Understanding how to stop your dog chewing everything is crucial as it is not simply an costly problem it can be dangerous and upsetting too.

Furniture, skirting boards, carpets, shoes and garments can all become targets which is where the cost comes in, but having once caught my puppy chewing on some wires under my office desk, I am all too aware of the danger that chewing can hold for the dog itself. Ask any vet and they will give you unending stories about the things dogs can chew and swollow completely!

The distressing part of dog chewing is when they turn the chewing on themselves and obsessively chew their paws or tail till the area is raw.

Why Do Dogs Chew?

Understanding what lies at the base of your dogs chewing problem is vital if you are going to find how to stop it.

The most blatant chewing is when a young dog is teething. This is both straightforward to understand and to handle. Provide plenty of toys they can chew on and start to teach them what is and is not all right to chew on.

But chewing is also a natural sort of anxiety relief (think about how many of us chew their nails when they are scared) as it helps produces a natural endorphin that will calm you down. Your dog might be chewing for the same reason.

The problem worsens when a dog starts chewing on paws or other areas of themselves as the action can steadily remove the fur and even goes thru the skin at times and they do not seem to be aware of the damage they do.

Have You Got A Nervous Pack Leader in the Hosue?

A dog who has decided they are pack leader is probably going to be particularly anxious. Dogs, naturally need a leader, and if they do not believe you are , they're going to take on the responsiblility themselves.

The trouble is, dogs don't understand our human world, which is why they can bark at the Television, phone or delivery man at the door as it's all a potential threat. They can not deal with the responsibility of being pack leader and so the anxiety starts and as we've already related, anxiety will drive a dog to chew anything and everything it can get it's teeth round.

Separation Anxiety In Dogs

You may have noticed that your dog only chews when you're all out. They never touch your stuff when someone is around or chew the furniture or door frames. Actually it's just when you leave them on their own the trouble starts.

I have heard some dog owners say that their dog is doing it to get back at them for leaving them alone, and others who think that it is simply dog behavior issues. The reality is that your dog is doing it for a reason.

The Best Way To Stop Your Dog Chewing Everything

The solution is straightforward, take the job of pack leader away from the dog, give them time to relax and trust you and the anxious chewing should stop.

How to do it? Good leadership is all about establishing confidence, not fear, so there is no need to use dominance or force. You only need to understand how to demonstrate that you are the one that your dog can trust with the leadership responsibility. Once the dog knows that you can be trusted with the job, then they will readily (with some relief too) give up the reins and give up chewing for stress relief!