How to Stop Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from Chewing
Stopping your puppy or dog from chewing can sometimes be a trying task. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a dog that was bred for one main purpose, and that is to be a lap dog and companion. They yearn to please, but they still will chew. This is especially true of a puppy. If the habit is not stopped it will continue through adulthood and there can be a considerable amount of damage done to your personal belongings.
As a puppy, chewing is a learning process in most instances. A dog learns with its mouth. It can also be a sign of insecurity or stress. How does your puppy react when you leave? Could it be separation anxiety? How old is your puppy? Could your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel be teething? What is he chewing? Perhaps the dog is just bored.
The training begins by covering each possible cause. Then the teaching must begin to change the habit before it becomes engrained in your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. For your puppy that may be teething, the chewing brings relief to those gums that have become painful. There are toys that are specifically designed for teething pups or you can place several of their toys in the freezer to provide a cool sensation to the gums. You can also take a sturdy cloth, wet it and freeze it for the pup to play with. Just be sure he doesn’t shred it and eat it.
Chewing your shoes or furniture can be a habit that carries on through adulthood. By substituting an acceptable chew toy and giving it as a reward in exchange for your personal items, the dog will learn that there is a better way to get the attention he wants. Do not pull the unacceptable article from the dogs mouth. This will teach aggression. Rather give the command to “leave it” and let the dog relinquish the item and you replace it with a treat or toy.
Tug of war with toys will also cause aggressive behavior. You don’t want to teach your pet aggression. You want your dog to be taught obedience. This cannot be done by playing aggressive games or yanking a sock out of their mouth. Gentle but firm behavior is what is needed.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will want to be close to its person most of the time. If you are leaving for a long period, such as work, it may be best to use your crate to let the dog have a quiet safe place for it to stay while you are gone. Provide an assortment of toys for the dog to play with. Change them out to prevent boredom. Often rubber toys stuffed with peanut butter or other treat is a perfect solution to a potentially complex problem. It will take the dog some time to remove the food from the toy and thus keep him busy.
If your dog is way past puppy stage and still chewing, it will take a little more time to break the habit. It still can be done using some of the same techniques. Keep a fresh selection of toys available. Have some toys stuffed with treats. Do not treat the behavior with an aggressive act and everything should be fine.