A Gnawing Problem - instinctual behavior of dogs - Brief Article

Animals, Summer, 2001 by Kelley Bollen

My year-old Lab, Sparky, is an out-of-control chewing machine. He has chew toys scattered all over the floor, yet he gnaws on household items, especially the legs of the dining-room table. Why? Shouldn't puppy teething be over by now? Why don't our reprimands work? He knows he's been bad; he tucks his tail and hides when we come home.

Sparky's owner was exasperated when she called me, sure her dog must be chewing the table legs to punish her for leaving him alone while she went to work. While such thinking is typical of many dog owners trying to cope with behavior problems, the key to this conflict, like so many others, lies in understanding normal canine behavior and the natural way in which animals learn.

Basically, dogs chew because they are dogs. Think about their ancestor and cousin the wolf, which uses powerful teeth and jaws to survive. The need to chew evolved into a strong instinctual behavior, and domestication has not diminished the urge very much. Understanding this is the first step in treating any destructive chewing problem.

So why is Sparky ignoring his toys in favor of furniture? He was probably never encouraged or praised when he chose to chew on his toys. Sparky has no idea that the dining-room table cost $2,000, nor does he care. Dogs need to be taught which items are OK to chew and which are not. Otherwise everything is a chew toy to them.

I encourage owners to buy a dozen or so high-quality chew toys--such as Kong Toys, Nylabones, Booda Velvets, rope toys, and natural, sterilized bones that won't splinter. Keep three toys out at a time and rotate them every few days so that the dog doesn't get bored. Novelty often causes a dog to choose an inappropriate item over a chew toy that has been sitting around for weeks. Make the toys more appealing by stuffing them with peanut butter or Cheez Whiz or soaking them in broth or bouillon. Encourage your dog to play with his toys by incorporating them into games such as fetch or "find your bone."

Most people accept that puppies chew as a consequence of teething, but, like Sparky's owner, they think that this is short-lived behavior. Dogs investigate their world with their mouths. They chew not only to ease teething pain but to learn, to play, and to entertain themselves. Destructive chewing sometimes continues until the dog is two or three years old. In some high-energy dogs, it may be a lifelong problem. Dogs of breeds--including the Labrador retriever--developed to retrieve and carry objects in their mouths are more prone to destructive chewing. Owners need to work with their dog's instincts by providing an interesting selection of toys and by rewarding the pet when he uses them. A long, brisk walk, a run, or a game of fetch can burn off some of the excess energy that may otherwise come out as inappropriate chewing.

It's not true that Sparky "knows he's been bad." His tail-tucking and hiding are called appeasement behaviors. He reads his owner's body language and is trying to calm her down. Punishing a dog after the fact for destructive chewing--or any other unwanted behavior--is ineffective. The correction must be delivered while the dog is engaging in the misdeed, or at least within one to two seconds of the act; otherwise the dog will have no idea why he is being punished. Such noncontingent punishment can be very distressing and confusing to a dog and may only make the problem worse: an anxious pet may choose chewing as a stress reducer.

A better way to handle the problem is to let the table legs correct the errant pooch. Taste aversion is very effective in treating destructive chewing. Coat the table legs with Bitter Apple or hot pepper sauce (to protect your finish, test a small area first). The effect is instantaneous, and you are no longer the bad guy.

Remember, dogs don't misbehave out of revenge or spite. You need to figure out what is motivating your pet before you can deal with the problem. If your dog destroys things when you leave him alone, he may be suffering from separation anxiety (see "Home Alone" in our Spring 2001 issue). Stress-induced destructive behavior may also result from a phobia to thunderstorms or other loud noises. Some dogs are territorial and inadvertently ruin window blinds or woodwork trying to get to an intruding delivery person. If necessary, your veterinarian or an animal behaviorist can help you identify what's behind the problem and put some teeth into a behavior modification program.

Whatever the cause, never forget that your dog is a dog with behaviors determined by natural instincts.

GOT A PET PEEVE?

Kelley Bollen, the MSPCA's shelter animal behavior consultant, can offer advice that'll let you and your pet both feel better. Write to CaseNotes, Animals, 350 South Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130. E-mail casenotes@animalsmagazine.com or fax us at (617) 522-4885.