Does your beloved pet have an annoying habit of chewing up your belongings? Pets are curious animals; they like to explore the world around them, and sometimes that includes chewing on your stuff! Have no fear – there are ways to help stop your pet’s mischievous chewing behavior before your home is turned into a chocolate factory of shredded items. Read on to find out how to keep your prized possessions safe!
1. Every Pet Parent’s Guide to Ending Chewy Woes
Saying goodbye to chew-marks and other pet-hazards
It can sometimes seem that pet ownership comes with a “no shoes, no shirt, no pet” policy – the pet-woes, the gnawed-on furniture and the lack of household peace can all make us wonder if we’re ready to take on the commitment.
Don’t despair – it isn’t impossible to have a happy and comfortable home in spite of your pet! Here’s a few tips to help keep your home hazard-free:
- Stop them at the source: If you don’t want your pet gnawing on precious furniture, provide them with designated pet-approved chewing toys. Not only will they provide hours of entertainment to keep them busy, they’ll keep your furniture off-limits.
- Deter curious noses: It’s tempting for pets to explore where they shouldn’t – use citrus-scented sprays or bitter substances to potentially deter them from nibbling on objects or furniture. And as a last-resort for some particularly prone-to-chewing pets, you could even gate off problem areas.
- It tastes nasty: If your pet isn’t interested in pet-centric toys or isn’t responding to your deterrents, the only thing you can do is make the effected objects taste nasty. Covering the source of their attention with a bitter-tasting solution will dissuade them from any further interest.
At the end of the day, all it takes is a little extra effort – and maybe a little extra patience – to keep certain hazards at bay. With the right strategy and consistent training, even those more difficult pet-problems will gradually lessen. In no time, you and your pet will be happily coexisting in their – and your – ideal home!
2. How to Deter Your Pet From Chewing Things
Provide Alternatives
One of the best ways to deter your pet from chewing up your favourite shoes, decorations, or furniture is to provide it with alternative items to chew. Soft chew toys specifically designed for puppies and cats will keep your pet occupied and away from those things you no longer want it to chew. Many pet stores provide a wide range of chew toys, in diverse sizes, shapes, and colors. Alongside chew toys, puzzle toys and interactive food-dispensing toys could be a great way to encourage healthy chewing habits.
Divert Attention
Additionally, you can also divert your pet’s attention away from objects that are not allowed for it to chew by providing plenty of exercise and distraction. Going for a walk , playing fetch, or setting up a doggy playdate with your pet’s pals could be great options to give it a break from all the things it is not allowed to chew.
Create Unappealing Areas
If your pet is fond of a certain area or type of object, it might be useful to make it unappealing by applying substances that do no harm to your pet. Bitter sprays, cayenne pepper, or even garlic can deter some animals from an area they are not allowed to pass. Additionally, establishing specific places in the house where your pet can safely chew and providing it with plenty of its own toys, can be an effective way of stopping it from chewing off-limits items.
3. Creative Solutions for Keeping Your Belongings Safe
Finding clever ways to keep your possessions secure should always be a point of focus. After all, your most valuable assets — ranging from expensive jewelry to essential documents — should never have to be at risk of theft. With that in mind, let’s take a look at three inventive solutions for keeping your belongings safe.
- Smart Lock: A key-free entry solution for your home, smart locks enable you to unlock your door with your phone, a card or an access code. You can issue these codes to anyone that requires access to your home, making it easy to let friends and family in, while still providing the security of traditional locks.
- Hidden Compartments: When it comes to hiding your prized possessions, keep them out of sight in cleverly disguised hiding spots. This could mean coming up with a novel way to conceal things in plain sight, such as a false bottom in a drawer, or installing a false outlet behind which you can stow away your most prized possessions.
- Biometrics: Your fingerprints and retinas are completely unique to you, so why not use them to safeguard your possessions? Biometric security solutions, ranging from fingerprint scanners to infrared eye scanners, can be used to access safes and closets, meaning only you (or those you trust) can gain access to your valuables.
There you have it, three creative solutions for keeping your possessions safe and secure. With a little imagination and some precautionary measures, you can rest assured that your most valuable assets are safe and secure.
4. Give Your Pets Something Else to Do – Stress Relief Tips
Have you ever noticed that when your pet has nothing to do, they become anxious and exhibit destructive behaviors? Pets need something to do in order to help release excess energy, stay active, and relieve stress. Here are five tips to help:
- Let them play with their favorite toy—toys that make noises, squeak, or encourage interactive play with humans all provide good distraction for pets.
- Go for a walk or a run—this is a great way for your pet to explore and expend energy.
- Grow their environment—Provide your pet with an outdoor area to explore or create obstacles for them to tackle, such as tunnels and ramps.
- Give them interactive puzzles—food and treat dispensing puzzles are great distraction and help pass the time.
- Train your pet—expand your pet’s knowledge by introducing commands and agility training exercises like sit, stay, and come.
The key to finding the right type of activity for your pets is to pay attention to their behavior and body language. This will help you determine what type of activity they enjoy and it helps you gauge their stress level. When there’s a level of consistency and routine to their routine, that can also reduce stress. For example, if your pet always has playtime at the same time each day, it can help keep the pet calm. Lastly, schedule regular me-time for your pet when you can spend quality time together. Having extra playtime with your pet gives them the extra attention and stimulation they need to relax and enjoy being with you.
5. Effective Solutions to Stop Chewing Before It Starts
Are you constantly fighting with your pup over their destructive chewing? We understand how trying it can be to deal with this issue and how it can be dangerous to both you and your pup. Fortunately, there are some simple and effective solutions that can stem this behavior before it starts.
Training Sessions
One of the best ways to curb chewing is to train your pup. Make sure that you’re spending time with your pup every single day, not just for outdoor playtime, but for focused training sessions. These sessions can include housebreaking, Crate Training, and general obedience. Having effective control over your pup’s movements will greatly reduce the likelihood of your pup exploring and chewing on potentially hazardous objects.
Provide Better Stimulation
Your pup needs to be stimulated in order to stay happy and out of trouble. Make sure that your pup has access to plenty of safe chew toys, such as flavored rawhide chews, interactive IQ toys, and dog-safe bones or hair-cuttings. These toys should provide the needed stimulation and help quell the destructive itching to chew up everything else.
Change the Scenery
Chewing usually occurs when pups are bored. To combat this issue, take your pup out for daily walks and to different places, both to provide them with new stimulation, and to tire them out enough so that they’re not prone to chewing. Examples of awesome places and activities include beaches, dog parks, pet stores, or even the dog-friendly café down the street.
Be Firm and Consistent
When it comes to reprimanding bad chewing, it can be easy to give up or get angry. Instead, remain firm and consistent when it comes to correction from the start. If your pup does something wrong, make sure you let them know and then provide them with an alternative. For example, if your pup is about to chew on a shoe, give them a chew toy instead.
By following these steps, you can keep your prized possessions safe from your pet’s tendency to chew – and you can create a peaceful living space for everyone. With a little patience, you can reduce your pet’s natural instinct and put an end to the mischief once and for all. [dqr_code]
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