Dogs use their noses and mouth to explore their world. So, the canine instinct to chew is natural. Dogs like to taste something that smells good or to test an object to see if it is edible. The challenge is to give your dog proper things to chew, rather than furniture, shoes, pillows or any dangerous materials.

Puppies

According to Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, , the need to chew on almost anything can be redirected by you, the dog’s pack leader. Puppies start chewing as soon as they begin teething. Give the puppy asoft toy chew. Something soft will help the puppy relieve the pain of teeth coming through their gums. A little squeaky toy of soft material can also absorb the baby teeth as they fall out so the puppy will not swallow them.
The goal is to give the puppy an attractive soft toy, rope or squeaky ball in a positive way. Then your pup will go to the object automatically when they feel pain or irritation.

Young Dogs

When the adult teeth are grown, your dog will begin the great experiment to find out what is and is not food. Here is where chair and table legs, shoes, woodwork or other gnawable items become the victim of the dog’s research. In my case, it was a laundry room…molding, door and even sheetrock! In other words, you need to nip the destructive chewing in the bud. Give the dog an alternative for chewing. During the first year, dogs tend to resort to chewing on something for comfort when they are frustrated or left alone for lengthy periods. Introduce dog chews that are tasty, safe and long lasting.

Adult and Senior Dogs

Older dogs do not chew as much when they are trained, and their appetite is redirected to healthy snacks or treats. However, they still need to chew to support healthy teeth and gums. Even though dogs do not collect tartar as quickly as humans do, they still need to keep their mouth plaque free. If you feed your dog soft or wet foods, you will probably notice more tartar and possible gum soreness because they can’t brush after every meal. When your doggie has something to gnaw on at least once per day, that treat can serve to pick up tooth and gum debris. You can brush your dog’s teeth using a special 3-sided toothbrush.
Extra hard chews are also a comfort for older dogs, such as: antlers from deer or elk, which can be found at Feed and Seed stores.

Good chews:

• Tough enough to last and become a favorite treat
• The right size for your dog’s mouth; large enough to prevent swallowing and choking
•  Entertaining in shape or taste to keep your dog challenged

Bad Chews:

• Cooked bones because they can tear and splinter
• Rib, chicken or raw meat bones because they can cause digestive distress
• Mass produced package bones because they may be chemically treated or dyed

Bow Wow Buzz used the following resources:

Cesar’s Way – Chewing

Vet Medic Pharmacy, Treats vs. Poison, an Infographic