Your young dog is well beyond their teething phase now. But for some dogs, the destructive chewing habits don’t quite go away like you would hope. Often, pets exhibiting destructive behaviors like inappropriate chewing are those with anxiety or those who aren’t receiving enough exercise or mental stimulation.
Why do young adult dogs still chew on things?
Your dog could occasionally chew on something like the trash if they think there’s something particularly tasty inside. They may also chew due to a natural urge to gnaw that isn’t being met by their toys. Destructive chewing is often a sign of an anxious or bored dog.
Tips for managing anxious chewing in the home
Destructive chewing can damage your property, lead to tooth fractures and sometimes result in gastrointestinal obstruction. Use the following tips to help reduce destructive chewing.
Remove temptation
If your dog chews specific items, keep those items out of reach. Use latching trash cans or put the trash behind a closed door.Provide alternatives
Dogs like to chew, and in the absence of suitable chewing items, they may chew your shoes, books or other items in the home. Provide your dog with chewing alternatives, ensuring the toys or treats have some flexibility or can be indented with a fingernail. Items that are too hard can lead to tooth fractures.Consider deterrents
There are sprays you can put on items that make them taste or smell bad to your dog. This may be enough to convince your dog not to chew the item.Revamp your young dog’s safe space
Don’t forget that your puppy should have a space that they can safely retreat to when they need to get away from other animals and children. Make sure they have some good chew toys in their safe space.Exercise your young dog
If your dog is chewing because they’re not getting enough mental stimulation or physical activity, you may need to develop an exercise routine for your dog to burn off their excess energy. Puzzle toys with appropriate treat rewards inside can provide a fun distraction and help burn up excess energy.Back to basics
One of the reasons for crate training a dog is to prevent destructive chewing during the puppy phase. You can utilize your dog’s crate training to prevent chewing now, too. Best to provide fun distractions while in their crate.See the veterinarian
If your dog is only chewing items when home alone, consider separation anxiety as a potential cause. Your veterinarian will need to diagnose this condition and can help you treat separation anxiety with behavioral modification and medications.Find out more about separation anxiety in dogs and how it’s managed.
