If your pup is chewing through your beloved furniture or personal belongings, this behavior may actually be a symptom of a much deeper issue. As a pet owner, it’s up to you to figure out what’s troubling your pet as well as learn how to discipline them properly.

That said, solving this may be easier said than done. It’s no wonder why there are brands selling sturdy wholesale dog beds to help pet owners get around their pup’s chewing problem. If you’re at your wits’ end because your fur baby is treating everything in your home as their personal chew toy, don’t worry. Read on to learn more about what causes dogs to chew excessively, as well as what you can do to discourage this habit.

What Is Causing Your Pup to Chew So Much?

Before anything else, it’s important to know that chewing is a completely natural process for dogs. In the wild, dogs chew on everything from bark to bones to help them sharpen their teeth, exercise their jaws, and engage their minds. It’s when they start gnawing too much and too often that it becomes an issue. To properly solve your dog’s chewing problem, you need to identify what’s causing it. Here are some potential causes to look out for:

Separation Anxiety

In general, dogs tend to chew on anything they can get their paws on when they experience unfamiliar stimuli that makes them feel stressed or anxious. This is because the act of chewing helps them relieve their feelings of discomfort. Dogs who aren’t used to being left alone may also act out in other ways such as whining, barking, and urination. These behaviors, when accompanied by destructive chewing, are indicators that your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety.

Weaning Them Too Early

Destructive chewing can also occur if your pup is weaned too early—before they are seven to eight weeks old, to be specific. They may develop compulsive behaviors such as fabric sucking and circling and may become hostile towards other dogs or people. Compulsive dogs, when left untreated, can be harder to manage over time.

Malnutrition

Malnutrition can also cause your pup to start chewing more often than usual. It’s a basic survival mechanism for dogs, as chewing helps them satiate their hunger until they can find their next meal. 

Should you suspect that any of the above may be the issue, consult a professional ASAP. A professional has the knowledge and experience necessary to diagnose and solve the potential problem. For instance, a vet can help you design a meal plan to help Fido get the nutrition he needs, while a dog behavior expert can train your pup to stop their compulsive habits.

In the meantime, though, there are still some things that you can do to help your pup overcome their chewing habit.

How Can You Stop Your Dogs from Chewing Everything in Sight?

Generally speaking, you’ll want to keep your dog engaged with an assortment of chew toys, as this will allow them to get rid of excess energy while also sparing your belongings in the process. Here are some tips you should keep in mind:

Choose the Right Chew Toy

When buying a chew toy for your pup, make sure it can withstand countless hours of chewing and mauling, all while still being engaging enough for your pet. With that in mind, choose a toy made of nylon or hard rubber, as these materials can withstand the punishment your dog may put it through.

Pick Chew Toys That Are Specifically Made for Dogs

Whenever you can, go for toys that are specifically designed for dogs. Avoid plush toys made for children, as they weren’t built to stand up to a pup’s aggressive handling. If you give one to your fur baby, they may easily rip it apart, and the torn materials may end up becoming choking hazards for your pet.

Set Up a Designated Play Area for Your Pup

In addition to getting them a good toy, make sure to set up an area where your dog can relax and calmly play with their toys. This will allow them to chew their heart out without being in a stressful environment. Don’t just give them a single toy and leave them to it, though. Instead, provide them with a variety of different toys so that they won’t get easily bored. Should you notice that a particular toy is beginning to fall apart, replace it ASAP.

Dog-proof Your Home

Sometimes, pups just can’t help but occasionally gnaw on your furniture, despite your best efforts to discourage them from doing so. If you’re still in the process of training your dog to stop chewing everything in sight, try hiding the items they tend to target, such as your shoes or any cords or cables that are lying around. You can also try installing a safety gate or railing to keep them from reaching things they shouldn’t.

Use Chewing Deterrents

If your pet still continues to chew your belongings despite all of the above tips, you can try using chewing deterrents. These are essentially bitter-tasting pet-safe sprays that you spray onto the items your dog is prone to chewing on.

While they may be man’s best friend, dealing with a dog’s excessive chewing habits can be stressful. But with these tips, you should be able to figure out what’s causing them to act this way and how to help them curb this destructive behavior.

Want to read more of our latest posts? Check out our post about the Elite Alabai dog.

Searching for useful tips for taking care of your senior dog? You’ve reached the right place. One of the best things you ever did was get a dog, right? At the very beginning of your time with them, life can seem like a breeze as you head out on hikes and play fetch for hours each day. It’s no secret that puppies are hard work, and if you’re reading this article then you will know that since you’ve already gone through it. Senior dogs require just as much care and attention as a puppy, if not more. They have spent their days being there for you, now it’s time for you to be there for them and give them undivided attention. 

