labrador chewing
If you want to stop Labrador chewing, you must first realize that chewing is expected and perfectly normal behavior for puppies. They will always want to bite something, either because they are teething or out of boredom. It’s not about making them stop chewing, it’s about redirecting what they chew. To keep them from chewing on your cushions, shoes, or curtains, you need to find plenty of other things to keep them entertained.
why stop chewing labrador
While a Labrador is still young, many owners seem happy to leave their dog free to chew whatever he wants. It’s ordinary, right? Or, at the other extreme, they can yell at your pup, leading to confusion and other behavioral problems. Actually, your response should be somewhere in the middle, showing the dog that chewing on your stuff is not okay, but that there are plenty of alternatives.
How to Stop Labrador Chewing
When it comes time to stop your Labrador’s chewing behaviors, there are a few things you can do. For starters, don’t hit your dog for any reason or openly scold him. Even if you get angry, that emotion should not be directed at your puppy. That type of action will confuse them and make it difficult for them to understand what they did wrong. Alternatively, you can consider the following actions.
Behavior Adjustment – Teach your Labrador to chew on the right things instead of trying to get him to stop chewing altogether. So if you see that your Labrador puppy has a cushion, replace it with one of his toys and then praise the dog once he starts laying down on the new toy. This will teach your pup that the new item is good and the old one is not.
Keep your Labrador active – Keeping your Labrador from getting bored is a good way to keep him from chewing. Even when teething, a puppy will chew to stay active. It is a form of entertainment for them. Giving them plenty of time to play and exercise is a great way to help avoid this problem. When you are not at home make sure there are stimulating toys to keep them active.
Crate Training – Crate training gives your Labrador limited access to the house, which can be an effective way to keep your pup from picking on your stuff while you’re away. Another way to limit their access is to keep your dog in a single room while you’re away, but the intent will remain the same.
Aversion sprays: For Labrador puppies who chew on items like slippers or papers, which they can easily ruin, find a safe, consider spraying with a flavor the dog will avoid, such as citronella or bitter apple. They will soon associate these elements with that bad taste that will prevent them from chewing them in the future.
Although chewing is totally normal for a Labrador, you should never focus on things like yourself or your possessions. If they are, then you need to start focusing them on the alternatives.
To be consistent
To successfully stop your Labrador chewing, you need to make sure that you maintain consistency in your behaviors. You shouldn’t let your dog chew on old shoes or boots if he likes to have his clothes around. You shouldn’t give them a stuffed toy and then complain when they don’t realize that not all stuffed animals are okay. As the owner, set strict rules and follow them. Your dog will learn quickly enough and chewing will be much less of a problem.