Training
suitable chewing
Owner is responsible for teaching dog what to sink teeth into
One of the most common questions that a dog owner will ask a trainer
is, "Why does my dog chew on everything he can
After
receiving dozens of telephone calls from potential dog owners
asking about different dog breeds and their characteristics,
I have decided to add a new section to this column. Each installment
will give a description of one of the Top 10 dog breeds in the
United States. The first is my personal favorite and the No.
1 breed in the United States, the Labrador retriever.
Although the Lab is associated with the British Isles, it arrived
in the mid-1830s from Canada with Newfoundland fisherman who
used the dogs to gather in their fishing nets. The Earl of Malmesbury
is credited in naming the breed after buying one of these seafaring
dogs in the 1870s.
At one time, the Labrador retriever’s coat only came in
one color, black. However, the colors of yellow and chocolate
are now recognized as proper colors for the Lab. Although the
colors of black, yellow and chocolate are desirable, a small
white spot on the chest is permissible. The height of the male
Labrador should be between 22.5 to 24.5 inches at the shoulder.
The height of a female should be between 21.5 to 23.5 inches
at the shoulder. Weight for a male should be around 60-75 pounds
and 55-70 pounds for a female. Other features of the Lab are
a broad head with a well-defined stop, medium-sized eyes, ears
that are not large or heavy, and a distinctive “otter”
tail.
A devoted and intelligent companion, the Labrador is among the
most obedient and dependable dogs in the canine world. Whether
serving as a working dog or as a household pet, it is both sensible
and sensitive. A Labrador requires a fair amount of daily exercise
and enjoys nothing more than spending time with its owner. As
an owner of two Labradors, I cannot think of a more perfect
dog. |
get
his mouth on?"
The answer is simple: Exploring the world with their mouths is normal
behavior for dogs. Your dog's natural tendency to chew, however,
can be directed to appropriate items so your dog is not destroying
your home. It is important that a dog learns what he may and may
not chew. Until then, it is your responsibility as a pet owner to
supply him with acceptable chew toys so he will be less likely to
chew on those items that will get him into trouble.
When it comes to training for appropriate chew behavior, the rules
are simple. These are:
- Take responsibility for your own belongings. If you do not want
it in your dog's mouth, then do not make it available or accessible
to him. Keep objects such as clothing, shoes, books and television
remote controls out of your dog's reach.
- Do
not confuse your dog. By offering him shoes and socks as toys,
you are expecting him to be able distinguish between his chewing
shoe and your wearing shoe. A dog's toys should be obviously different
from household goods.
- Until
he learns the house rules, confine him when you are unable to
keep an eye on him. Choose a safe place, such as his crate that
is dog proof, with fresh water and acceptable toys.
- Make
sure your dog has plenty of human socialization time. If your
dog is outside, he will not know how to behave if you never teach
him alternatives to inappropriate behavior.
- If
you catch your dog chewing on something he should not have, interrupt
the behavior with a loud noise. Next, redirect his attention to
an acceptable chew toy instead. You should then praise him lavishly
when he takes the toy in his mouth.
You
will have to experiment to find which type of chew toys - hard ones
like Nylabones and rubber Kongs or soft ones made of fleece or terry
- appeal to your dog. Some toys like Nylabones and twisted rope
chews have an added benefit of helping to keep your dog's teeth
clean. Be careful with any chew toys that your dog can tear apart
or break into pieces and swallow. Rawhide chews, for example, can
be swallowed and cause a digestive obstruction. Also beware of chews
like pig hooves that can break into sharp shards and be swallowed.
To protect chair and table legs, woodwork, upholstered furniture
and outdoor furniture there are commercial repellant sprays available.
Most have a very bitter taste that should deter your dog from gnawing
on these objects. Again, you will have to experiment to determine
which spray works best for your dog.
While the above are some ideas on how to teach your dog what and
what not to chew on, there is one definite "don't" when
addressing this problem. Never punish your dog after you have discovered
his inappropriate behavior.
While punishing a dog for unwanted chewing might be an owner's first
response, it is not effective in resolving destructive chewing and
might cause the unwanted behavior to escalate. The simple rule to
follow is to never discipline your dog after the fact. If you discover
an item your dog has chewed on, it is too late to administer a correction.
Your dog does not understand that connection between something he
was chewing on an hour before and the scolding he receives after
the behavior has been discovered. When a dog runs and hides, an
owner may mistakenly think the dog has made the connection between
the inappropriate behavior and the punishment being delivered long
after the occurrence of the behavior. Dogs do not feel guilt, but
rather display submissive postures or hide when they feel threatened
by an angry tone of voice, body posture or facial expression. A
dog does not know that he has done something wrong; he only knows
that the owner is upset. Punishment after the fact will not only
fail to eliminate undesirable chewing but might in fact provoke
other undesirable behaviors as well.
By carefully analyzing your dog's chewing preferences and closely
monitoring his behavior, you can direct your dog's natural drive
to chew towards acceptable items. With a firm understanding of what
is "fair game" and what is "off limits" in your
household, and with a variety of good chew toys always available,
you and your dog can live a peaceful and happy existence. |
