If your dog is giving you problems, whether that means chewing, barking, biting or anything else, then it’s a clear sign that you need to learn how to control him and teach him right from wrong. He’ll only learn if you take the time out to let him know what’s the right way to act.

Teaching Him the Right Way

If you want to take control of your dog to stop all the chewing, then you’ll need to realise that the effort should go both ways. If your dog’s going to put effort in to learn about what you want him to do, then you need to make sure you give back by keeping him interested, taking him out, and always, ALWAYS, giving him positive praise through the training.

Consistency is the Key

Once you get into the training, you need to keep it consistent. Work on it every single day, but don’t overload him in any one session. Doing it for hours at a time is just going to leave both of you feeling frustrated, so take breaks when you need them to make sure you keep up the focus.

Looking for the Cause of His Chewing

When your dog is chewing, it can happen for a number of reasons. It might be because he’s bored, in which case you need to give him something to do. Take him out for walks, give him toys – just keep him more interested. Sometimes it might be that he does it out of anxiety when you leave. This is a little more difficult to treat and means slowly building up the amount of time you’re out for over a period of weeks.

Teething is also a common reason for dogs to start chewing. This is something he needs to do, but just teach him what he’s allowed to chew and what he isn’t. Praise him when he chews the right thing, and tell him a firm no if he starts chewing your shoes or the furniture!

This is just the start when it comes to taking control of your dog and stopping him from chewing. Just be consistent and patient and eventually he’ll understand what you want from him.

Feeling lost about your dog chewing? Head on over to Dog Training: Chewing for ways you can make sure he stops, fast. It isn’t as hard as you think!