How to Stop a Yorkshire Terrier Chewing
Yorkshire Terriers love to chew, especially as puppies. During the ten, or more, months that a Yorkshire Puppy are teething, they will chew on anything that they can. While perfectly normal, it should be controlled right away. Understanding the reasons for a Yorkshire Terriers chewing behavior can help in finding a solution. The first thing that you must understand that puppies learn about their surroundings through their mouths. As adults, they will develop chewing fixations that usually stem from boredom. Fixing the chewing issues early can save, not only time later, but also your belongings.
During teething, a chewing puppy will gnaw on anything that it can reach. Therefore, it is best to remove objects that are dangerous to them, or that you do not want destroyed, from their reach. Keeping chew toys for puppies close at hand is also a good idea. This will ultimately give you something that you can replace an unwanted object with. It is also best to teach your puppy what is appropriate to chew on and what is not. When you see your Yorkshire Terrier puppy chewing on something inappropriate, immediately remove it from their mouth and replace it with a chew toy. If they are teething, give them a frozen chew toy. The cold will numb the nerves and they will be more likely to enjoy chewing that then something you do not want them to have.
Keeping you Yorkshire Terrier entertained is very important. As an adult, they can develop an unhealthy chewing habit out of boredom. Keeping chew toys around for them will distract them from wanting to chew on the things that are unacceptable. With any dog, it is best to reprimand any negative, or unwanted, behavior when it is seen. Doing so after the dog has already committed the offense will only confuse them. Playing with your Yorkshire Terrier regularly can also help curb the boredom. Taking your dog for long walks if you are going to be gone all day will keep your dog tired. They will most likely sleep during the rest of the day and will not be awake long enough to be bored.
Another way to protect your belongings is to make them unattractive to your pet. This can prove to be an effective method of keeping your Yorkshire Terrier from chewing on your furniture, as well as anything else that you do not want them to chew on. Using prays such as bitter apple spray can make the furniture taste bad and the pet will loose interest in chewing on it. It is not toxic, therefore it will not hurt them. Hot sauce can also be used for the same principle, however, it tends to leave a smell.
Keeping your Yorkshire Terrier from chewing on unwanted things is simple. Ensuring that they have something that they are allowed to chew on is the first step. Also, keep things that could be potentially hazardous to them out of their reach. Most chewing is a phase that will eventually pass. However, you must put a stop to this behavior before it becomes problematic.