Chew Therapy

Puppies and most dogs need to chew.  It's occupational and therapeutic!  There are number of quality chew toys like Kongs, sterilized cowbones, Nyla & Gumabones, tennisbones, Kong squirrels, on and on.  Gumabones are easier on puppy's and older dog's teeth and gums.  Choose quality, long-lasting, non-destructible chew toys that will are safe for your dogs.  Latex, vinyl, old worn-out toys are dangerous.  They can be torn, swallowed and even toxic.  

Chew therapy is simply shaping chewing behavior.  Be the "director" of your puppy's chew habits, knowing that what you reinforce and teach to chew NOW, likes shoes and baby toys, will be open-territory for the adult dogs.

Puppies need to chew to exercise their jaws, soothing sore gums from teething, and for mental stimulation.  "Give your dog a Bone" is meaningful, as long as the bones are healthy ones.  To shape chewing, teach your puppy what they can chew, when they chew it and where.  Keep (or put away) items they shouldn't chew.  Don't give them "untouchable" chew toys (like old slippers).  Puppies cannot distinguish or rationalize between a toddler's doll or shoe, their stuffed teddy or cow bone, or a white comforter versus navy-blue.  They can discriminate, but need to be taught, slowly.  They are clever in this area, but it needs quality time and skill.

How many toys does my puppy need?  As many as you like, but don't overwhelm or over stimulate them.  Have a toy box for the toys.  Put a few key toys like a Kong that you can stuff with their kibble to keep them amused in their crates or on their relaxation mats.  A few toys at a time are plenty.  Invite them to pick out a toy, then have them put it back into the toy box later on.  Rotating toys will continuously stimulate your pup and is cost effective for you!

THE ART OF STUFFING

Stuffing chew toys increases the intrinsic value to the dog.  It is like getting a bonus CD/DVD with a new computer game.  There are multiple, creative ways of stuffing chew toys.  Activity Balls and Buster Cubes are good for mental stimulation too, but they can be loud and get stuck under things.  Be mindful of how much you are feeding, how much you energy you have for stuffing and how much attention you want to dedicated to retrieving toys from under the sofa.  Kong holders (many kinds to choose from) can safely hold an entire day’s meal.  Some dogs will empty an Activity Ball in seconds, while others will work at them for hours.  It is YOUR JOB to discover what your pup's capabilities are, then be safely creative in new ways to keep them mentally stimulated and fed too!

Stuff your Kongs and cow bones with kibble, biscuits and other creative menu items (healthy liver treats, low-fat turkey dogs, cheese).  Dab a tiny bit of cheez-wiz or low-fat peanut butter on the ends, enticing them to explore into the crevices of that cow bone cave.  Think outside of the box to create your own ideas, while considering caloric intake and health.  Be mindful not to substitute stuffing for quality time--teaching your puppy what to chew! 

Excerpt taken from Train Your Dog, Change Your Life

by Maureen Ross and Gary Ross, Howell Book House, Wiley Inc., 2001.