Are Australian Shepherds Destructive Chewers? Preventing Aussie Chewing Behaviors (2024)

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You think Australian Shepherds can’t be destructive chewers?

These highly energetic working dogs need ample physical and mental exercise to prevent problem behaviors like chewing.

Fail to meet their needs for activity and stimulation, and your shoes, furniture, and drywall don’t stand a chance.

But have no fear – with some diligent training and plenty of chew toys, your Aussie can curb those chewing urges.

Now let’s talk prevention strategies and training tips to save your belongings.

Australian Shepherd Chewing Tendencies

Australian Shepherds don’t tend to be big chewers by nature.

Their chewing habits typically arise from unmet needs for mental and physical stimulation.

As intelligent working dogs bred to herd livestock, they require ample exercise varieties and interactive toys to prevent boredom.

Chewing can also manifest when the Aussie lacks a strong bond and sense of purpose.

By providing ample mental enrichment, bonding activities, and job assignments tailored to their breed-specific needs, you can curb destructive chewing behaviors in Australian Shepherds.

Rather than scolding them, view chewing as a coping skill resulting from insufficient outlets for their energy and instincts.

Fulfill their requirements for an active lifestyle and close companionship to prevent problematic chewing.

Preventing Chewing Behaviors

Start preventing chewing habits by providing your Aussie:

• Plenty of exercise
• Mental stimulation
• Attention
• Appropriate chew toys

Establish daily exercise routines like long walks, runs, or playing fetch to meet their high activity needs.

Rotate a variety of interactive toys and enrichment activities to keep their quick minds engaged.

Try:

• Food puzzles
• Hide-and-seek games
• Obedience training
• Agility courses

Continue reinforcing wanted behaviors through positive behavioral training.

Reward them with praise, affection, or treats when chewing approved toys.

Meet their instinctual needs to work, herd, and problem solve.

Mentally challenge them by teaching advanced tricks or commands.

Fulfill their emotional needs by giving them focused one-on-one time daily.

Stopping Existing Chewing Habits

In addition to preventing chewing behaviors, you’re going to have to redirect your Aussie’s chewing tendencies by swapping out inappropriate chew items for durable, tasty chew toys whenever you catch them in the act.

Use behavior modification techniques like positive reinforcement training to teach your Aussie what’s okay to chew.

Rotate a variety of puzzle feeders, interactive toys, and enrichment activities to keep their mind engaged.

Meet their instinctual needs through regular outdoor adventures and physical activities.

If the chewing persists, consult a certified dog trainer to identify the root causes and create a customized training plan.

Importance of Chewing for Dogs

The significance of chewing lets you understand it as a natural canine instinct that shouldn’t be fully discouraged.

Chewing provides dogs mental and physical benefits.

It promotes dental health by reducing plaque and preventing gum disease.

The act of chewing works to relieve stress and anxiety.

For some dogs, having an appropriate chew toy allows them to focus their energy in a constructive way.

Chewing also satisfies dogs’ innate urge to explore objects with their mouths in order to gather information.

While destructive chewing of household items should be redirected, providing dogs with suitable chew toys activates their natural chewing instinct in a healthy way.

Overall, chewing holds value for a dog’s enrichment, development, and well-being when applied properly.

Australian Shepherd Characteristics

Australian Shepherds are highly energetic working dogs that need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. If their needs aren’t properly met, they may engage in destructive behaviors like chewing.

As herding dogs, Aussies are intelligent, driven, and athletic. They thrive when given jobs to do and new skills to master. Without proper outlets, their pent-up energy may lead to boredom and chewing habits.

It’s essential to meet their needs through vigorous daily exercise, obedience training, interactive toys and games, and quality time bonding with their owner.

Invest the time and Aussies will reward you with unwavering loyalty, affection, and an eagerness to work.

Australian Shepherd Exercise Needs

Australian shepherds need 30-60 minutes of daily exercise from brisk walks, rousing games of fetch or frisbee to fulfill their high activity requirements.

Engaging in playful exercises like taking your Aussie to an obstacle course or enrolling them in agility training classes are enriching bonding activities.

Clever games that challenge their minds like hide and seek combined with fulfilling their exercise needs prevent boredom chewing behaviors in Australian shepherds.

Meeting their demands for vigorous intelligent interaction curbs destructive tendencies and helps them happily channel energy into constructive outlets.

Australian Shepherd Mental Stimulation

Frequently, you’ll need to provide your Aussie with mental exercise.

Rotate through mental stimulation activities to keep your Australian Shepherd engaged and challenged.

Interactive puzzle toys that require manipulation to access hidden treats provide cognitive enrichment.

Incorporate training sessions to have your Aussie practice known cues and learn new ones, strengthening your bond through this mental workout.

Change locations for enrichment games to add variety and novelty.

Seeking novel experiences and conquering new challenges satisfies an Aussie’s innate curiosity.

Providing regular mental exercise activates your dog’s problem-solving skills, fulfilling their need for purposeful work.

Training Your Australian Shepherd

How can you effectively train your Aussie to prevent destructive chewing behaviors?

Start with basic obedience training to establish yourself as the pack leader.

Bond extensively with your Aussie through outdoor adventures and by giving them special jobs or duties around your home or farm.

An invested owner who provides their energetic herding dog with plenty of stimulation is crucial for preventing problematic chewing behaviors.

Bonding With Your Australian Shepherd

As your trusted companion, an Australian Shepherd needs a strong bond with you to thrive.

An Australian Shepherd will reciprocate that commitment tenfold as your loyal adventure partner.

Activity	Benefit	Example

Interactive Play

Training

Quality Time

Providing Your Aussie With a Job

You’ll want to give your energetic Aussie a purposeful job that engages its natural herding instincts and intelligence.

Interactive tasks like agility courses, frisbee catching, or obstacle navigating provide physical and mental stimulation.

Assign job responsibilities like retrieving objects, tidying toys, or patrolling your home’s perimeter.

Schedule daily enriching activities to occupy your Aussie’s active working mind.

For example, hide-and-seek games, obedience training sessions, or shepherding balls engage task-oriented focus.

Rotating novel occupational challenges prevents boredom while fulfilling instinctive needs, ultimately curbing destructive chewing tendencies.

Incorporate chew toys into playtime for beneficial chewing habits.

An occupied Aussie is a happy, well-behaved companion.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)