My Dog Chews Everything When Left Alone

It is fairly normal for dogs to chew on many things, including things they should not be chewing on. For puppies, chewing on things is a part of their teething process. For other dogs, chewing on things is a result of boredom, fear or attention deprivation. To prevent this from happening, you can take certain steps as a pet owner.

  1. Puppies

    • When a puppy is teething, its gums may become sore in the same way a baby experiences this. When the puppy chews on objects, it relieves the soreness and helps facilitate the teething process. Puppies also chew on things as a part of playing and exploring. Chewing is a vital part of a puppy's life; therefore, encourage your puppy to chew on things. Offer it dog toys and bones. Chewing on bones and dental chewing products help promote strong, clean and healthy teeth in a dog.

    Adult Dogs

    • Adult dogs chew on objects for many different reasons. If you leave your adult dog alone, then it may feel scared or bored. It may also suffer from separation anxiety or may simply want some attention. Other adult dogs chew on things because they have never learned what is and is not appropriate to chew on. If your dog suffers from any of these things, then give it appropriate things to chew on when you leave it home alone.

    Precautionary Measures

    • To prevent your dog from chewing on everything in your absence, eliminate the possibilities of what it can chew. Do not leave things lying around that you do not want between its teeth, such as remote controls, glasses, shoes and trash. Never train your dog to chew on things it should not be chewing on. For example, don't offer it a pair of dirty socks to chew on. If you do, then you are teaching your dog that it is OK to chew on socks, and it will do that in your absence. It may also chew on shoes as well because the smells might be similar. Train your dog to chew on appropriate things by taking away things it should not be chewing on and offering appropriate things: chew toys, rawhide and balls.

    Discipline

    • Discipline your dog while it is doing the act instead of afterward. Dogs will not associate a prior behavior to discipline occurring at the present time. If you catch it chewing on something it shouldn't be, then stop it -- take the item away and tell it "No!" If your dog continues to chew on things, then consider leashing it in a certain area restricted from the rest of the house. Give your dog plenty of attention when you are with it, and make sure it gets plenty of exercise.