“Men are from Mars, women are from Venus,” according to Dr. John Gray, author of a fabulous bestseller about the behavior of men and women and their inability to fully understand each other. On the other hand, dogs are probably from Earth because no matter what they do, someone has an explanation for it, whether we like it or not, and the dog will never confirm or deny it. The good news is that even if we don’t understand why the dog is doing what it’s doing, we can usually modify the behavior to a more positive and acceptable one. Let’s talk about chewing and eating inappropriate things!
One of the most frustrating behavioral problems families with dogs face is chewing. Dogs can and will chew and sometimes swallow almost anything. They are capable of chewing a decent-sized hole in a plaster wall. It doesn’t necessarily need to be on the corner or edge, as you might suspect. It’s not unusual for a dog to start chewing a hole in the center of a flat wall.
All puppies go through a period of chewing, especially when teething, around four to six (4 to 6) months of age. Chewing can be controlled, redirected, and modified through exercise, playtime, alternative chewable items for dogs, toys, and increased time together playing, walking, or training.
My favorite helpful toy for puppies going through teething is soaking a braided chew toy in water (photo on the left) and freezing it.
In addition to aiding in-house training, a crate and playard are also helpful in reducing the chance of your dog chewing your furniture when you are not home or can’t keep your eyes on your dog while supervising his activities.
In its extreme 
form, “Pica,” defined as a medical disorder, is an appetite for largely non-nutritive substances (e.g., coal, soil, feces, chalk, paper, soap, ash, etc. The shocking part is that this definition pertains to humans. With that in mind, imagine what a dog will consume. Because Pica is a medical disorder, it should be diagnosed and treated by your veterinarian or ruled out.
Coprophagia is even more frustrating and upsetting than a dog eating my favorite pair of shoes. The most elegant way to define coprophagia is to say that it is the consumption of feces. There are many reasons for this obsession with one’s own waste, including medical problems, nutritional needs, poorly digestible diet, boredom, curiosity, an attempt to clean up a soiled area to avoid punishment, a learned behavior from the dog’s mother, or something as simple as hunger. My experience with dogs that show signs of coprophagia is that most of them have been confined to small kennels for extended periods, usually in pet shops or overcrowded breeders, where they are forced to eat, drink, sleep, play, defecate, and urinate in the same small enclosure.
Some dogs will also eat cat feces out of the litter box. I know it’s one of those “easier said than done” situations, but preventing your dog’s access to litter boxes and immediately cleaning up after your dog does his business is a good start in the right direction. Dogs that exhibit any desire to eat their stool should be leash-walked.
Taste deterrents can be sprayed on or inserted into feces to help correct the unwanted behavior or coprophagia. You may also find an assortment of products given orally to your dog. NONE OF THESE PRODUCTS OR METHODS ARE RECOMMENDED! Talk to your veterinarian before using any products your dog may consume, EVEN IF they are used directly on your dog’s feces.
