Nearly everyone with a dog has come home to find something valuable chewed up into shreds. It's a universal feeling of frustration.
Owner of DOGGIE STEPS Dog Training, Mark Sieble remembers the first time he left his new puppy Lienie, an Australian Shepherd, alone in his home.
Sieble says, "I was only gone four hours and returned to find a six-inch hole in my wall! This experience solidified my view that dogs need ‘jobs’ to do when left alone."
Sieble could be called Arizona's dog whisperer after working with literally hundreds of dogs. He said these "jobs" reduce separation anxiety tendencies and allow dogs to stay focused on a task.
Over the years, Sieble has tested numerous chew bones/toys with his dogs and has narrowed it down to a number of "must haves".
But, Sieble reminds owners to always supervise your dog when chewing on ANY new bone/toy that they could potentially swallow.
Below are a few chewing tips to lower your odds of coming home to unwanted construction:
1. Meat bones.To keep a dogs focus and desire to chew on the "right" items, I always recommend a true meat sourced bone. This could be a raw meat bone, a "bully beef stick", or a compressed rawhide.
KONG filled chew toys with peanut butter, milk bones, or vegetables are also a good option. All of these chewing objects are natural and will keep your dog's focus for an extended period of time.
A "bully beef stick" is made from beef pizzle, which is also good for cleaning teeth. The brands Sieble recommend are: Smokehouse and Red Barn.
Some of the cheaper made beef sticks are treated heavily with radiation and SMELL really bad!
2. Non-meat bones.There are numerous safe "non-meat" chew toys available for your dog.
Sieble's favorite is a Nylabone "durable" pooch pacifier. This is a hard, non-toxic chew bone that your dog will chew and carry around the home, keeping them occupied and OUT of trouble.
A few others to consider would be a "double action chew" or a "big chews". Both of these bones are again made by Nylabone.
These tips will give your dog the foundation for seeking out the "right" chewing toys and NOT your living room sofa.
Dogs have an instinctual desire to chew and need to learn the proper chewing outlets. Increased calmness, focus, and clean teeth are just a few of the benefits from proper chewing outlets.
By providing the correct chew toys your dog will soon be leaving your sofa for the guests ONLY.
