Labradoodles make amazing pets and best friends. They have many endearing qualities, such as their loyalty, friendliness, and amazing smarts.
Proper training helps to ensure your best friend learns proper etiquette, though. While many people initially think of basic commands when it comes to training, most pups require more than just training in basic commands.
One common training aspect with Labradoodles is training them to stop chewing. Chewing often takes the form of gnawing on pieces of furniture or items like pillows and shoes.
Your best friends aren’t doing this to be destructive. Why are they chewing then?
Why Do Labradoodles Chew
There are several possible reasons that your Labradoodle might start chewing on things in your home. One of the most common reasons is that they are bored.
A bored puppy needs to find a way to let out its energy, and one of the most natural ways for them to do this is to start chewing on things.
Another common reason that Labradoodles start to chew is that they are feeling anxious. It is common for Labradoodles to display forms of anxiety, especially separation anxiety.
Labradoodles are a breed that loves to be with their pack, and when you are not around, they are wondering where their pack is.
The last common reason for Labradoodle chewing is teething. Teething dogs are similar to teething humans in the fact that chewing helps to ease the pain.
We all feel for our dogs, but allowing our puppies to chew while teething is not good.
How To Train Your Labradoodle To Stop Chewing
So now that we know why Labradoodles chew, we can better train them to stop chewing. We will look at some of the steps to train your dog to stop chewing or redirect their chewing to better objects.
Appropriate Labradoodle Chew Toys
Most dogs love to chew at least a little. Getting them appropriate chew toys can be a good start to training them to stop chewing.
Plenty of dog toy companies offer chew toy options, so there is something that almost any dog will like.
Make sure that they have access to their chew toy whenever they would normally exhibit chewing behavior, such as when you are away from the house or they feel they are being ignored.
Redirect your dog’s chewing behavior to a toy whenever you see them chewing. This will help to show them what is okay to chew on.
For a teething dog, there are several special chew toys or treats designed for teething.
5 Chew Toys For Teething Dogs
1. Arm & Hammer For Pets Ora-Play Dental Chew Toy
This durable, super-tough, chicken-flavored chew toy is the perfect teething toy for your dog. This chew toy cleans and massages your dogs’ gum and removes tartar and plaque while they chew.
Ora-Play Dental Chew Toy is great if you’re trying to keep your dog busy. If you are looking for a teething toy for your dog, this tasty chew toy can help, and your dog will thank you. View price on Amazon.
2. MewaJump Dog Chew Toys
This teething toy prevents itching and relieves discomfort for your dog, which causes less biting and prevents dental problems that can get from biting things.
The MewaJump Dog Chew Toy shapes like a cactus, make dogs more excited, is flexible and bite-resistant.
It is also a dental cleaning toy that reduces dental plaque and gum bleeding caused by eating problems, thanks to the milk flavor that makes your dogs fall in love with cleaning their teeth. View price on Amazon.
3. Nylabone X-Shaped Dog Bone Chew Toy
This chew toy was designed for teething dogs to encourage positive chewing habits with your puppy from the start. Its beef flavor and softer, puppy-friendly material help satisfy your dog’s natural urge to chew.
It has an easy-to-hold shape, and four textured chewing ends to help clean your dogs’ teeth, massage their gums, and keep them busy. Perfect for playful dogs who also need teething relief. View price on Amazon.
4. Tikaton Indestructible Dog Chew Toy
Tikaton dog toy provides a great alternative to real sticks but is safer. It has a beef scent to pique your dog’s interest and deliver the best to their teething and urge to chew.
This dog chew toy has a bone shape that makes it easy for your dog to recognize, which also helps create a positive association with the chew toy to help reduce your dog’s anxiety and boredom. View price on Amazon.
5. Petstages Orka Chew Dog Toy
The Petstages Orka Dental chew toy was made for tough and teething chewers in mind. It relieves teething-related pain, as well as reducing destructive behavior and boredom. It helps clean teeth and gums while keeping your dog satisfied.
As with any chew toy, you should always monitor your dog’s use and replace them after wear and tear. Remove chew toys as soon as your dog bites pieces off to prevent them from consuming any of those pieces. View price on Amazon.
Getting one of these will help relieve teething-related pain, give your pup something appropriate to chew on and entertain them, all at the same time.
It is important to ensure that you get a teething toy that is the appropriate size for your Labradoodle. Sizing helps to ensure a match to your dog’s mouth and teeth size.
5 Chew Toys For Labradoodles
1. Jalousie 5 Pack Dog Squeaky Toys
This includes five of the most popular dog squeaky toys. It has 3 squeakers each, 2 animal plush toys: a monkey and a duck goose plush toy. All made to be durable and tough to allow longer playtimes for your dogs.
Enough toys to provide your dog hours of fun, keeping your dog happy and busy. View price on Amazon.
