Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

PEDIATRICS • 521
expect destructive behavior to diminish as the puppy matures. It also means you
must provide your puppy with appropriate toys that he is allowed to destroy.
Inappropriate Chewing
Puppies chew to develop strong teeth and jaws. It is a good idea to provide
high-impact rubber balls, Kongs, or nylon chew toys as a substitute for chewing
on shoes and furniture. Avoid rawhide toys and bones. Rawhide may be
ingested and can do damage in the gastrointestinal tract.
If you catch the puppy in the act of chewing on something inappropriate,
substitute a toy or a nylon bone. Make it clear that the toy, not the other item,
is for chewing. If you do not catch the puppy in the act, do not punish him after
the fact. He will have no idea what the punishment is for.
Various commercial spray-on products are available that leave an unpleasant
scent to discourage chewing on things like furniture. These products work
well when applied as directed. It is also a good idea to “puppy proof” your
home, making sure that potentially dangerous items your puppy could chew
on are removed or blocked off, including electric cords, garbage, and small
items that could cause a blockage if swallowed.
Excessive Barking
Remember that before he came home with you, your puppy spent all his time
with his littermates. A puppy who is not accustomed to being left alone may
demand to be let out of his enclosure and express this by barking, whining, or
howling. The barking may occur when the puppy is first put into the enclosure
and continue throughout the entire period of confinement. If you ignore
it, the puppy usually finds little reason to continue and accepts the routine. If
you let him out or pay attention to him, the barking is reinforced and the
problem will take longer to correct.
Barking can also be an attention-getting device for dogs who are ignored
unless they make noise. If the dog gets the attention he wants (even a reprimand,
because negative attention is still attention), the behavior is reinforced.
Going to the dog to quiet him down, feeding him, petting and praising
him, or giving him a toy are ways of unintentionally rewarding the misbehavior.
Instead, reward your dog’s good behavior. Give him lots of praise, play,
and attention when he is quiet and well behaved.
Barking in defense of territory is part of a dog’s basic nature. Occasionally
this can escalate to excessive levels. The dog barks at the slightest sound, or
barks constantly for no apparent reason. Chaining up a dog outside encourages
barking and is an open invitation to a bad disposition. It is far better to
confine your dog in a fenced yard or a spacious enclosure that allows opportunity
for exercise and play.
Barking in the house may stop if the dog is confined to a room without
windows where he can’t see or hear what’s going on outside, and thus does not
feel the need to defend the house from “outside interlopers.”