Preventing Your Dog from Chewing Skirting Board

By Charlene Pare on Jul 22, 2023

If in case you have a canine, you could have seen that they generally prefer to chew on the skirting board or the baseboard of your partitions. This may be irritating and damaging for each you and your canine, as it may well break your furnishings and pose a choking or harm danger on your furry buddy. On this article, we’ll discover why canines chew skirting boards and learn how to stop or cease this behaviour.

Why Do Canines Chew Skirting Boards?

Canines chew on issues for varied causes, relying on their age, persona, and surroundings. A number of the widespread causes on your canine chewing skirting boards are:

Boredom: Canines want bodily and psychological stimulation to launch power and keep joyful. In the event that they don’t get sufficient train or leisure, they might resort to chewing on issues to alleviate their boredom. Canines which are left alone for lengthy intervals of time or have restricted entry to out of doors house are extra liable to boredom.

Nervousness: Canines might chew on issues as a method of dealing with stress or concern, particularly when left alone or in unfamiliar conditions. This is named separation nervousness or situational nervousness. Canines that undergo from nervousness may present indicators of nervousness comparable to panting, trembling, or hiding.

Teething: Puppies might chew on issues to alleviate the ache and discomfort of rising enamel. This normally occurs between 3 and 6 months of age, when puppies lose their child enamel and develop their grownup enamel. Throughout this era, puppies might drool, have swollen gums, or lose child enamel.

Curiosity: Canines might chew on issues to discover their surroundings and fulfill their pure instincts. They might sniff, lick, or paw on the skirting boards earlier than chewing them. That is extra widespread in younger canines or canines which are new to a house.

Lack of acceptable chew toys: Canines might chew on skirting boards in the event that they don’t have sufficient appropriate options to fulfill their chewing wants. Canines want chew toys and bones which are sturdy, protected, and interesting to them. In the event that they don’t have any toys or bones round them or in the event that they ignore them, they might flip to the skirting boards as an alternative.

Learn how to Cease Your Canine from Chewing Skirting Boards?

In case your canine is chewing on skirting boards, chances are you’ll be questioning how one can cease this behaviour and stop additional injury to your house and your canine’s well being. Listed below are some efficient tricks to cease your canine from chewing on skirting boards:

Take your canine for extra walks: Among the best methods to cease your canine from chewing on skirting boards is to offer them with sufficient bodily train. Strolling your canine often will assist them burn off extra power, scale back boredom, and relieve stress. It would additionally give them an opportunity to discover new sights, smells, and sounds, and fulfill their pure curiosity. Purpose to stroll your canine at the least twice a day, for at the least half-hour every time.

Play along with your canine extra usually: One other option to cease your canine from chewing on skirting boards is to offer them with extra psychological stimulation and social interplay. Enjoying along with your canine will assist them have enjoyable, bond with you, and be taught new abilities. It would additionally maintain them occupied and distracted from chewing on skirting boards. You’ll be able to play fetch, tug-of-war, hide-and-seek, or different video games along with your canine, utilizing their favorite toys or treats. You may as well educate them new methods or instructions, or enroll them in a coaching class or a canine sport.

Maintain your canine occupied with chew toys and bones: A 3rd option to cease your canine from chewing on skirting boards is to present them entry to acceptable chew toys and bones that fulfill their chewing wants and preferences. Chew toys and bones can assist your canine relieve their teething ache, clear their enamel, and fulfill their pure urge to chew. They will additionally maintain them busy and entertained for hours. Be sure you select chew toys and bones which are protected, sturdy, and appropriate on your canine’s dimension, age, and chewing fashion. You may as well rotate the chew toys and bones each few days to maintain them fascinating on your canine.

Spray the skirting boards with a bitter-tasting substance: A fourth option to cease your canine from chewing on skirting boards is to make them style disagreeable on your canine. You’ll be able to spray the skirting boards with a bitter-tasting substance that’s protected for canines, comparable to apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, or a business anti-chew spray. This can make your canine dislike the style of the skirting boards and discourage them from chewing on them. Nevertheless, it’s best to take a look at the substance on a small space of the skirting board first, to ensure it doesn’t injury or stain it. You must also reapply the substance often, as it could put on off over time.

Maintain your canine away from the skirting board through the use of a pet pen or crate: A fifth option to cease your canine from chewing on skirting boards is to restrict their entry to the skirting board through the use of a pet pen or crate.A pet pen or crate is a protected and comfy house the place you possibly can maintain your canine if you end up not capable of supervise them or if you end up away from house. It will probably stop your canine from roaming round the home and chewing on issues they shouldn’t, comparable to skirting boards. Nevertheless, it’s best to make it possible for the pet pen or crate is giant sufficient on your canine to maneuver round, lie down, and get up comfortably. You must also present your canine with water, meals, bedding, and chew toys and bones contained in the pen or crate. You must also prepare your canine to affiliate the pen or crate with optimistic experiences, comparable to treats, reward, and toys, and never use it as a punishment or a option to isolate your canine.

