more than other breeds.
It may be cute at first when your puppy begins to chew on your shoes or socks but can be very dangerous. If your dog gets into something poisonous or swallows an object it could lead to death.
Puppies typically will chew more than an older dog and will chew on pretty much anything. It is much easier to teach dogs not to chew at younger ages than it is an older dog. Use this to your advantage.
The first thing to do when training your dog not to chew is to put the items he likes to chew out of reach. It is important to keep these away from your dog at all times. The less exposure the dog has with the items, the less likely he is to chew on them at later times.
When you get everything out of your dog's reach give him something that you don't mind him chewing on. This can be a chew toy, rawhide bones, or rubber bones. Buy one of each and see which one your dog prefers. It may take a while before you dog will stop wanting to chew on other things such as your shoes but be patient.
After your dog has something good to chew on is when you want to start training him. If you catch your dog chewing on something it isn't supposed to you need to let them know that what they are doing is wrong. You can tell your dog this by speaking in a sharp tone and giving him a gentle tap on his head.
Remember to be persistent, dogs are not stupid, if they know they can get away with something they will keep doing it. You should also refrain from yelling at your dog or hitting him at all times, no matter how frustrated you get. When you yell at or hit a dog it only prolongs the dog's learning.
You can even practice with your dog by putting him on a leash and putting an object in front of him. When the dog gets the urge and moves too close to the object give the leash a small jerk. This will teach the dog that you do not want him to chew on the object.
When you are training the dog with a leash make sure to stand off to the side. You do not want to be standing directly behind the dog when you jerk the leash, it could cause damage to their throat. Remember, leash training is not to hurt or punish the dog; it is to simply tell the dog that his actions were wrong.
Training your dog will take a lot of time and persistence. Do not give up, if you do your dog will never learn. Remember to be patient, your dog will not stop chewing over night, it may take weeks or even months.
To read more articles about how to train your dog and lots of other pet and animal information visit http://www.animalpetsandfriends.com. If you are having obedience problems with your dog visit Dog Obedience Training for more great resources to help you train your dog.
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