By Charlène Paré on July 22, 2023
If you have a dog, you may have noticed that he sometimes likes to chew on the baseboards or baseboards of your walls. This can be frustrating and damaging for you and your dog, as it can ruin your furniture and pose a choking or injury hazard to your furry friend. In this article, we’ll find out why dogs chew baseboards and how to prevent or stop this behavior.
Why Do Dogs Chew Baseboards?
Dogs chew on things for a variety of reasons, depending on their age, personality, and environment. Some of the common reasons for your dog chews are:
- Boredom: Dogs need physical and mental stimulation to release energy and stay happy. If they aren’t getting enough exercise or entertainment, they may resort to chewing to relieve their boredom. Dogs left alone for long periods of time or with limited access to outdoor space are more prone to boredom.
- Anxiety: Dogs may chew on objects to cope with stress or fear, especially when left alone or in unfamiliar situations. This is called separation anxiety or situational anxiety. Dogs that suffer from anxiety may also show signs of nervousness, such as panting, shaking, or hiding.
- Dentition: Puppies can chew on things to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with growing teeth. This usually happens between 3 and 6 months, when puppies lose their milk teeth and grow their adult teeth. During this period, puppies may drool, have swollen gums or lose milk teeth.
- Curiosity: Dogs may chew on objects to explore their environment and satisfy their natural instincts. They may sniff, lick or pat the baseboards before chewing them. This is more common in young dogs or dogs new to a household.
- Lack of appropriate chew toys: Dogs can chew on baseboards if they don’t have enough suitable alternatives to satisfy their chewing needs. Dogs need chew toys and bones that are durable, safe and attractive. If they don’t have toys or bones around them or are unaware of them, they may turn to baseboards instead.
How to stop your dog from chewing baseboards?
If your dog is chewing baseboard, you may be wondering how to stop this behavior and prevent further harm to your home and your dog’s health. Here is some Effective tips to prevent your dog from chewing baseboards:
- Take your dog for more walks: One of the best ways to keep your dog from chewing on baseboards is to provide him with enough physical exercise. Walking your dog regularly will help him burn off excess energy, reduce boredom and relieve stress. It will also give them the opportunity to explore new sights, smells and sounds and satisfy their natural curiosity. Try to walk your dog at least twice a day, for at least 30 minutes each time.
- Play more often with your dog: Another way to keep your dog from chewing on baseboards is to provide him with more mental stimulation and social interaction. Playing with your dog will help him have fun, bond with you, and learn new skills. It will also keep them busy and distracted by avoiding chewing on baseboards. You can play fetch, tug of war, hide and seek or other games with your dog, using his favorite toys or treats. You can also teach them new tricks or commands, or enroll them in a training course or dog sport.
- Keep your dog busy with chew toys and bones: A third way to prevent your dog from chewing baseboards is to give him access to appropriate chew toys and bones that meet his chewing needs and preferences. Chew toys and bones can help your dog relieve dental pain, clean their teeth, and satisfy their natural urge to chew. They can also keep them busy and entertained for hours. Be sure to choose chew toys and bones that are safe, durable, and appropriate for your dog’s size, age, and chewing style. You can also alternate chew toys and bones every few days to keep them interesting for your dog.
- Spray baseboards with a bitter-tasting substance: A fourth way to keep your dog from chewing on baseboards is to make them taste unpleasant to your dog. You can spray the baseboards with a bitter-tasting substance that is safe for dogs, such as apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, or commercial chew spray. This will make your dog hate the taste of baseboards and deter him from chewing on them. However, you should test the substance on a small area of the baseboard first, to make sure it doesn’t damage or stain it. You should also reapply the substance regularly, as it may fade over time.
