Four simple steps to controlling your Scottie’s chewing habit

Do you despair about your new Scottish Terrier’s habit of chewing on anything he can get his paws on? Do you feel like crying as you watch your shoes, your rugs, your couch ripped apart by his destructive act?

I have good news for you: you can easily control his chewing habit with proper training of the Scottish Terrier.

But first you need to understand that chewing, like barking, is a natural instinct for Scottish Terriers, as it satisfies their need to sharpen their teeth. Puppies going through the teething process tend to chew on everything because it relieves pain in the gums. This behavior should only last for a few months, during the teething period.

If the chewing habit persists for more than a year, your dog has a problem. And you, too.

This is where a good training program comes in. Scotty can’t judge for himself what’s good for you or not, it’s up to you to teach him what he can chew on and what he can’t. He will not realize that not everything can be chewed unless he is trained and corrected in the chewing habit.

Training can be somewhat expensive but all in all it is a lot cheaper to invest in training and a few chew toys for your dog than to replace the expensive furniture in your home.

In the meantime, follow these four easy steps that will help you control your Scottish Terrier’s chewing habit:

1. Keep valuables that you don’t want to chew on out of reach.

2. Keep my scottie in an enclosed space such as his cage, for example, while you are sleeping or not. Provide him with chew toys to entertain himself.

3. Give him attention and physical activity to overcome boredom and loneliness. Walk and play with him as often as you can.

4. Reject him with a firm “no” when you catch him chewing and replace everything he chews with a chew toy.

By following these instructions, it won’t take long for you to completely break your bad chewing habit.