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Dr. Ruth writes an informational column in the Grand Island Dispatch, our local newspaper. She addresses questions and concerns from the community on a wide range of animal - related topics.Below is Dr. Ruth's article from the latest Grand Island Dispatch publication. ASK
THE VETERINARIAN
Teresa C. Ruth,
DVM
My new Wolfhound puppy loves to chew on clothing. In fact, he will run up to my kids and pull on what they are wearing. My son, 6 years old, doesn't like to tell the puppy "NO" and won't do it because he thinks the puppy's funny. How do I get the puppy to stop chewing? -Spike's frustrated
mom
Much like human babies, puppies go through a stage in which they explore their environment with their mouths. Puppies are not born with the knowledge that they aren't supposed to chew on your old shoes - to them it looks just as good as a ball, rope toy or other chew. The most important thing is to be consistent with the puppy. Have chew toys available, and make sure that they are fairly similar. When the puppy chews on something inappropriate, tell it "NO" in a clear firm voice, and take away the offending object. Then, offer the correct chew toy. When it's taken, tell them in a warm voice that they are a good dog. Puppies want to please you, and as they receive attention for being good, they will redirect their behavior to get more attention. Always be sure to praise them when they choose the appropriate toy. Too many different types of chew toys may be confusing to your puppy, and you should make sure that they don't resemble anything that you don't want them to chew. For example, don't make the toy a blanket, because then the puppy may consider other blankets in the house to be "OK" too. Through your patience and persistence, your puppy will know which things are appropriate to chew on. You should probably also sit down with your son and talk to him about how important it is to teach the puppy the correct behavior. He may not mind that the puppy chews his clothes, but if his favorite toys get tooth marks, he'll probably see things in a different light. If the whole family works together to train Spike, he will soon be a very well behaved dog.
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