How to Stop Your Mini Schnauzer Dog's Destructive Chewing Behavior

"Honey! The dog's eaten your underwear again!"

So, you want your Miniature Schnauzer's destructive chewing behavior to stop and save what's left of your valuable possessions?

Okay! But in order to correct the destructive chewing, we first need to understand why your Miniature Schnauzer is chewing so much...

You see, dogs use their mouths as a way of exploring their surroundings. This is how they 'check things out' (through smell, taste, and texture), so chewing is a natural instinct for your Miniature Schnauzer.

And although all Miniature Schnauzer dogs chew, some Miniature Schnauzer dogs simply have more of a desire to chew on things than others. It’s purely a pleasurable activity for them and that would be okay until....... they get a hold of something you value. Then your Miniature Schnauzer's chewing is simply destructive.

The 5 Main Reasons Dogs Chew

1. It’s their natural instinct to do so. As mentioned above, your Miniature Schnauzer dog's chewing is the way he explores his surroundings - through smells, tastes, and textures.

2. Because they are puppies and teething. Miniature Schnauzer puppies chew to help relieve the discomfort and pressure during the teething phase of their development.

3. As a pleasurable activity. Miniature Schnauzer's chew to help pass the time and when dogs are chewing on something that tastes good, it’s self-rewarding, too.

4. Bored or lonely. Miniature Schnauzer's chew as an outlet for a his emotions. The repetitive act of chewing is soothing for your Miniature Schnauzer and brings the dog comfort, much like out comfort foods.

   note: A Miniature Schnauzer suffering from separation anxiety may also exhibit destructive chewing. Read more about separation anxiety in dogs and how to modify this behavior.

5. Because they are under-exercised. Miniature Schnauzer dogs with pent-up energy will chew as a way of burning up nervous energy. To prevent this type of chewing, be sure to tire your Miniature Schnauzer out with lots of exercise, walks, games of fetch, etc....

How to Prevent Your Miniature Schnauzer's Destructive Chewing

So now that we know why dogs chew, how do we prevent them from destroying our valuables? Simple – you have to train them. Your Miniature Schnauzer dog has no way of knowing what you deem valuable. It is therefore up to you to teach your Miniature Schnauzer what is okay to chew on and what is not okay to chew on.

1. Take control of the situation and be responsible for your own possessions. First things first… dog proof your home. Take whatever it is you don’t want to end up in your Miniature Schnauzer dog’s mouth, and put it up. Truly make sure it is unavailable to them (ie. Place items inside a closet or high enough so that your Miniature Schnauzer cannot jump up or climb up and get them).

   note: The most common available household items dogs find to chew include magazines and books, eyewear, clothing, shoes, garbage, cameras, cell phones, remote controls, house plants….... So be sure to have these type items put away so your Schnauzer cannot access them. AND never ever leave out any snacks or food of any kind. Food items must always be securely put away.

2. Prevent the destructive chewing in the first place. In other words, monitor your Miniature Schnauzer dog. Don’t allow him to chew on forbidden objects. When you are away, confine your Miniature Schnauzer to his crate or a dog-proof room in the house, until you’re confident your Schnauzer understands the house rules. Giving your Miniature Schnauzer puppy or dog free run of your home while you’re away, only sets them up for failure.

3. Make clear distinctions between appropriate items and forbidden items. Your Miniature Schnauzer dog cannot decipher between a good pair of slippers and a worn out pair. Therefore, don’t let your Miniature Schnauzer dog chew on a pair of old slippers you were planning to toss out and then get angry when your Miniature Schnauzer begins chewing on your new slippers.

4. Provide your Miniature Schnauzer dog with lots of tasty alternatives to your stuff. Remember, dogs chew as a way of investigating objects, especially if they are under the age of three years. So go buy lots of pet-safe dog toys and dog chews with different textures and sounds. Let your Miniature Schnauzer dog have access to about 3 to 5 toys to play with at a time. Rotate the available toys every few days to keep things interesting for your Miniature Schnauzer.

5. Spend quality time with your Miniature Schnauzer dog. Your Miniature Schnauzer dog can’t learn what you expect from him, if you don’t spend time supervising and training him. Teach your Miniature Schnauzer dog, as he explores his surroundings what you expect from him, so your Miniature Schnauzer can understand what is appropriate and what’s not appropriate.

6. Interrupt the Behavior and Correct with a Positive Replacement: When you catch your Miniature Schnauzer chewing something inappropriate, interrupt the activity by making a loud noise: clap your hands and say “Ah-ah-aaaah!”. Then, immediately replace the item with an appropriate alternative (dog toy or dog chew) and offer your Miniature Schnauzer dog praise when he takes it. This is the best way to teach your Miniature Schnauzer about destructive chewing:

   chewing dog toys = praise (where) chewing other items = trouble

Be Consistent with Commands & Keep Positive

It’s important to remain positive during this learning time in your Miniature Schnauzer dog’s life. You want to build a relationship of trust with your Miniature Schnauzer dog, not one of fear.

Never punish your Miniature Schnauzer dog for destructive chewing after the fact. If you find an item has been destroyed, remember who left it in your Miniature Schnauzer’s reach and then go scold yourself.

Your expectations should be realistic. It will take awhile before your Miniature Schnauzer dog is completely reliable and no longer exhibits signs of destructive chewing (and even then, when left alone for long periods of time, your Miniature Schnauzer may resort to chewing a forbidden item).

Just don’t over react. Remember to spend quality time with your Miniature Schnauzer dog and be sure to take all the necessary precautions so that your Miniature Schnauzer's learning process is a success!

Custom Search

Put an end to your dog's destructive chewing & other behavioral problems

All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without written permission. Links however are encouraged.