- Keep your dog away from the baseboard using a puppy pen or crate.: A fifth way to keep your dog from chewing on baseboards is to limit his access to the baseboard by using a puppy pen or crate. A puppy pen or crate is a safe and comfortable space where you can keep your dog when you are unable to supervise them or when you are away from home. This can keep your dog from wandering around the house and chewing on things he shouldn’t, like baseboards. However, you need to make sure that the puppy pen or crate is large enough for your dog to move around, lie down and stand up comfortably. You should also provide your dog with water, food, bedding and chew toys, and bones inside the pen or crate. You should also teach your dog to associate the pen or crate with positive experiences, such as treats, compliments, and toys, and not to use it as punishment or as a means of isolating your dog.
- Put something in front of the baseboard to block access: A sixth way to prevent your dog from chewing on baseboards is to place something in front of the baseboard to block access. You can use furniture, crates, plants, or other objects that are strong and stable enough to prevent your dog from reaching the baseboard. This can be a temporary or permanent solution, depending on your preferences and situation. However, you must ensure that the items you use are not harmful or dangerous to your dog, such as sharp, poisonous, or breakable items.
How to teach your dog to chew on toys instead of baseboards?
While preventing your dog from chewing on baseboards is important, it is not enough to completely solve the problem. You should also train your dog to chew on proper objects rather than baseboards. This will help your dog learn what he can and cannot chew and develop good chewing habits. Here are some steps to teach your dog to chew on toys instead of baseboards:
- Step 1: Teach your dog basic commands such as come, sit and stay: Before you start training your dog to chew on toys instead of chews, you need to teach him some basic commands that will help you control him and communicate with him. These commands include come, sit, and stay. These commands will help you move your dog away from the baseboard, sit him in front of you, and hold him in place while you give him a toy or treat. To teach these commands, you must use positive reinforcement and repetition. Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your dog with treats, compliments, or toys each time he obeys your command. Repetition means practicing the command several times a day until your dog learns it well.
- Step 2: Catch your dog chewing on the baseboard: The next step is to catch your dog chewing the baseboard. This will help you correct his behavior and redirect his attention to something else. To catch your dog chewing the baseboard, you need to watch him closely when he’s near the baseboard, or use a camera or baby monitor to monitor him when you’re not around. As soon as you see your dog chewing on the baseboard, you need to act quickly and firmly.
- Step 3: Interrupt your dog’s chewing with a loud noise or verbal cue: The third step is to interrupt your dog’s chewing with a loud noise or verbal cue. This will help you get their attention and stop them chewing. You can use a clap, a whistle, a can filled with coins, or a spray bottle filled with water to make a loud noise or a verbal cue, such as “no”, “stop”, or “forget it”. However, you should not yell, scold or hit your dog, as this could scare, hurt or make him more aggressive. You should also avoid using his name, as it might confuse him or make him think you’re calling him for something else.
- Step 4: Call your dog and have him sit and stay: The fourth step is to call your dog to you and have him sit and stay. This will help calm them down and prepare them for the next step. You can use the commands you taught them in stage one, such as come, sit, and stay. You should reward your dog with a treat, praise, or a toy when he obeys your commands. You should also hold your dog in this position for a few seconds to make sure he is focused on you and not the baseboard.
- Step 5: Give your dog a chew toy or bone and praise him: The fifth and final step is to give your dog a chew toy or bone and praise it. This will help you redirect their chewing to something appropriate and reinforce good behavior. You should choose a chew toy or bone that your dog likes and enjoys, and that is safe and suitable for him. You should also enthusiastically praise your dog when he takes the chew toy or bone from you and begins to chew on it. You should repeat this step each time you catch your dog chewing on skirting board, until he learns to associate chewing on toys or bones with positive results and chewing on skirting board with negative results.
Conclusion
Chewing on baseboards is a common problem that many dog owners face. It can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as boredom, anxiety, teething, curiosity, or lack of proper chew toys. It can also harm your home and your dog’s health.
To prevent or prevent your dog from chewing on the baseboards, you need to provide him with enough exercise, play time, attention, chew toys and bones, bitter-tasting substances, puppy pens or crates. or objects blocking access to the plinth. You should also train your dog to chew on toys rather than chews using basic commands,