How to Stop a Pekingese Dog or Puppy Chewing
The only chewing your Pekingese should be doing is on food or a dog toy. Meanwhile, chewing on shoes or furniture will likely put your pooch in the doghouse (pun intended).
Before discussing the solutions to your Pekingese’s destructive chewing, it’s important to know the main causes of such behavior. One of the most significant ones is that chewing is natural for dogs, including Pekingese. However, here are some specific reasons why Pekingese would chew-besides their needing to consume food:
* It prevents loneliness
* It prevents boredom
* It uses nervous energy
* It rewards them
* It reinforces a behavior
So whenever you see your Pekingese doing destructive chewing, keep in mind that there are several possible reasons for this behavior.
Chewing is particularly common among puppies. Puppies often chew on non-edible things until they’re about 1.5-2 years old. Because chewing is natural, you want to change the animal’s behavior instead of simply ending it. In other words, the key is to teach your dog that your favorite pair of dress shoes isn’t the best thing for it to chew. Here are some tips to get it done:
1. Watch your puppy constantly.
As simple as this action is, it’s extremely effective. When you can’t watch your Pekingese puppy 100% of the time, you can take other steps. Put a baby gate around it or place it in a crate full of teething toys.
2. Give your Pekingese puppy a teething toy.
When choosing a toy, remember that not every teething toy is safe and effective for your Pekingese puppy. Hard rubber toys are one of the best options. Not only do they help to relieve the pain that the dog is feeling, but is also helps to calm their nerves. Other excellent options are leather and rawhide.
On the other hand, there are certain types of toys that you should certainly avoid purchasing. Always avoid teething toys that could shred or break. If your Pekingese were to swallow pieces of the toy, that could cause grave digestive complications. You should also avoid purchasing teething toys that resemble objects around your home. It’s likely that your dog would have trouble distinguishing a $20 teething toy and a $200 pair of sneakers.
3. Take your dog outdoors for exercise.
Sometimes destructive chewing is the result of boredom or unreleased energy. One solution is to take your dog outdoors, for some fresh air and exercise. Once that natural energy is released, your puppy won’t have the energy to nibble on the wrong things.
4. Talk to your Pekingese’s veterinarian.
This is especially important in determining which action to take, based on the cause of the chewing. If your dog is teething, you’ll need to take a different approach than if it’s bored silly. A veterinarian will be able to provide some expert advice about how to handle the situation.
The best way to handle destructive chewing is to turn it into a constructive activity. These tips will keep your Pekingese’s chompers sharp, and your stuff safe.