This article has completed some research to find out some of the best tips you can consider when taking care of a senior dog. It’s easier than you might think, but it’s great that you’ve come to terms with the fact you need to change how you approach life with your dog. Stick around to find out more!

5 Tips for Taking Care of Your Senior Dog:

1. Find a routine 

One of the first things you can do to take care of your senior dog is by helping them find some routine in their daily lives. As you will already be aware, you are your dog’s whole world – everything about their world revolves around you. This is why you need to ensure that you are making enough time to consider how your dog flows through each day. 

Depending on the health of your senior dog, you might find it more common nowadays for them to sleep in longer, spend less time outside, and generally, less time doing the things they used to love doing. However, keeping your dog in a daily routine is a good way to keep them feeling young and happy. All too often, dog owners simply let their dog’s routine follow their own. However, as a senior dog, this shouldn’t be the case as they need some more scheduled time doing what they love. 

A routine can also ensure you maintain your dog’s health as they will know what to expect at the same time each day. A cohesive routine is key for a healthy and happy senior dog, so certainly consider this tip going forward. 

2. Be mindful of their weight 

Secondly, as dogs age, they become a lot less mobile and prefer to lounge on the sofa or your lap. Whilst this is a necessity for their joints and bones, you must stay mindful of your dog’s weight and overall health. One way you can do this is to ensure your dog gets enough exercise each day. The ideal weight of your dog will wholly depend on the type of dog you have, so it is worthwhile checking in with your dog’s vet or thoroughly researching online. 

When it comes to exercising with a senior dog, many experts recommend that you should follow a professional training plan to keep your dog within its limits. You should make sure you are not pushing your dog to walk, run or play for longer than they are capable of. Moreover, your dog’s energy levels will decrease as they age, so this is something to expect. 

On that note, as your dog gets older, this does not mean they cannot live their golden years happy and healthy. It’s just up to you to help them along with it!

3. Keep them nourished 

On the topic of staying mindful of your dog’s weight, you can aid with this by giving them a healthy and nutritious diet. Senior dog food can be different from puppy food in some cases as they will require different and more nutrients. Your dog’s ability to fight infection and the issues that come with age will wholly depend on how nourished and strong it is to fight. 

Senior dog food is the perfect thing to help ensure this is the case for them as it boosts their immune system, helps with bowel movements, helps with their digestion and gives them a glossier coat. On top of this, senior dog food is proven to give dogs higher energy levels which will, in turn, allow them to exercise more and feel healthier. 

The best type of dog food to serve your senior dog is that of raw dog food as it is full of the vital nutrients and proteins required to keep them on their toes. From our research, this point was the more commonly suggested one out of them all as health is largely down to diet when it comes to pet health. 

4. Help them socialize 

What better way to keep your dog happy than to help them socialize with other dogs? Senior dog life can be much easier if they have another furry friend at home, however, this is often not the case for many senior dogs. As they can’t be as playful and energetic as they used to be, aging can become a very lonely and frustrating process for senior dogs, but you can help!

We recommend that you help your dog get out to meet some other people and other dogs every so often. It doesn’t need to be for hours each day or week; it can be as simple as meeting up with a friend and their dog a couple of times per month. This will allow your dog to feel youthful and happy as they now have some time to spend with another furry friend. 

Experts recommend that you allow your dog to socialize with both older and younger dogs as this will make them feel engaged and happy. With that being said, you must consider the extent of your dog’s playfulness abilities. At all costs, you should try to avoid putting them out of their comfort zone. 

5. Keep them comfortable

A final tip to consider when taking care of your senior dog is by keeping them comfortable and showing them some attention. As your dog is getting older, you’ll notice a drop in energy levels and a surge in laziness. However, this laziness isn’t a bad thing, it is just their way of showing us that they’ve had enough for the day. This is when you can make yourself available for them, giving them enough attention and love as you did when they were a pup.

One way you can keep your dog happy and comfortable is by assessing their sleeping situation and ensuring it is comfortable enough for them. Additionally, you can purchase some new senior dog toys now and again for them and give them some delicious treats to let them know they are loved. Just make sure that the treats are suitable for your dog and their senior dog food diet. You should also invest in a suited dog shampoo and some high-end balm for the dog paws.

Final thoughts

Overall, it is hard to take care of a senior dog, but don’t let it throw you off. If you’ve made it this far into the article, then you are doing the right research and know what to expect. If you are taking one thing away from today’s article, just remember that your dog’s diet is key for a healthy and functioning immune system. This, coupled with some love and attention, will allow them to live out their golden years happy, comfortable, and safe.

Want to read more of our latest posts? Check out our post about Dog Anxiety, or our post about the psychological benefits of having cats.

Searching for a short guide on dog clothing? Asking yourself if to buy dog pants for your beloved one? You’ve reached the right place. 