Put one thing in entrance of the skirting board to dam entry to it: A sixth option to cease your canine from chewing on skirting boards is to place one thing in entrance of the skirting board to dam entry to it. You should use furnishings, packing containers, crops, or different objects which are sturdy and steady sufficient to forestall your canine from reaching the skirting board. This generally is a non permanent or a everlasting answer, relying in your desire and state of affairs. Nevertheless, it’s best to make it possible for the objects you employ are usually not dangerous or harmful on your canine, comparable to sharp, poisonous, or breakable objects

Learn how to Prepare Your Canine to Chew on Toys As an alternative of Skirting Boards?

Whereas stopping your canine from chewing on skirting boards is vital, it isn’t sufficient to resolve the issue fully. You additionally want to coach your canine to chew on acceptable objects as an alternative of skirting boards. This can assist your canine be taught what they’ll and can’t chew on, and develop good chewing habits. Listed below are some steps on learn how to prepare your canine to chew on toys as an alternative of skirting boards:

Step 1: Train your canine primary instructions comparable to come, sit, and keep: Earlier than you begin coaching your canine to chew on toys as an alternative of skirting boards, you’ll want to educate them some primary instructions that can aid you management and talk with them. These instructions embody come, sit, and keep. These instructions will aid you name your canine away from the skirting board, make them sit in entrance of you, and maintain them in place whilst you give them a toy or a deal with. To show these instructions, you’ll want to use optimistic reinforcement and repetition. Optimistic reinforcement means rewarding your canine with treats, reward, or toys at any time when they obey your command. Repetition means working towards the command a number of instances a day till your canine learns it nicely.

Step 2: Catch your canine within the act of chewing on the skirting board: The subsequent step is to catch your canine within the act of chewing on the skirting board. This can aid you appropriate their behaviour and redirect their consideration to one thing else. To catch your canine within the act of chewing on the skirting board, you’ll want to supervise them carefully when they’re close to the skirting board, or use a digicam or a child monitor to look at them if you end up not round. As quickly as you see your canine chewing on the skirting board, you’ll want to act shortly and firmly.

Step 3: Interrupt your canine’s chewing with a loud noise or a verbal cue: The third step is to interrupt your canine’s chewing with a loud noise or a verbal cue. This can aid you get their consideration and cease their chewing. You should use a clap, a whistle, a can stuffed with cash, or a twig bottle stuffed with water to make a loud noise or a verbal cue, comparable to “no”, “cease”, or “go away it”. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t yell, scold, or hit your canine, as this may occasionally scare them, damage them, or make them extra aggressive. You must also keep away from utilizing their identify, as this may occasionally confuse them or make them suppose that you’re calling them for one thing else.

Step 4: Name your canine to you and make them sit and keep: The fourth step is to name your canine to you and make them sit and keep. This can aid you calm them down and put together them for the subsequent step. You should use the instructions that you just taught them in step one, comparable to come, sit, and keep. It’s best to reward your canine with a deal with, reward, or a toy after they obey your instructions. You must also maintain your canine on this place for a couple of seconds to make it possible for they’re targeted on you and never on the skirting board.

Step 5: Give your canine a chew toy or a bone and reward them: The fifth and closing step is to present your canine a chew toy or a bone and reward them. This can aid you redirect their chewing to one thing acceptable and reinforce their good behaviour. It’s best to select a chew toy or a bone that your canine likes and enjoys, and that’s protected and appropriate for them. You must also reward your canine enthusiastically after they take the chew toy or the bone from you and begin chewing on it. It’s best to repeat this step each time you catch your canine chewing on the skirting board, till they be taught to affiliate chewing on toys or bones with optimistic outcomes, and chewing on skirting boards with adverse outcomes.

Conclusion

Chewing on skirting boards is a typical drawback that many canine house owners face. It may be attributable to varied causes, comparable to boredom, nervousness, teething, curiosity, or an absence of acceptable chew toys. It will probably additionally trigger injury to your house and your canine’s well being. 

To forestall or cease your canine from chewing on skirting boards, you’ll want to present them with sufficient train, playtime, consideration, chew toys and bones, bitter-tasting substances, pet pens or crates, or objects that block entry to the skirting board. You additionally want to coach your canine to chew on toys as an alternative of skirting boards through the use of primary instructions,