Teaching your dog to chew on food is a natural behavior for dogs. A dog’s sense of smell is more powerful than their taste buds so they will instinctively want to find food to satisfy that need. Unfortunately, they have also been trained to behave this way and it can be very difficult to correct the problem. Fortunately, there are some dog training tips you can follow that will help you teach your dog to stop chewing on food.
One of the most important dog training tips you can follow is that you should never reward your dog for chewing on food. You can make it worse by doing this because it will make your dog feel good and may even give him the incentive to continue. In fact, you should never feed your dog for a long time just because he’s chipping away on his food. Give him a snack every half hour or so. Then, you should start taking away small pieces of the food as he starts to chew on them. This will show him that he’s being punished and he’ll likely start to look for more of the food to take.
Try using dog training tricks like verbal praise to encourage him when he’s doing right. Also, don’t let your dog sleep in your bed or use your couch or any place where you may be able to see him at night. Dogs are very easily distracted by movement and they might see the reflection of your movements in their environment. If they can’t get your attention when you’re around, they’ll eventually get the idea that if they want to stay happy, they have to chew on your belongings.
Another dog training tricks like telling your dog “no” when it’s time to take a bite of something is an excellent way to reinforce this behavior. You’ll need something like a newspaper to put the food down on, preferably one with dog shaped pieces. When your dog chews on this, immediately say “NO” and put the newspaper down. This will help your dog to associate a time for taking out the dog training treats with a time for taking out the newspaper.
Try using the same command (like “Let go”) but just say it instead of giving the dog the treat. You can also use a different word for “let go,” such as “Lick it.” Another creative way of reinforcing the dog’s chewing behavior is by letting him sniff your hand, which may remind your dog of you or another dog he has been familiar with. This will help him understand that he shouldn’t chase after the dog treats all the time because you’re going to come back, and he’ll soon realize that he can only chase the dog treats if he’s allowed to touch your hand.
Don’t let your dog reach the dog treats too quickly, though. The dog will learn that reaching for them means he’s getting a reward now. Use a simple command like “No” and say it firmly while backing away. This will make your dog recognize that there’s a boundary to his getting a treat now and that he should stop running after it.
There are some great chew toys available that look and feel just like the real thing. These toys are especially good for dogs who have trouble accepting treats or getting close to them. By playing with the dog’s natural toys, you can train him to accept whatever you provide. Puppies especially enjoy toys that simulate food. Use the chew toys in conjunction with your dog’s other training methods and you’ll soon find that your dog has a lot of trust in you and can be very obedient.
Once you get the dog’s confidence up, you can start to think about whether he should be allowed to chew the foods himself. This is a decision that you’ll need to make with your veterinarian, but most dog owners will agree that giving a dog the occasional treat for good behavior is not bad. If you want to introduce your dog to new foods regularly, then consider buying a chew toy. They are inexpensive, have lots of variety, and will keep your dog’s mouth busy so that he keeps at it and learns to chew on his own.
