This past year, my husband volunteered to help our boys' hockey league with various odd jobs. Last night he asked me if I would mind picking up some items from one of player's homes. Always running late, I knocked on the door and heard the familiar sound of a dog barking. I am always more interested and excited about meeting dogs than people (I fully admit it!) so I was surprised when I entered not to see a canine body accompanying the bark. A fellow hockey mom, Joyce, explained that the dog was in the bedroom and to come right in. As she addressed the "hockey business", I could hear muffled barks and whimpers from behind the bedroom door. I finally asked if it was possible for me to meet her dog. Joyce wanted me to know ahead of time that while "Shady" was a happy bouncy dog, she may jump on me with her youthful exuberance. Within seconds I had 65 pounds of brindle muscle greeting me like an old friend. Delighted to meet her, I fawned and fussed over her reciprocating her affections. Shady had a large rawhide bone that she insisted on depositing in my lap for inspection after which, she began chewing with great vigor. Occasionally, she would remind me of her presence by clunking me in the side of the head with it. After she had settled somewhat, Joyce and I went back to the task at hand. When we had finished up, I reached behind my back to put on my lumber-type jacket and noticed Shady laying on it with her bone. She quickly jumped off the jacket when Joyce asked her to and I proceeded to put it on. As I poked my one arm through I felt something wet and slimy and when my arm popped out of the shoulder, instead of through the sleeve, I knew immediately what had happened. Shady had chewed a "new" armhole while we were busy talking hockey. I have to say that I was certainly not aware of what was happening and I was only 2 inches away! Well, I've always liked the "vested" look anyway.

Dogs chew, they have no hands or fingers, so it makes sense they would use their mouths. When chewing becomes what we humans perceive as destructive and damaging, then it's a problem. Experts have many theories as to why dogs chew destructively. Boredom, separation anxiety, teething, loneliness, stress and quite possibly a combination of several of the above. In some cases, however, one may just have to come to the conclusion that dogs simply enjoy chewing, like what happened with Shady. Chewing inappropriate items can be expensive, dangerous and even fatal. PREVENTING and redirecting this behaviour is the answer. Here are some DO's and DONT's:

DO:

• Teach and PRAISE for chewing safe, well-chosen "doggy" toys (don't take good behaviour for granted!)
• Provide adequate exercise. Hire a mid day dog walker if necessary.
• Try leaving the radio or TV on low
• Confine dog by using baby gates or a crate. Crates should be introduced positively and in small time increments.
• Closely supervise "known" chewers
• Alternate/rotate toys to keep interest
• Dog "proof" rooms, putting dangerous and items of value out of harms way

DON'T:

• Allow dogs to chew on socks and old shoes. First, they can not differentiate between old and new and second, socks can cause major blockages
• Take good behaviour for granted! If he is chewing the right thing it's important that he knows he has it right! (Purposely repeated)
• Punish your dog for chewing after the fact. This will most likely bring a variety of appeasing body postures such as rolling over, urinating, squinted eyes with head tilting often with one paw raised. Owners seem to believe that their dog "knew better" and is now "sorry". The dog is actually responding to your own "annoyed" or "frustrated" body language.
• Hit, beat, "alpha" roll, or scruff shake your dog. It is abusive, confusing and unnecessary and will most definitely damage the relationship between you and your dog.

Lorraine Houston is a North York resident who has worked in the animal welfare field for 20 years. E-mail her at: lhh4dogs@rogers.com