The PetCot Company: Tips for Training and Keeping Your Active Chewer Busy

For many dogs, a few vigorous walks a day can help to keep them satisfied and prevent their destructive nature from peaking its ugly head out. But for some dogs, especially puppies, simply walking them just isn't enough to deter their instinctive nature to chew and destroy. We all know how frustrating it can be to try to stay patient after watching time and again your beloved new puppy destroy yet another pair of shoes. That's why this week, the PetCot Company is sharing with you a few tips for training and keeping your active chewer busy.

Kennel While You're Away
If you've got a stress-induced or bored chewer, perhaps it's in your (and their) best interest to keep them kenneled while you're away and unable to supervise. Start off by making sure they relate their kennel as a safe zone and not just a place for discipline. If you only use the kennel when they're being bad, they'll have negative feelings toward the kennel and you may have a very difficult time getting them to willingly go to their kennel, which could cause a whole new set of problems in itself. So use the kennel often, even while you're home, so they don't relate it as a bad experience and become comfortable spending time in it. By kenneling your dog while you're not there to supervise, you'll avoid destruction of your home and personal items, but you'll also avoid your dog chewing up something that could be harmful to their health.

Give Them Ways to Release Energy
Not only should you take your dog on walks to let out some of their pent up energy, but you should also provide them with ways to continue to release energy when they're in the house. Some great ways to do this are to create fun games that make them work for treats. As an example, you can hide treats around your home and send your beloved fur baby on a scavenger hunt to find them. You may have to lead them to the hiding spots the first few times you do this, but they'll catch on quickly and soon enough you'll be finding new hiding spots to challenge them! You can also give them durable toys to chew on that'll keep their interest for hours, such as Kongs filled with treats or peanut butter. Or go big and create a designated sand pit in the backyard that they can dig in. Whatever you choose to do, make sure that it'll keep your dog's interest, and routinely change it up to keep them from getting bored.

Teach Your Dog Right From Wrong

While it may not seem like it at first, dogs (even easily distracted puppies) love to please. So, how are you going to teach your dog right from wrong? Well, with consistency and patience, of course! But seriously. The trick is to SHOW your dog what is okay for them to chew on. How you can do this is anytime your dog is chewing on something they shouldn't be, take it away and firmly tell them "NO". Then immediately offer them something they CAN chew on. Once they take it, praise them! It's really that simple. By staying consistent and patient, your smart little pooch will quickly catch on that there are certain things they are okay chewing on, and will avoid the rest.

We hope that these tips will serve you well in the task of training and keeping your active chewer busy. Just remember, consistency and patience is the most important part of training any dog. And of course, for those destructive dukes in your life, make sure you've got a comfy place for them to rest their heads after you wear them out. Get a durable dog bed from PetCot. Our beds are one of the most durable on the market. If, however, your chewer does do damage to our premium raised beds, we offer affordable, easy to install replacement parts. Just replace the part - not the whole bed! Visit our website to order yours today!

Taking Comfort and Care to a New Level for Pets!