To Chew OR Not To Chew?

By Wendy van Kerkhove, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: June 11, 2008 - 11:38 AM

Adopter's remorse. That was my state of mind after adopting Geo, our border collie/golden retriever puppy 11 years ago. Before she was a year old, Geo chewed the bottom of two different couches, twice; the corner of our new oriental rug; the base of the dresser; and much more.

Dogs need to chew

Puppies are notorious chewers, but adult dogs also need to chew. It's your job to make sure that what your dog puts in its mouth is acceptable. Redirection is the name of the game. If your dog is chewing on something unacceptable, replace it with something that is acceptable and more enjoyable to chew. The key is finding what your dog loves to gnaw. From bully sticks to rawhides, there are many chew toys on the market with which to experiment.

Mistake: Unsupervised freedom

I wasn't a dog trainer when I adopted Geo and I made a lot of mistakes. During the day when Geo was crated all was well. Things also were fine when I gave Geo my full attention while she was out of her crate. The problems arose when I attempted to get stuff done around the house when Geo was uncrated. I gave her too much freedom when I cooked dinner, paid the bills, talked on the phone, etc. At those unsupervised times, Geo was akin to a lawnmower running amok throughout the house.

Smart tethering

If only I knew then what I know now: Tethering your dog is an excellent alternative to crating and a safe way to provide supervised freedom. Tethering Geo to myself or to a sturdy object within the same room would have prevented her from wandering into the dining room and ruining the rug. The purpose of tethering is to keep the dog within your sight in a "safe zone" filled with enticing chew toys. The leash length can be quite long, which allows your dog limited freedom. It helps to tether a leash in each of the rooms where you spend the most time to avoid tying and retying it when you change locations.

A combination of smart tethering, supervision and the use of highly desirable, safe chew toys will help keep your belongings safe from the explorative teeth of young puppies and bored dogs. It will take a bit of work and investment, but the cost of a few extra leashes and toys is much less than repairing an Oriental rug. Trust me, I know.

Wendy van Kerkhove owns Fresh Air Training and is an editorial advisory board member for Star Tribune Pet Central. www.freshairtraining.com

Recent Pet Central stories

In Our Backyard - June 11, 2008

In Our Backyard - These days, celebrity dog shrinks are everywhere, touring like rock stars and holding book signings at the Mall of America. While those celebrities are getting tanned and coiffed for their next photo shoot, 86-year-old veterinary behaviorist Dr. R.K. Anderson scoffs at being considered Minnesota's local star. More

Local Flyball Clubs to Explore - June 11, 2008

Local Flyball Clubs to Explore - Here is a list of some of the flyball clubs in and around the Twin Cities. More