2. KONG – Classic Dog Toy
The KONG Classic dog chew toy is very popular among dog owners around the world, and rightfully so. This is great for your dogs that like to chew, and the reviews don’t lie. It is ultra-durable and ideal for your dogs that like to chew while being entertained.
If you get this chew toy, you can even stuff food in it or put some peanut butter on it to make playing with it more fun for your dog. View price on Amazon.
3. Benebone Real Bacon Durable Wishbone Dog Chew Toy
Peanut butter, bacon, or chicken? Anyone? Raise your paws, please. That right, the Benebone Real Bacon Durable Wishbone was made to put a smile on your dog’s face.
If your dog likes stuff that tastes like real bacon, peanut butter, or chicken, this is for you. Built to withstand your dog’s heavy chewing and tastes awesome. View price on Amazon.
4. Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound
Do you like fun activities for your dogs? Good because the Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound was made to stimulate your dogs’ brains to entertain them while they chew. I like this toy a lot. It is very cool and really challenges your dog.
It has a Hide N’ Slide puzzle game with 14 hiding spots for treats – A fun way to engage your dogs’ minds and activate their problem-solving skills. Chewing, treats, fun, and smarts all in one package. View price on Amazon.
5. KONG – Goodie Bone
The KONG Goodie Bone chew toy is built to hold the attention of dogs that are heavy chewers. This chew toy can be quite entertaining for your dog because you can stuff treats inside it and challenge your dog to get them out to eat.
You could also add peanut butter to it if you like as an added bonus to all the fun. Pretty cool! View price on Amazon.
Supervised play is recommended, and always replace broken chew toys.
Play With Your Dog a Lot
Dogs, especially puppies, have a lot of energy. The more you spend time with them, the more they will want to sleep and relax.
If you take your dog out and play a lot with them every day, not only are you burning calories, but you are helping to keep them from chewing on your furniture or items.
Regular playtime will also train your Labradoodle to know that they aren’t being ignored and fun time is coming.
Labradoodles are very smart dogs and, as such, can remember routines. When they know playtime is coming, they will have a reduced urge to nibble on things.
Use A Verbal Command
Because Labradoodles are very smart dogs, they will also learn commands well. One of the commands you should train your Labradoodle for is to stop an action.
No chewing or stop chewing will usually work. While some people like to use no, no is generic, and we use it for anything that we want the dog to stop, this can lead to your dog being confused.
Whenever you notice your dog chewing, you need to use your verbal command to tell them to stop chewing. You want to use a firm voice but leave any anger out of it.
As annoying and frustrating as it can be to see your doggo chew up your furniture, your Labradoodle will pick up on the anger/frustration and may become scared.
Try Taste Deterrent
Another option is to use an anti-chew deterrent or a taste deterrent. These sprays are applied to furniture or items you don’t want your dog to put in their mouth.
Deterrent sprays have a bad taste that is not harmful to your pet. Sometimes sprays like this can prevent humans from biting their nails or biting on objects like pencils.
Ensure to test any taste deterrent on a small section of material when using it on fabric. For the most part, these sprays do not stain anything. Various fabrics and materials do not work well together.
Because Labradoodles are smart dogs, it shouldn’t take long for them to clue in on the fact that the furniture does not taste good. Once they learn this, they will stop chewing.
After a little while, you can try not using the deterrent anymore but keep an eye on your dog. You may have to start using it again if they start to chew again.
Spray Bottle Method
Using water in a spray bottle can be quite effective at stopping your dog from chewing. For this to work, you need to have a spray bottle that has a direct spray but a spray that is not too harsh.
Whenever you find your dog chewing on something, you spray the water bottle at them.
The spray bottle method works best when you use it with a verbal command. At the same time that you spray them use your no chewing command. Like we mentioned above, be firm but not aggressive or overly loud.
Some people are against the spray bottle method for training dogs; they consider it inhuman. The key to using these training methods humanly is that you are positive with the dog and do not hurt them.
Your goal is to train in a positive behavior, not create a fear of doing something.
Things To Avoid
As we mentioned, you will want to avoid any anger or frustration from arising during your training with your Labradoodle.
This also includes the techniques that you use. Do not use any aggressive training techniques as it can often lead to further anxiety or even fear.
Firm but calm and friendly correction techniques tend to work best.
We also recommend that you avoid crating your Labradoodle after they are house trained.
Your puppy is looking for a way to let out his separation anxiety when you are away, and putting them in a crate will lead to built-up tension.
If you need to separate them from the rest of the house, put your Labradoodle in a room where they can pace. Give them access to water, food, and toys, so they have all of the things they need to calm down.
Stopping your dog from chewing furniture, items, and other unwanted things is important. Good obedience is an important part of raising a Labradoodle.
Keep in mind that your training to stop chewing must be consistent. If your Labradoodle detects that there is a time when they can chew on stuff in your home or elsewhere, they will take advantage of that time.
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