Every Golden Retriever owner knows about dogs chewing things. They are one of the top breeds when it comes to vet bills for ingesting items that they should not. Of course, being a retriever, it should be expected that they will stick things in their mouths – but it doesn’t mean they have to destroy all your stuff! Whether it’s an adult or puppy, Goldens can definitely have a chewing problem. The following is how to teach your Golden Retriever to stop chewing on your things.
Why Your Golden Retriever Chews Everything
There are a few reasons why your Golden chews on things. If you have a puppy, it’s possible he is teething. But this does not mean he will grow out of it and you can just ignore the behavior. If he develops the habit while teething, he will continue it once those strong adult teeth have come in. Other common reasons Goldens chew are:
- Boredom – it’s something to do and definitely uses energy.
- It feels good – dogs like the sensation on their gums and it cleans their teeth. They NEED to chew.
- It tastes good – you may not think your leather shoes or stinky socks taste good, but you are not a dog.
- Separation anxiety – if your Golden is destroying things due to separation anxiety, you will need help from a professional dog trainer.
Tips To Stop Your Golden Retriever From Chewing
Now that you know some of the reasons they chew, you can help stop the behavior. The following tips will help you curb your Golden’s chewing problem, no matter his age.
#1 – Trade for Something Appropriate
Whenever you see your Golden Retriever going for something he shouldn’t be chewing on, give him a dog-safe chew, toy, etc. instead. This teach your dog, “you can’t have that, but you can have this.” And anytime you see him electing to chew on his own toys instead of yours, praise him! (A note about the above picture: tennis balls are abrasive on a dog’s teeth and should not be used as chew toys.)
#2 – Exercise
If your Golden Retriever is chewing out of boredom, then exercise can help tire her out so she doesn’t feel like she needs to chew.
#3 – Provide Chews
Since dogs need to chew, make sure you are giving your Golden something to chew on to clean those teeth and massage his gums. Dental chews, bully sticks, and dried fish skin (for those that have allergies) are all great choices.
#4 – Management
The last part is on you. If you know your Golden Retriever is still learning to not chew things, don’t leave him unattended somewhere with things he can chew! A crate may be the safest place for him when you are gone. Not just for your things, but for his own safety. Eating non-edible items can be fatal, so crating is the kind thing to do.
