Is it even a purebred Husky if it doesn’t try to chew everything? This dog breed is known for its affinity for mouthing and chewing every single thing they may encounter. Due to the intensity and drive of a working dog, it’s not surprising that Huskies will find ways to expel their excess energy. It’s important to know how to get a Husky to stop chewing on everything before it comes destructive.
Overall, chewing is normal in dogs to some extent. But if not addressed, this habit may go out of hand. Also, some Husky puppies may not outgrow their chewing tendencies, so training is always necessary.
Below, we discussed this topic to help you out. Read on and let us know your thoughts!
Why is my Husky chewing everything?
Dogs use their mouths to explore their environment. Huskies, specifically, are pretty fixated on mouthing and chewing for a variety of reasons. The following might be the case with your pet:
1. Your Husky is still a puppy.
If your Husky is still a puppy, excessive chewing is totally normal. It’s because puppies under 7 months old are still in the teething phase. During this period, their milk teeth are falling and the adult biters are erupting.
This process is very uncomfortable for all puppies. And to ease their discomfort, they would chew on almost anything their little mouths can reach. It could be your shoes, couch, furniture legs, carpet, and so on.
Once a Husky puppy reaches 6 months old, all its adult teeth have already erupted. At this point, intense chewing will subside, but there’s still a chance that your doggo will not fully outgrow it.
Overall, the teething phase isn’t permanent. All you have to do is help your Husky pup get through the uncomfortable phase.
2. Your Husky is bored.
Bored Huskies will find a way to entertain themselves. Usually, this involves destructive habits like chewing and digging.
Always remember that Huskies are high-energy dogs. If they aren’t given enough physical and mental stimulation, they will grow bored and impatient. With that, the dog will find ways to drain its own energy. Unfortunately, this could involve destructive chewing.
3. Your Husky has separation anxiety.
Huskies are working dogs, so they are used to being around people all the time. When left alone for long periods, these dogs will become severely anxious. Separation anxiety can also kick in, which can trigger a slew of other behavioral problems.
Moreover, Huskies will become destructive chewers as a way of soothing their fear and anxiety. This is why the Husky breed isn’t advisable for busy owners who are barely staying at home.
Overall, about 20% to 40% of dogs are said to be affected by separation anxiety. This is highly related to breed temperament as well as the level of training the canine received.
4. Your Husky is scared.
As with anxiety, scared Huskies will also use chewing to cope with fear. This is commonly observed in rescue dogs, wherein they tend to chew destructively when stressed or frightened.
Take note that anxiety and fear often overlap, which will make chewing more intense. The good thing is that these two problems can be resolved or reduced through training.
5. Your Husky isn’t properly trained.
Poor training can make your Husky an obsessive chewer. Since this breed is highly predisposed to this behavioral problem, owners have to take their time to actually train their dogs. Otherwise, their Huskies will grow to be couch shredders.
Take note that all dogs, Husky or not, require training to prevent problematic chewing. So before getting any dog, make sure that you’re up for this challenge.
6. Your Husky isn’t fed well.
Hungry Huskies tend to chew things around. Some will even swallow inedible items when they are severely hungry.
However, you should know that repetitive chewing and consumption of inedible items can also be due to a condition called Pica. Experts aren’t sure what causes this health problem, but it’s something that requires immediate veterinary attention.
How to get a Husky to stop chewing on everything
Huskies will chew just about anything if you don’t do anything about their habits. To put a halt to your pet’s chomping spree, here are some solutions you can try:
1. Redirect the behavior
The easiest and instant way to handle a Husky’s excessive chewing is to redirect it to another object. For example, instead of letting your dog chew on your couch, you can give it chew bones or chew toys.
It’s also important to train your dog that chewing can only be done on specific items and not all things around the house. This requires patience, but your consistency will pay off.
You can do this by rewarding your dog whenever it stops chewing an object when it’s called. After that, you can give it a chew toy and reward the pooch if it chomps on it instead.
Take note that this is just the first step and not the only solution to the problem. Once you get your dog to chew on a different item, you should also plan the actual solution.
