Chew on ways to stop biting
Q: Our 8-month-old lab is destroying everything in the house. Things were going really well until recently. We took him to puppy class and we survived puppy teething. He was so good we stopped using the crate. Just this last week he put a hole in the couch, destroyed the corners of two tables and tried to eat my glasses. Why has he regressed? We want our trained dog back.
A: Welcome to teething phase number two. Unlike puppy teething, this one takes owners by surprise.
Second chewing phases are rarely discussed, which is surprising since they are typically very destructive. Adolescent dogs have physically matured. Having grown larger and stronger, their jaws do that much more damage. It’s no surprise that many owners become exasperated, possibly even giving up on the pet.
Owners report destructive chewing when the dog is anywhere between six and ten months of age. Different breeds and sizes of dogs hit this stage of development at different times. Severity of damage depends on the individual dog’s level of pain tolerance. Unfortunately, many uninformed owners discontinue using the crate before this phase. Valuables are left lying about within the dog’s reach. This creates a perfect storm where too much freedom and irritated molars combine to leave a wake of destruction. Resume using the crate if you cannot supervise the animal. It safeguards your possessions. More importantly, it keeps dogs from ingesting potentially dangerous objects. Puppy proof your home again, keeping valuables such as shoes and eyeglasses out of reach. Do encourage appropriate chewing. It relieves irritated gums. It also helps to keep your dog’s teeth clean. Calmly praise the dog when it is chewing appropriate items such as bones. Use food rewards to drive the point home. Quietly throw a treat over to the dog while it’s chewing. Stock up on taste deterrent spray such as Bitter Apple. It’s a spray that can be applied to household items — making them taste bad. Deterrents do need to be reapplied every couple of days. Prior to using the product, spot test on one item. Occasionally dogs like the taste. If this happens, discontinue using the spray. Instead, up your level of supervision until this phase passes. Q: Our Collie bites at our hands when we pet him. It’s not a hard bite. He uses his front teeth and nibbles. People who know him aren’t afraid. But I always worry that someone might take it the wrong way. Is this dangerous and what can we do to get him to stop? A: Dogs have a range of social skills. These skills help create social bonds. This particular behaviour is called social grooming. For lack of a better explanation it’s, “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” Owners can recognize grooming because the dog nibbles with its front teeth as if eating a cob of corn. Although endearing, the behaviour is a nuisance. Some dogs can be a bit rough. Their teeth can pinch delicate human skin. Individuals unfamiliar with dog behaviour may be taken aback. Recognizing the behaviour might facilitate understanding. But it still needs to stop. Correct the problem by teaching the dog to stand still while being petted. Hold a few treats in one hand. Use them to reward the dog while you pet it with the other. Eventually you can reward the dog for holding still when other people reach out to pet it. Should the dog reach back with its mouth, immediately stop all physical contact and walk away. This way the dog learns it will lose attention if it puts its teeth on human skin. Yvette Van Veen is an animal behaviour consultant. Write her at advice@awesomedogs.ca