Tips to Stop Dogs From Biting Fence Boards

Pet dogs can be fun and lovable, but they can be problematic when they show bad behavior. Biting wood fence boards is one bad chewing behavior that can damage your property. Dogs chew for many possible reasons. When they do, you can take measures to correct the bad behavior.

  1. Training

    • Supervising your dog is very important. Spend time in the yard with your dog. Each time you see the fence-biting behavior, correct it immediately. Do not attempt to discipline your dog after the fact. Dogs are not capable of the logic required to connect a past indiscretion to a later disciplinary action. They will not know why you are punishing them.

    Chew Alternatives

    • Dogs can sometimes be trained to chew on certain items instead of forbidden objects like the fence. Try giving your dog other things to chew on until it finds something it would rather bite than the fence boards. Good chew items include Kong toys, which can be filled with food or treats, pig ears, braided rope, balls and dog chew treats and bones.

    Stimulation

    • Some dogs will chew out of boredom and lack of stimulation. Chewing fence boards could indicate that the dog feels a need to get out. Make sure your dog gets lots of human contact, play time and adequate exercise every day. In some cases, this may be enough to stop a chewing problem caused by restlessness.

    Taste Deterrent

    • Get products such as Bitter Apple that you can spray onto items you don't want your dog to chew. Spray it onto the fence boards and your dog will get an unpleasant taste when it bites the fence. Eventually, the dog may get the idea and stop biting it altogether.

    Teething

    • In some cases, a puppy may chew because it is teething. Teething typically occurs for about 6 months. If this is the case, the Humane Society recommends putting a wet washcloth in the freezer and giving it to your dog as a soothing chew toy. Watch your puppy to make sure it doesn't eat the washcloth.