When Puppy Chews on Everything: From Shoes to Sofas

The trials and tribulations of owning a young dog... Chewing on regular household items is a very common behaviour in the young dog, especially dogs from more active breed types such as the border collie. Puppy owners are right to be concerned as not only does the chewing and destructive behaviour impact on your relationship with your puppy, it also presents the possibility of health concerns should something be swallowed and become lodged with the intestines or if biting an electrical cord results in electrocution.

The most likely cause for this behaviour is simply normal activity needs being satisfied through the oral behaviour patterns (i.e., chewing) common to all dogs. At 10 months of age, a dog should be finished with teething, but is coming into its "teenage years", a time when activity levels peek and character traits become more firmly established.

First and most importantly, young dogs need lots of exercise. The first point I always make to pet owners is that 50 per cent of the solution is exercise, exercise, and more exercise! Different dogs have differing needs in this regard but border collies and their crosses are definitely more demanding in this department. Three daily bouts of 30 to 45 minute exercise sessions each, is generally a minimum.

Concurrent with exercise is trying to establish an environment in the home that is less prone to being "destroyed". The best approach is to train your dog to a crate and confine him/her there while you are not at home. However, a dog should never be confined for greater than 8 hours in a crate; if this may be the case, consider getting a neighbour (or neighbourhood child) or a pet-sitter company to come and let him/her out and/or for a walk. Also, make sure that he/she has a lot of safe chew toys to provide an acceptable outlet for normal chewing behaviour.

Another possible cause for this mouthing behaviour is separation-anxiety. Separation anxiety is the distress response by the dog to separation from the person to whom the dog is most attached, usually the owner. These behaviours can include destruction, vocalization, and elimination (i.e., bowel and bladder) and only occur during the owner's absence. Dogs afflicted with separation anxiety often concurrently demonstrate strong owner attachment, attention-seeking, or following behaviours. As pet owners, we often inadvertently reinforce this behaviour through encouraging the closeness or providing comfort when our pets are perceived as being distressed by our leaving. Fortunately, through behaviour modification techniques and, in more extreme cases, medications, these behaviour patterns can be controlled.

To try and curb your dog's chewing/destructive behaviour begin with an increase in exercise, confinement during your absence, and the availability of chew toys. Training or obedience classes will also help tremendously. Should this approach not work, seek out further advice from your veterinarian and/or the referral to a veterinary behaviourist.