How to Stop Your Dog From Chewing

Chewing is a natural, normal canine behavior. We get upset when our dogs chew and destroy our belongings. But, we need to teach our dogs what is acceptable and unacceptable to chew on. This is done by managing your dog's behavior and using a taste deterrent.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog toys
• Strong taste deterrent
• Household items (pen, eyeglass case, TV remote)
• Cheese
• Peanut butter

How to Stop Your Dog From Chewing

1. Buy or make your own taste deterrent. Many pet stores carry taste deterrents such as bitter apple and sour grapes. You can make your own taste deterrent by mixing a concoction of hot sauce, cayenne pepper, hot mustard etc.

2. Always test the taste deterrent before you use it. Spray some of the bitter apple, sour grapes or whatever your using on a piece or cheese. Then offer it to your dog. If your dog eats the cheese with the taste deterrent on it the taste deterrent will not work. You need to keep trying different taste deterrents until you find one where dog does not accept the cheese.

3. Once you have found the taste deterrent that your dog does not like you can now use it to teach your dog what is acceptable and what is unacceptable to chew on.

4. Spray the taste deterrent on some of your items. Take a little bit of peanut butter and spread it on some of your dog's toys. Put all of them on the ground. This will help your dog learn to discriminate between what are your items and what are their toys.

5. 
   Dogs Love To Chew

   Your items have the scent of the bad taste the dog's toys have the scent of peanut butter. The taste deterrent can now also be used on other objects that your dog may be chewing on such as furniture, molding, tables etc.

Tips & Warnings

• Jean Donaldson states "the whole world is a chew toy to a dog."
• Chewing is dealt with by managing your dog's behavior and teaching your dog what is acceptable and unacceptable to chew on.
• Provide your dog with plenty to chew on.
• Puppies will chew more than adult dogs as they lose their puppy teeth.
• Always test your taste deterrents before you use them.
• If you are going to buy a taste deterrent from a pet store ask someone at the store if you can see if your dog does not like it before your buy it.