Just like humans, dogs too can experience restlessness, fear or anxiety. This is usually caused by thunderstorms, unexpected loud noises or it can be due to an inherent aspect of their personality.
These mood swings can lead to destructive behaviors such as scratching, chewing and soiling. Sometimes it can even cause depression in your pooch. So, here are some ways to reduce stress by chewing games and get your happy, tail-wagging ball of fur back.
Chewing is well known to drastically reduce stress in dogs. However, it is important to find safe and nutritious treats and toys which won’t cause any harm to the animal.
Hard treats can be difficult to digest and are usually broken off into large chunks by his powerful jaw and are generally not recommended.
Try to find items that are soft, bendable and suited to the size of the dog in question.
Meaty bones that are uncooked, marrow bones, rawhide and other chewy treats are digestible and can distract your dog from whatever is making him feel restless. Dogs don’t need much, so these will provide a sense of peace and happiness.
Chewing toys should not have easily removable parts and they should be firm and well-constructed. Make sure they are not easily torn into shreds. Your dog will probably try to eat those shredded shards, so try to find toys that are made of strong rubber.
Chewing games are fun for your pooch and sometimes you can upgrade it into playing fetch using the toy. Remember, no matter how restless or depressed he is, there’s nothing he’ll rather do than play with his master.