my dog keeps chewing on everything?

Question

the problem is when he picks something up he wont listen when i tell him to put it down and he thinks its a game when i chase him. how do i get him to drop things that he is chewing on?

i dont leave things lying around, HE IS A JACK RUSSELL TERRIER!!!!!!!he jumps about 5 feet tall he can get anything!!!!!!!!and i do have a lot of chew toys for him

Answer 1

First, pick up anything that he might chew on and supervise him better.

Next, bring him to obedience classes. Even the Petsmart ones teach "drop it" as one of the commands. Be sure that the trainer uses positive reinforcement techniques like treat reward or clickers.

You can work on this by using small treats and a chew toy that's chew approved by you. When he has the toy let him chew on it for a second. Then, say "drop it" and show him the treat. A food motivated dog will drop the toy for the treat. If he does so, say "good boy!!!" and give him the treat. Continue like this until he gets used to the word and the action associated with it. Eventually, with hard work, hopefully he'll learn this command.

Good luck to you! : )

Answer 2

Due to your dog's ability to reach unique places, you have to work harder at "puppy proofing" your home. This means that anything valuable is well out of his reach. So put things up even higher. Place items more towards the center of a table. Remove all temptations.

The next step is obedience training. Your dog thinks it's a game to play chase with you. Most dogs do a bit of this with their owners (a little tug of war), but it's crucial that when you say "stop!" or "drop!" he does just that. I have two pups - they chase each other for toys all the time. This is a game they play with each other. But they do not play this with me. They know that if I give a firm command for them to stop chewing on something, they'll do it. Why? Because I took them for obedience training (where I was trained too). Obedience training helps establish you as the "alpha" in the pack. And as the alpha, if you say "no", it means "no". Right now, your dog views you, at best, as an equal. He might even think he's the alpha. You have to change this.

So do a better job with puppy proofing, get obedience training (and don't just go to one random class - get proper full training) and then play with him using his toys. By playing with his toys and only his toys, he'll also learn what are appropriate objects and what aren't.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Get him plenty of chew toys. Squeaky ones, Chewables, Raw Hide. Also get a spray bottle unless you have a dog like me that loves water use the spray bottle and a stern correction. 80% of the time you keep that up and positive praise when the dog is doing what he should be will help.

Also crate training when you aren't home and when you sleep. Keep the crate in a high traffic area IE living room or your bedroom. It helps the dog bond with you at night speaking from experience with 2 dogs successfully crate trained.

Answer 4

My dog thinks it's a game too. I can't touch whatever he's got. I have to point to the ground and say in a stern voice "drop it" and he will after a few more quick chews. Keep your finger pointed at the ground.
I have been bringing home bones from the meat dept at the grocery store and I keep rawhide around for him. They keep him busy when I'm not home.

Answer 5

firstly dont leave things around for him to find! prevention is better than cure.

get him his own chewing things. then offer him his chewy for what he has. talk quietly - dont chase or shout.... that makes them think its a game. if he runs off ignore him for a while. get a spray to deter him chewing stuff. spray liberally.

good luck.

Answer 6

what i did to my dog is shake the box of treats to get her distracted then she drop what she was chewing on n come thinking she would get a treat when i got the thing she was chewing on i lightly tapped her on the nose n told her bad dog it worked try it. it might work for you dog