How to Stop Dog Chewing in Older Dogs
Fortunately, most dogs outgrow this stage and stop on their own, especially Chihuahuas, who are not known for destructive chewing as much as other breeds are.
It may simply be that he chews out of boredom, or has never been properly taught, as to what is acceptable behavior and what isn't. If you are trying to stop a dog that is chewing on your furniture or other unwanted belongings, then there are a few things you can do to stop this habit.
Since older dogs are usually housebroken, we tend to give them free reign of our homes, where in the case of an non-housebroken puppy, we don't. You will need to change your mindset on this and until he learns to stop chewing your stuff, he will need to be confined when he can not be properly supervised. He should preferably be in a crate, but at the very least, he will need to be gated in a smaller room, where there are not a lot of things for him to get his teeth into! I have found with Chihuahuas, that trying to keep them behind a gate is almost impossible, as they tend to just climb right over the gate! I've raised Golden Retrievers, who wouldn't dare think of stepping over a baby gate, but Chihuahuas just hurdle it, as if that is the reason it was put there! Because of this behavior, a crate truly is your best option. You can put a nice cuddly blanket and toys in there with him, so he'll feel more at ease. When you are able to watch your dog and he is roaming the house, keep a close eye on him. When you see him starting to chew an item that is off-limits, to make him stop, tell him no, firmly, then replace that item with an appropriate dog chew toy, and praise him when you give it to him. Older dogs love dog food treats or snacks! When your Chihuahua is playing with and chewing on one of his allowed toys, randomly and unexpectedly, tell him “good boy” and give him a snack. I do not encourage this when it comes to puppy chewing, as it can cause them to become finicky eaters, but for older dogs, it can be just the incentive needed to help him stop this behavior quicker. If he appears to chew out of boredom, give him plenty of interactive dog toys that may help to occupy his time and mind. If he has a certain forbidden object, that he keeps going back to, such as a table leg, or couch cushion, spray it with Grannick's Bitter Apple spray. This spray leaves a bad taste in his mouth and he will no longer want to chew on that particular item. You can also make a penny shake can. Rinse out a soda can and drop 10 pennies into it and tape it closed. When you see your dog chewing on a forbidden object, shake or throw the can at him. It is too lightweight to actually hurt him. The purpose is to startle him and get him to stop what he is doing. Only use this when he keeps returning to “the scene of the crime”, rather than for every little thing he may put into his mouth. This can help to stop your dog from chewing, when he keeps returning to the same type of objects, over and over again.
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