2. Aid your Husky’s teething
If your Husky is still in the teething phase, the best thing you can do is let it pass. While waiting for all your dog’s adult teeth to erupt, you can soothe its gums with frozen treats and soft chew toys.
It will greatly help to give your Husky pup a series of chew toys. Some of it can be chilled in the freezer to make it more soothing for your pet’s gums.
Aside from that, you should consider limiting your Husky’s access around the house. This way, it won’t chew on furniture and other important items.
Lastly, you should watch out for any stuck milk teeth. These need to be removed at the vet’s clinic to ensure a smooth-sailing teething stage.
3. Crate-train your Husky
Crate training is the most effective way to stop your Husky from chewing everything while you’re away. Contrary to misconceptions, crate training a dog isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s in line with a canine’s instincts of hiding in small spaces to avoid predators. So while you’re curbing aggressive chewing, crate training can also alleviate separation anxiety.
Aside from that, crate training is very helpful when potty training a Husky puppy. Even veterinarians recommend this method as long as it’s done properly and humanely.
Remember that you can only leave an adult Husky inside a crate for a maximum of 8 hours. It should only be used as a complementary solution and not a “jail” for your misbehaving Husky.
Take note that crate training should be done slowly. Never force your dog inside or use it as a punishment. Doing so will just defeat its purpose.
4. Provide interactive toys
Interactive toys are also effective in reducing your Husky’s chewing habits. The toys will keep your pet’s mind off chewing, which is an effective diversion.
Options like sniff mats, puzzles, and treat-stuffed toys are a big hit among Huskies. Aside from keeping your dog busy, these toys will also provide much-needed mental stimulation for your pet.
For this to be effective, you should get multiple toys and cycle them daily. This way, your dog won’t get tired of all the toys easily. Also, never give too many toys at once since it’s not cost-efficient.
Lastly, make sure that the toys you’re buying are safe for your dog. Avoid those with small parts that may come off and choke your Husky. Also, you should ensure that the materials are safe and non-toxic, especially for chew toys.
5. Give enough stimulation
When we talk about stimulation in dogs, we are pertaining to two important aspects: physical and mental.
Physical stimulation involves exercise and playtime. For an energetic breed like Huskies, physical stimulation is crucial to avoid behavioral problems like aggressive chewing. This will also keep them in shape.
On the other hand, mental stimulation enriches your dog’s mind. It can be done while providing physical stimulation like playtime. For example, taking your dog for a walk and allowing it to sniff around both provide physical and mental stimuli.
Aside from playtime and exercise, mental stimulation is best done through training. Performing training drills with your Husky sharpens its recall and memory.
Through this, you can curb your Husky’s aggressive chewing. Take note that this should be done regularly to ensure that your dog won’t vent its energy somewhere else.
6. Give the items a bad taste
Another way to stop your Husky from chewing everything is by giving the items a bad taste.
Bitter apple sprays are a popular solution among pet owners with chewers. This is a non-toxic formula with a bitter taste that will surely put off a Husky.
Simply apply this spray on surfaces your dog likes to chew. For porous materials, always spot-test to see if the spray will have an adverse effect. After that, you can proceed with applying the solution.
Once your Husky tries to bite on the treated surfaces, it will be surprised by the awful taste. Over time, your dog will stop chewing these areas.
If you don’t have bitter apple spray handy, you can make a homemade deterrent solution. You can use pure lemon juice or vinegar. The strong odor and taste of these food items will help repel a Husky’s chewing habits.
7. Train your Husky
Training is the long-term solution to any behavioral problem of your pet. This will also give you control over your Husky’s behavior, including the dreaded chewing.
You should teach your dog the “leave it” command. This way, if your dog tries to chew anything, you can give the command to disrupt the behavior. Make sure that you reward your pet if it responds positively.
By doing this, you’re teaching your Husky that chewing isn’t a rewarded behavior. However, it requires a lot of patience and consistency as Huskies can be pretty stubborn when it comes to their chewing.
