How Chewing Affects Your Dogs Behavior and Mental Health

Chewing is every dog’s favorite hobby. You give a dog anything and they will start chewing it, whether it is chewable or not. They might also ruin your shoes if you don't find anything better to chew.

You may be worried about your dog’s chewing habit, given that it costs you a lot to get that chewed furniture fixed. Well, this is not something you can control. Dogs are made to chew things.

What you can do is find a good alternative to the furniture for your dog to chew. There are many dog chews and chewy dog treat options available in the market that not only fulfill your doggo’s chewing needs but also provide nutrition.

Now the question is “Is it good for your dog to chew so much?”. The answer is yes. There are lots of benefits of chewing for dogs and we are going to discuss them here today. So, let’s move on to how your dog’s favorite hobby can have a positive impact on its behavior.

Chewing is one of those things that every dog loves to do. They are made to chew stuff, every kind of it. You should never stop your dog from chewing unless it is ruining your home decor or not good for your pet’s health.

Your dog loves to chew because it makes him happy. If you are giving your dog some kind of chewy treat, like bully sticks, then they love the taste of it along with chewing.

You don’t have to worry about your dog’s chewing habits because it is good for its health. There are many benefits that your dog can get from chewing. Let’s have a look at them.

Mental Enrichment

When dogs chew, especially a chewy treat with great flavors, they try to chew that from every angle. This provides their brain with a little exercise and keeps them busy. It makes their brain active and strong.

Chewing also helps in calming your dog’s brain and producing endorphins. This gives them a sense of happiness. So, treating your dog with a long-lasting chewy treat improves your dog’s brain functioning and makes them smart.

Tip

Regularly clean your pet’s chew toys to maintain hygiene.

Fights Anxiety and Stress

As chewing releases necessary endorphins, it makes your dog happy. When your doggo is happy, it is less likely to suffer from anxiety and stress. This makes your dog’s mental health better.

Chewing is like yoga for dogs. It calms them and gives them a sense of peace. Whenever your dog is anxious, it might try to find something to chew.

Kills Boredom

You might not like to chew your food and feel like it is boring but it is something that your dog enjoys. Chewing is a fun activity for every dog. It helps your dog in dealing with boredom.

Dogs do not get easily tired and need something to play with every time. Having a chewing toy or a long-lasting chewy treat can keep your dog occupied. This also makes your dog playful and active.

Tip

Get your dog new chewy toys and treats regularly to keep the excitement alive.

Dental Benefits

Do you know that chewing is healthy for your dog’s teeth? Chewing strengthens your dog’s teeth and jaw as it provides a great form of exercise.

The chewy treat that your dog loves to chew, helps in removing tartar buildup and removes odor-causing bacteria. As your pet can not brush its teeth, these chewy stuff help in cleaning your dog’s teeth and mouth.

Pawsitive Behavior

As we have learned now chewing makes your dog happy and helps in maintaining its dental health. All this eventually leads to good behavior in your pet and simulates positivity.

If your dog is happy, less stressed, and not suffering from any dental health issues then it will surely behave like a good boy. This is all possible just because of a small chewy treat.

Natural vs Synthetic Dog Chews

Dog chews are perfect to fulfill your dog’s chewing needs. The dog chews can be natural or synthetic. Both these varieties offer different benefits that are good for your pup. Let’s see which one is better when it comes to a comparison.

Natural Dog Chews

Natural chews for dogs are highly fibrous and nutrient-rich. They not only help in cleaning your dog’s teeth but also provide nourishment. They are highly healthy and can be used as a treat to train your pup.

Some of the popular natural dog chews include:

• Bully Sticks or Pizzle Sticks

• Antlers

• Pig Ears

• Yak Cheese

• Beef Trachea

• Sweet Potato

• Tendons

Extra

Do not overfeed your dog with natural dog chews otherwise, this can upset your pet’s stomach.

Synthetic Dog Chews

Well, natural things are always better than synthetic ones but synthetic dog chews have their own advantages. One benefit of synthetic dog chews is that they won’t fill up your pet’s tummy.

If your dog has eaten its food but still wants to chew something, then you don’t have to worry about overeating. Your dog won’t get fat by chewing something synthetic.

We all know that natural dog chews are better than synthetic ones. So, go for them. However, if you are worried about your dog’s weight then you can choose synthetic dog chews to prevent unnecessary weight gain.

Bottom Line

So, now we have seen how chewing can be beneficial for your dog. Never stop that cute little creature from chewing anything. Get your pup some of the healthiest dog chews to munch on and keep its teeth healthy.

Chewing will help your dog to have good mental health and positive behavior. If you want your dog to be friendly and energetic, then let it chew as much as it wants. It will keep it engaged while strengthening its jaw muscles.