Aggressive chewing can be caused by various factors, including genetics, diet, and even the stress levels in your home. It can be difficult for owners to know when their dog will start acting up, and sometimes it can take time for them to realize that there is a problem. In this article, we explore why your pet might be one of the most aggressive chewers around and provide tips on what you can do to help!
Why do dogs chew?
Dogs, particularly pups, are exceedingly playful and curious. While play with humans and other dogs is essential for socialization and growth, exploration and object play are necessary for a dog’s environmental education. It is therefore typical for pups to investigate their surroundings by sniffing, tasting, and possibly biting on objects throughout the house.
Dogs who chew may be searching for food (as in garbage raiding), playing (as in the dog that rips up a book or couch), teething (dogs 3 to 6 months old that chew on household objects), or satisfying an innate drive to chew and gnaw (which may serve to help keep teeth and gums healthy). Some dogs may chew because they receive attention (even if it is unpleasant) or goodies from their owners each time they chew. Still, by offering attention, the owners unwittingly reinforce the behavior.
Chewing and aggressive behavior may also be anxiety-related responses. In an attempt to escape, dogs that are confined in insecure environments may dig and chew. Dogs experiencing conflict, arousal, or worry, such as separation anxiety, may resort to chewing and other destructive behaviors as an outlet.
Types of Aggressive Chewers
Dogs are renowned as devoted and affectionate companions, yet they may also be violent chewers. There are numerous reasons a dog may become a chewer, and it’s crucial to identify the type of chewer your pet is to manage the issue effectively. The three primary types of aggressive chewers are as follows:
- Destructive Chewer: This type of pet is typically quite territorial and chews on anything that enters its domain, including furniture, shoes, and other animals. They may also consume human property, like as clothing and skin.
- The Scratching Chewer: These dogs repeatedly scrape furniture, walls, and other items in search of something to attach themselves to. They may even begin to chew on humans if they feel neglected or bored.
- The Digging Chewer: These animals dig compulsively through the soil, snow, or other substances in quest of buried bones or food. This can damage chewing habits in indoor and outdoor areas if left unchecked.
Reasons for Aggressive Chewing
Dogs may develop chewing habits for various reasons. Some dogs have a natural propensity to chew, often due to their strong jaw muscles. However, common causes of aggressive chewing behavior towards toys can often be easily addressed.
Boredom is one of the causes of aggressive chewing. If your dog is not receiving enough mental and physical exercise, he may use chewing objects for entertainment. To prevent this issue, ensure that your pet has many outdoor play and exercise opportunities. Also, consider putting away all chew toys when your dog has had enough. This will teach him that toys are meant for fun, not destruction.
It’s possible your dog feels territorial or threatened if he is biting and gnawing on humans and other animals. You can attempt to train your dog using positive reinforcement tactics, such as obedience training and treats. If these techniques fail, you may need to take steps to protect yourself or your pet from aggressive behavior. For instance, placing wire fencing around your home and restraining your dog when misbehaving are effective deterrents against attacks.
Address Aggressive Chewers
Determine first why the dog is chewing. Play, curiosity, and teething are likely causes for a puppy or young dog chewing on a range of household things.
Dogs who rummage through trash cans and steal food from countertops are motivated by the presence and odor of food. Dogs who chew on doorways or cage doors may be striving to escape captivity, while others may be chewing to cope with anxiety. Establishing a treatment plan is crucial to identifying the source and motive for chewing.
Keep a log of the pet’s daily activities to establish when and where it chews. Track what occurred immediately before the action, and what family members do when they catch the pet chewing.
In addition, the diary can assist in establishing if the dog’s daily plan provides sufficient enrichment and a consistent pattern that meets all of its demands. Although treatment aims to eliminate unwanted chewing, the emphasis should be on giving adequate stimulation and outlets and rewarding desirable behavior. If the chewing occurs while you are absent, videotaping the habit may assist in identifying if anxiety is the cause.
For the adventurous dog, it’s crucial to redirect chewing to more appropriate alternatives and provide ample play and exercise to prevent inappropriate chewing. Avoid inadvertently reinforcing undesirable behavior by ignoring the dog when it chews inappropriately; this prevents the dog from receiving attention as a reward for bad behavior. Additionally, using devices such as interactive toys or puzzle feeders can help manage this behavior.
This habit may diminish over time in puppies if sufficient daily play and exercise are provided. The chewing is then directed toward appropriate outlets. Since the behavior is self-rewarding, dogs who raid garbage or steal food must be managed through monitoring, prevention, and using deterrents—such as surprising booby traps.
How to encourage proper chewing?
Before discussing how to refocus aggressive chewers, you must meet your dog’s “needs”. They include chewing and physical activity, social interaction, object play, and exploratory behavior.
Encourage your dog to chew appropriately. Begin with chew toys that offer a variety of flavors, scents, and textures to determine preference. Nylon toys are long-lasting, but toys that can be torn apart are more irresistible to dogs. Such as rawhide and pig’s ears… they mimic natural prey.
Coating or stuffing toys with liver or cheese spread, unsweetened peanut butter, or food particles can further improve their appeal. Numerous durable rubber toys can be packed or filled with food or treats. This requires your dog to chew or manipulate the toy to collect its rewards. There are even flavored products explicitly created for stuffing into toys.
Freezing dog toys with soup, meats, or canned dog food can help them retain their appeal and last far longer. If you are seeking ways to keep your dog active and entertained when you cannot play or supervise, it may be beneficial to place some or all of your dog’s meals inside these feeding toys, so your dog may work for it.
Providing toys, food, and treats that promote good oral hygiene may also help reduce your dog’s unpleasant chewing and preserve healthy teeth and gums. Although some dental snacks and treats have substances that assist in decreasing tartar, those with a texture, consistency, and size that stimulate chewing and gnawing are likely to be the most useful for dogs needing to chew. Foods that can be swallowed whole, or easily break apart are less likely to satisfy the desire for chewing.
Supervision is necessary to reward pup for chewing on its own toys while discouraged from gnawing on other objects. When unsupervised, it’s important to restrict access to anything that could be destroyed, except for the dog’s toys.
In conclusion, understanding why your dog engages in aggressive chewing is essential for effective management. Whether change in environment or expressing discontent with discipline, guiding their chewing towards appropriate outlets can make a significant difference. For dogs chewing out of discomfort or fear, seeking veterinary evaluation ensures they receive the care they need. Together, we can help your tough pup find satisfaction in safe and durable playtime options.
roguetech420
Tough Pup Toys Website Editor