If your efforts aren’t yielding results, you shouldn’t hesitate to consult with a professional dog trainer. This expert can guide you on the proper way of handling your pet’s aggressive chewing and other behavioral problems.
8. Husky-proof your home
Huskies are natural chewers, so it’s important that you adjust your home to their temperament. You should hide anything that your pet might try to chew like shoes, slippers, clothes, and more.
Aside from that, you should secure your cables. Always install them on an elevated surface that your Husky can’t reach. You can also use a protective cover that will resist dog chewing. Aside from that, you can run electrical cords behind furniture to keep it away from your dog’s teeth.
Moreover, you shouldn’t let your Husky access the kitchen. This is a very attractive place for dogs due to the food smell. It’s also the most dangerous since appliances, utensils, and various food items are kept in this room.
You should do the same to your bathroom. Make sure that you stash all your bathroom supplies inside a cabinet, so your Husky won’t accidentally ingest it.
9. Consider doggy daycare
If no one can accompany your Husky while you’re at work, you should consider enrolling the pooch in a doggy daycare. Similar to daycare for toddlers, this facility will provide attention and care to your pet while you’re away. This way, your doggo won’t be left alone at home and chew everything it can find.
Doggy daycares sort dogs based on their size and temperament. This is to guarantee that your pet is safe and receiving proper treatment.
These facilities have programs, which include playtime, feeding, potty trips, and more. Just note that they will only accept your Husky if it’s fully vaccinated and has received some level of obedience training.
Overall, doggy daycares are the best way to keep your Husky from chewing things around the house. It will also curb negative behavior, which is a win-win for both you and your dog.
10. Never punish Huskies for chewing!
Lastly, never punish your Husky for chewing things. Take note that dogs never understand violence and punishments will only make the situation worse. Instead of stopping them from chewing, violence will only make it intense due to fear and stress.
Always extend your patience and approach the problem through training. Also, you should use positive reinforcement to redirect your dog’s chewing habits. This way, your pet will associate training with a rewarding experience.
Also, you should be patient and remember that each Husky responds to training differently. You can always ask for professional help if your Husky’s chewing habits aren’t abating despite your efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do Huskies grow out of chewing?
A: Most Huskies will tone down their chewing game once they reach a year old. However, there are many that won’t outgrow this habit. This is why training is important to ensure that your pooch won’t become a destructive chewer when it grows older. Remember that, unlike other breeds, Huskies are more predisposed to have this problem, so you should never skimp on training.
Q: Are Huskies biters?
A: Huskies aren’t really aggressive dogs. If trained well, they are unlikely to show signs of aggression, even to strangers. In fact, Huskies are outgoing and sociable because they were bred as sled dogs. They are used to working and being surrounded by humans and other animals. But like any dog, Huskies can bite if provoked.
Q: What should Huskies chew on?
A: It’s best to give your Husky a chew toy, so it won’t target random items around the house. You can also give lamb or beef bones for your pet to chew. However, make sure that you supervise your pet whenever it’s chomping on these bones to prevent choking. Also, you should avoid rawhide as this is known to cause choking and intestinal blockages in dogs.
Q: Are Huskies aggressive chewers?
A: Huskies can easily become aggressive chewers if not trained as early as possible. These dogs are notorious for their chewing, especially if not given proper exercise and mental stimulation. If you plan to own this breed, make sure that you are ready to keep up with their needs.
Q: Will a Husky destroy my house?
A: A Husky has the power to shred items all over your house if left alone for long. Also, without proper training, their aggressive chewing can become a massive problem. The easy solution here is to keep your Husky tired through enough exercise and interactive toys.
Final words
Knowing how to get a Husky to stop chewing on everything will save your belongings from serious damage. Also, it will help curb other behavioral problems that may stem from aggressive chewing.
Remember that you should never use violence or punishments when fighting off your Husky’s chewing problem. Be patient and approach it through positive reinforcement. You can also hire the service of a professional trainer when all else fails.
Do you have other points to add here? Let us know below!