Inappropriate Chewing

Chewing is normal for pets, especially puppies and kittens. Some pets will have a strong chewing drive throughout their lives, while others will settle down once they reach full adulthood. The easiest way to prevent destructive chewing is to provide your pet with its own toys to chew on. Provide a challenge by hiding a toy for your pet to find or filling a chewy toy with dental treats for your pet to dig out. Don't give your pet the run of the house when you're gone for the day -- instead, provide a room with plenty of toys, food, water and nothing you value within the pet's reach. If destructive chewing continues, your pet may not be getting enough exercise and stimulation. The chewing isn't an attempt to "punish" you -- it's a form of stress relief for a bored pet. It's a problem you need to resolve, because sooner or later your pet will probably do damage to its teeth by chewing on something hard, like a metal fence. Be sure to make time for walks and playtime every day, and consider hiring a dog-walker or using a pet day care to help meet your pet's social and physical needs.