Almost every child who grew up in a household without pets wished for a pet and nagged their parents to get one for them. Often adults are unwilling to bring a pet into their home, ignoring their children’s pleas, and argue that having a pet entails great responsibility (and cleaning!). They tell their children that pets require a lot of care, like daily walks, baths, food, and training. 

However, sooner or later, parents can’t say no to the puppy eyes their children make when begging for a pet, so they agree to buy one. That is when the fun begins. The pet brings instant happiness and relieves stress, so we end up wanting to do more for it. We feed it with good food, cuddle with it and even buy fancy clothes for our pets. 

A dog dressed in the latest trend is not an uncommon sight on the city streets. But, what exactly is fashion for dogs and how did dog clothing start? Since dogs are part of the family, many people want to spoil them. It makes us happy when they wear anything that looks fabulous. This, of course, is one of the reasons why owners buy clothing for their dogs. The second would be that they are warm and don’t catch a cold. 

The selection of dog clothes is enormous, ranging from tracksuits to haute couture clothing. Before we answer the question of do you need to get dog pants, let’s start with a little history.

Where did the idea for Dog Clothing come from? 

Nowadays, there is a wide selection of clothing for dogs, from ordinary scarfs to shiny dresses with rhinestones. It appears that many think the whole concept of dog clothing was invented just recently, with the trendsetter being Paris Hilton’s famous Chihuahua. However, that is not the case. 

Dog clothing bore great importance even in ancient times. Back then, beautiful silk clothes were put on dogs combined with heavy, powerful armor. This iron armor not only served as a protection for the dog but also gave it an intimidating look. 

Going further to 18th century England, trendy pet clothing in the modern sense started to appear. The reason behind the British dressing up their pets in fancy clothing had little to do with the cold weather, as many might believe. The reason was that in civilized society, it was deemed impolite to show off one’s four-legged companions “naked.” Some believe that the Queen herself was the trendsetter for dog fashion at that time.

The first clothes that appeared on the market weren’t as sleek and fancy as those now, but that was only the beginning of it all. 

A Japanese fashion designer named Yakio Kato made a significant contribution to pet fashion in the 1980s. The clothes he designed for his dog turned out to be extremely practical. When he appeared on the streets with his dog in that attractive clothing, people knew immediately that they want to dress their pets like that too. The dog’s nice clothing completely stole the spotlight. Due to people’s massive interest, Yakio Kato continued to design pet clothing, like shirts, dresses, capes, and other fun accessories. 

Does your dog need clothing? Do You really need to get Dog Pants?

Many people believe that clothing for pets is necessary if you live in a city since animals’ paws aren’t used to that type of climate. For instance, during summer, high temperatures cause the asphalt to heat to the point where it starts to melt, which can cause considerable harm if the animal’s paws aren’t protected. Therefore, dog clothes serve as both accessories and protection. As experience has shown, if a dog is taught to wear clothes from the time it is a puppy, it would be delighted to wear its trendy costumes.

There are summer outfits available. Such dog-themed clothing is recommended for hairless dog breeds such as Mexican and Peruvian hairless dogs, as well as Chinese crested dogs. When taking walks during the summertime, their skin is vulnerable to sunburn. To prevent this, dogs should wear lightweight mesh clothing that protects their skin from chafing when wearing a harness or collar.

Many dog breeders dress their dogs in special overalls during walks in the woods to protect them from ticks and other insects. There are also special cooling vests for animals to wear during hotter periods of the day. Warming blankets are also used to shield dogs from hypothermia following excessive physical effort in the winter.

It’s essential to focus on the animal’s comfort when choosing dog clothing. The clothes you buy for them shouldn’t interfere with their movement and make them feel uncomfortable. Also, they shouldn’t be too big on them and hang. Some dogs aren’t comfortable in overalls but don’t oppose vests.  

Make sure to remove all small accessories attached to the clothes to make them look more appealing. Dogs might play with them and end up chewing them. Also, watch out for any additional elements that might chafe the skin and cause harm to your pet.

Train your dog to wear clothes

Pet owners today have access to a vast array of items, ranging from pet food to toys. Fashion evolves at a rapid pace. Daily and evening dresses for dogs and cats are designed to fit the owners’ preferences. However, with so much choice, finding high-quality and useful items for your four-legged friend can be challenging. It’s even more challenging to teach your dog to wear them.

To adjust a dog to clothing, try putting it on your dog at home and letting it sniff it. If the dog refuses to wear it, you should not insist on it. You should give your pet some time to adjust. You can tell if the dog is at ease by looking at its behavior. If it goes around the house in the clothes and doesn’t lay on the floor trying to get the new accessories off, then it means it has accepted and is comfortable when wearing them.

Sometimes experts caution against overusing dog clothes and overdressing your four-legged buddy. After all, the clothes were created to make your life with the dog more enjoyable and healthier, not for display of your stylistic abilities.