Dog Chewing and Digging How to Solve This

Dog Chewing and Digging. What to Do ?

Chewing
Chewing is a difficult problem to fix, since it is natural and "necessary" for puppies to chew. Dogs do not have hands like we do to investigate new and mysterious things. The only way they can examine new objects is by smelling them and putting them in their mouth!

Plus, just like human children, puppies loose their "baby teeth" and grow new adult ones. They need to chew during this time and there is no way to really stop them. The best thing to do is to get your dog acceptable toys that she can chew on. I recommend Kongs, Nylabones and similar toys. They are very durable and when "baited" they can draw your dogs attention for a long time. Both can be found at any PetCo or PetSmart.

The Kong has a hole in the center, which can be filled with your dogs favorite treats, dog food, and even peanut butter. Some dogs spend hours chewing on this toy, trying to get the food out.
Nylabones and Gumbabones now come in different flavors like beef, chicken and liver. The plain ones can also be boiled in broth to make them more palatable.
Whenever your dog is chewing something she shouldnt be, tell her "No" and give her an acceptable toy.

Also be sure to play with your dog and her chew toys at the same time. This will make them more likely to play with them instead of your favorite chair! Most importantly, "Reward" her when she is playing with the correct toys.

Digging
Most dogs dig out of boredom. Often tiring your dog out with a good game of fetch will "prevent" your dog from digging and partaking in other destructive behavior.
Hint: Play fetch with two balls. If your dog wont drop the ball you just threw, show him the second ball and hell usually drop the first one. Some dogs dig holes to stay cool on warm days. Make sure your dog has plenty of shade to rest in when he is outside. He should have plenty of cool water and, if its too hot, bring him inside.

Some dogs like Dachshunds were bred to dig. It is very hard to stop a dog with this type of instinct from digging.
The easiest way to deal with a persistent digger is to create a special digging area. It is much easier to teach your dog to dig in an inconspicuous spot than it is to teach him not to dig at all, especially with dogs that were bred to dig.
Create a special part of your yard just for digging and make it desirable to dig there. Actually dig with your dog to show him its okay. Bury desirable objects like balls etc… for your dog to find.
If you see your dog digging in the wrong area, tell him "No" and bring him to the designated digging area. Show him again that it is okay to dig in that area and reward him with treats and praise when he digs there.

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