Tips on How to Stop Your Dog from Eating Paper

I've had dogs, several dogs. They are some of the best companions that a person can have. They are loyal, friendly and warm however they do tend to chew on things, to eat things. Things like paper. My own dogs, especially when they were puppies, had this problem. Here are amfew tips and bits of advice that can help curb your dog's tendencies towards chewing on paper and get them away from eating it all up while they're teething.

Firstly especially when they are puppies you have to remember to just keep paper out of their reach, if a dog can't get to the paper they can't eat the paper. If you do this as a puppy, they won't learn or think its okay to eat paper once they mature and they won't grow to learn it as a behavior. Keeping paper out of their reach is effective, but it truly is just the first step in dealing with your meddlesome puppy.

Something that works effectively, that I used to help train my Great Dane not to chew on everything, is to scold them when you find them chewing on inappropriate things. Immediately after this give them a toy and when they chew on it, praise them. Praise them frequently and often when they chew on their toys, and always remember to scold them when they chew on paper or anything else. Keep in mind that when you are doing this and taking things away from a puppy the puppy will most likely growl at you and become mildly aggressive, don't tolerate this. You don't want your dog to think it's okay, scold them for this as well.

I know that it's hard to scold a puppy; I know that I hate doing it. But believe me as long as you do it up front, as you teach your dog you'll have to scold them a lot less in the long run and overall you'll have a better trained and happier dog as well as an all around better relationship with your dog.

There are a few other ideas for stopping your dog from eating paper, your dog may have an aberrant disorder known as Pica due to vitamin deficiency, don't worry it's pretty common among puppies (people get it sometimes too) this is very easily dealt with just visit the pet store and get some dog vitamins.

Another suggestion that will help speed this training up is if you also crate train your dog. Some people find this cruel, but when you're out of the house and don't want your puppy to learn to eat things training them to a crate can be one of the best things you can do. Depending on your situation just putting the dog outside may be more effective; however this option isn't available to everyone. Keep in mind that dogs are den animals, though they may object to the crate at first, this is because it's new to them and frightening. Most dogs find it comforting once they grow accustomed to it. Crate training also provides an excellent way to travel with your dog. All around I suggest it.

So to summarize a few basic ways to stop your dog from eating paper are to:

Keep paper away from them
Scold for bad behavior and praise for chewing on toys
Check if your dog have a dietary/vitamin deficiency
Crate Train your dog