We just love our dogs, our neighbor’s dogs, and everybody else’s dogs! While our love for dogs is so eternal, I’m sure our hatred for their habit of chewing almost anything and everything is also mutual! If you have a dog, you will have chewed out shoes and chair legs, and just about anything your dog can chew on. Instead of getting furious, have you ever tried to find out why Dog Can Chew Almost Anything? Let us take a look!
Dog Can Chew Almost Anything
Why Do Dogs Chew Anything?
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Dogs chew for multiple reasons. The most common reason is that they are cutting new teeth. This is not only painful, but it can feel strange to have loose teeth dangling in your mouth! Chewing helps sooth and loosens the gums around the teeth (many of which are chewed and swallowed along with whatever else your dog is chewing on). Now you understand, why dogs can chew almost anything?
At What Age Is Chewing Most Frequent?
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Many dogs chew to get relief from stress and anxiety. Don’t think that it means you have a dog that is anxious. You just have a dog that knows that when he chews, he feels better. Chewing causes a chemical release of endorphins that relax your dog. So he will be less anxious when he is with you, his owner.
Chewing Is Actually Good!
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Chewing helps reduce plaque on teeth and gums, keeps teeth strong, releases stress, and it is the easiest dog behavior to channel! We congratulate people with chewers they got lucky with a dog that likes to chew! Now all they have to do is a channel that Destructive Chewing into Constructive Chewing. Simply teach your dog that he can’t chew on your stuff, but he can chew on his!
How To Avoid?
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Start by getting six toys for the dog to chew on they should be of different varieties. You could try the following options: tennis ball, rope toy, Nylabone (original), Gummabone (transparent color), Kong (black variety for atomic chewers), Planet Pet Flying saucers (black variety), Sterilized Beef Bone (avoid the butcher bones.) If you must supply your dog with rawhide buy only the “compressed rawhide” variety. Regular “knotted” rawhide (the kind we see everywhere) cannot break down in the intestinal tract and can cause serious stomach and intestinal problems.
When To Dispose Of Dead Toys And Replenish Them:
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Disposing of “dead” toys is very important. Dead toys are toys that have been partly or totally spoiled. Most toys will be destroyed rather quickly if you have an active chewer (but remember active chewing is good!)
Replacing toys is much less expensive than replacing carpet, tables, chairs, sofas, etc.
For Hard Toys:
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Throw away any that have broken or sharp edges.
Throw away any that are small enough that they may be swallowed.
Throw away any toys that cannot be cleaned and sterilized monthly. This will lessen the chances of bacteria.
Throw away any solid raw-hide toys that have been softened or pulled apart.
For Soft Toys:
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Throw away any rope toys that have been “pulled apart” (have no knotted ends).
Throw away any lamb’s wool or stuffed toys that have been pulled into bite-size pieces.
Throw away any toys with loose squeakers.
Throw away any soft toys that your dog could swallow or ingest.
After all this, the fact still remains – dogs can chew almost anything. But, now that you have read all about why chewing is actually good, and why dogs chew, you will find it easier to handle the problem of chewed up furniture, shoes, and what-not. The rationale always helps and you won’t get so mad the next time you find your four-legged friend chewing up your favorite pair of shoes or the sofa you lounge on. So, not though dogs can chew almost anything, give them the right things to chew.
Haha these are so funny and cute!
Only pet parents will understand!