Trainer Jackie Drakeford explains why we need to give our dogs the opportunity to chew
Chew toys are a popular part of our inventory of toys we can provide for our canine companions – and for good reason. Chomping down on something safe (and fun!) fulfils a natural instinct, reducing stress and bringing pleasure. Here, we break down why chewing should be part of our dogs’ play routine and give an insight into what to look for in a chew toy.
Why do dogs chew?
Chewing satisfies several important needs. Puppies chew to explore the newness of everything they come across, and they find out by chewing which things are acceptable, as well as fulfilling. It isn’t a good idea, for instance, to chew their mother or siblings hard, and we aren’t too keen on it, either. But their milk teeth arrive within two weeks of birth, their gums get hot and sore, and they need to chew something to relieve the discomfort. Human babies go through this, too, though of course they start a little later and carry on for quite some time in comparison.
Puppy teething seems much less trying than our own, doesn’t appear to make them feverish or affect their appetite, and their milk teeth come through a lot faster than human ones do. Pups enter a second teething phase when their adult teeth start to arrive, and this goes on for longer and triggers intensive chewing from much stronger jaws, so we can be pretty sure that chewing has got to happen, and we are going to have to manage it.
Chewing for adult dogs
Adult dogs need to chew as well, some more and for longer than others depending on breed type (Labradors, I’m looking at you) and their individual life situation. Like us, some dogs are less resilient in character than others, and a few can be real stress heads. They aren’t doing this because they are being naughty or stupid. Chewing releases powerful endorphins and so relieves their feelings, so arguably it is necessary for them
at times.
Chewing is a pleasure, and makes them feel better if they are unhappy or bewildered, for our world can sometimes be rather challenging for dogs. Unfortunately, random or uncontrolled chewing from our dogs can be very stressful for us! Humans do stress-relief chewing as well, hence smoking, vaping, chewing gum, stress eating, and those two biscuits you just picked up to go with your coffee. So, we need to understand that chewing is just as necessary for our dogs. Not all chewing is a stress response, though, and sometimes dogs chew just because it feels nice!
The right type of chewing
We can protect household items when we get a puppy by taking such precautions as encasing furniture legs and electric cables in tubing from the DIY store, putting possessions high up out of reach, and temporarily removing tempting rugs and mats. The stair gate is also very useful for protecting vulnerable areas from champing teeth when we can’t directly supervise. But that’s only half the job, because your dog still needs to chew. Even if – or especially if – you crate your dog, he still needs soothing occupation, and having safe chew items in his crate will relax him, whereas being shut in with nothing to do will add to his stress. Does he rip his blanket up? Now you know why.
Safe chew items make a dog much happier to obey when you want him in his crate, on his bed, or in another room. The devil finds work for idle jaws – never underestimate what a dog will find to chew if he isn’t given something suitable. Wooden furniture, the doormat, skirting boards, anything he can get his jaws around, and I’ve even known dogs chew the doorstep when shut outside as punishment. Stressed dogs need to chew, and the kindest way to
destress them is to provide them with something that we don’t mind them chewing.
Chew toys
The prime chew item for most dogs is a raw meaty bone of the right size which can be devoured in one session. But there are many occasions when this just isn’t the best idea. For instance, on a long car journey it is easy for a lump of bone to vanish under his bed or blanket into the depths of the vehicle, only to be detected when it begins to smell! It can on occasion take a while to find the offending item if it has rolled away under something. So, we need alternatives which are appealing to dogs and still serve their need to chew – enter chew toys.
It is important to understand that one size does not fit all, and chew items should be slightly too big for the individual dog’s mouth size, rather than slightly too small, as we don’t want a trip to the vet if a toy gets stuck in a dog’s throat or even swallowed completely.
Canine chewing action is up-and-down in jaw movement, as opposed to the rolling jaws of herbivores, or indeed us humans, so anything we give them to chew has to accommodate this. Breeds with wide mouths need a different shape of toy to those with long narrow jaws, and flat-faced dogs have different requirements than either of those two types. Young dogs grow quickly, and a chew item that was the right size when you bought it may become too small after only a few weeks, so we need to keep an eye on this. But regardless of physique, they are
all dogs and they all need to chew at times.
Convalescing dogs really benefit from a variety of chew items to help them pass the time, especially if their movement has to be restricted while they heal. When they get to the point of being allowed a little more exercise, it is all too easy for them to seize the moment and unintentionally risk their healing being set back by overdoing things, and this is where a variety of chewables can be so useful in helping them pass the time agreeably. We don’t want them to put on weight because they can’t run about yet, and we don’t want them to fret too much at their confinement if they can be distracted by having a safe non-edible chew.
Will chew toys make him want to chew more? Any dog only has so much chew in it, and if we can satisfy that need safely and enjoyably for them, we are being extra-good owners.
Chew toy checklist
Ask yourself these questions before buying your chew toy:
- Is it manufactured to robust safety standards?
- Is it the right size for the dog you have now?
- Does it have a chewable texture?
- Is it durable enough?
- Are there rough edges?
- Is the chew toy washable?
- Is it tooth-friendly?
Bionic
Bionic’s toys are incredibly tough, designed to withstand the strongest chewers. The brand’s range includes products like the Bionic Bone and Bionic Ball, which are not only durable but also eco-friendly, which are formulated without stuff you don’t want your dog chewing on, like BPA, lead, and phthalates. The durability is tested by an International Standard ISO/IEC and Nadcap accredited USA laboratory.
Visit bionicdogtoys.com