Why labradors chew so much

Chewing for pleasure is one cause of chewing you cannot and should not try to remove or prevent in your dog. Best of luck! We hope our guide to how to stop a dog from chewing has helped you! Do labs ever stop chewing? Many people assume that chewing is to do with teething. Accordingly, they naturally expect puppies to stop chewing everything in sight once they lose their baby teeth and their adult teeth emerge. In fact, it is normal for a Labrador to continue chewing destructively up until around his second birthday.

This is not to suggest that a calorie-restricted diet is bad for him. Just be aware of any chewing behavior changes when your pup is on a diet. He might start to think that your throw pillow looks like a giant hot dog - it could be the hunger talking. The first six months with your puppy can be extremely eye-opening as you realize just how much stuff you have laying around your apartment that looks like a fantastic teething toy.

Try giving your pup ice cubes, frozen wet washcloths or frozen chew treats to help numb their gums while they go through this painful period. Your house will thank you! Chewing behavior is fun for dogs and can enhance brain stimulation, it promotes strong jaws and healthy teeth, the trick is just making sure that your dog is chewing on appropriate items.

Here are some tips for encouraging healthy chewing behavior:. Our recommendation is to offer edible chew treats or bones like bully sticks. Not only are they long lasting, but they are an excellent source of protein without all the extra additives and chemicals that are found in a lot of other bones.

When paired with a bully stick holder or bully stick safety device, you can prevent your pup from choking on the last two inches or so of the stick after they chew it down.

If your dog starts to chew on an object that is not supposed to be chewed on, take it away but offer something else in return. When your dog becomes a fully grown adult, the desire to chew will diminish, but will not go completely. You can give an adult dog chews throughout their life to exercise jaws and, chews like dental sticks, will help to keep their teeth clean, though the best way to keep them clean is by brushing them regularly.

Another large, well-loved dog known for its gentle character. The Shar-pei is a very loyal and protective breed of dog who will show great respect to its owner, provided it is well trained. Labrador puppies have a tendency to mature a little later than other breeds. Chewing accomplishes a number of things for a dog.

Chewing also combats boredom and can relieve mild anxiety or frustration. Puzzle toys and chew items encourage chewing and licking, which have been shown to have a calming effect on dogs. In the same way, what you're dealing with now is also normal for many dogs. Retrievers, especially, are known for their love of chewing throughout their adolescence, along with the lifelong fondness many of them have for carrying items in their mouths.

Carrying things back — retrieving — is, after all, the job they were developed to do. To get a handle on the chewing, your family needs to limit your dog's ability to get to those items you don't want chewed.

While doing that, offer your dog lots of chew toys to satisfy this healthy, natural behavior, and work on rewarding your dog for making the right choices when he chooses what to chew. You also need to make sure your dog is getting enough exercise — at least a half hour of heart-pumping activity every day to take the edge off his youthful exuberance.

Your veterinarian can advise you on choosing healthy, safe chew toys, and there have never been more choices. One perennial favorite is the Kong , which can be stuffed with goodies such as peanut butter and broken dog biscuits to make it even more appealing.