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Dog Chewing Pens and Pencils? What to Do + How to Stop It!

Tired of reaching for something to write with only to find that your dog chewed up your pens and pencils, completely ruining them? Even if things haven’t gotten quite that far for you, I’m sure you’re looking forward to not finding your things covered in your dog’s slobber and bite marks any longer.

In today’s article “Dog Chewing Pens and Pencils? What to Do + How to Stop It” we’ll teach you the exact steps to end this problem, why dogs chew pens and pencils, and finally we’ll cover all the safety issues involved with your pup acting up like this. Keep reading below!

How to Stop Dog Chewing Pens and Pencils

dog chewing pens and pencils

To stop dog chewing pencils and pens:

  1. Keep pencils and pens hidden away or as inaccessible as possible.
  2. Ensure your dog can always find a proper outlet for chewing like a toy they have fun with.
  3. Spray a deterrent, like a 50/50 mixture of distilled white vinegar and water onto a cloth and wipe the pencils and pens with it.
  4. The smell will be gone after around one hour, but your dog will continue to be repelled.
  5. Give a calm but firm “no” or “stop” right away when you see that your dog is once again biting pencils and pens.
  6. Do not scream or get angry, because if they’re misbehaving like this due to anxiety (which is the most probable explanation), this will only make their worries worse.
    Put them into a quick time-out in their crate or a closed-off room for about ten minutes.
  7. If you observe your dog beginning to go after the pencils and pens, redirect them to a toy.
  8. Reward them with praise, a small treat, and praise when they select their toy rather than chewing on pencils and pens.
  9. Be sure that anyone else who lives in your house is also following these steps.
  10. Remain consistent and patient.

But you’ll still need to address the underlying issue which led to all of this disobedience to begin with, which is your dog’s feelings of anxiety. A failure to do so will just lead to your dog’s problem showing itself in other ways that could be even worse.

To properly cover that, we must first discuss what makes dogs tick and has for thousands and thousands of years now. You’ve probably heard before that all dogs are pack animals, and that in every pack there is a pack leader.

But every time that your dog chews pencils and pens, they are definitively showing you that they don’t respect you as the head of the family pack.

If they did, they wouldn’t chew your pens and pencils and continue doing so even after you’ve commanded them to stop. They wouldn’t display any other types of behavior-related misbehavior. And they would immediately obey your commands at all times, and they would do so happily.

Prove to your dog that you are not just their pack leader, but a capable one who must be respected, and you’ll make all of these wonderful transformations your reality.

You’ll be better off for obvious reasons. But your dog will be too because they’ll no longer have to deal with all of the worry and confusion that their anxiety issues are currently burdening them with every moment of every day.

Sounds like a great thing, don’t you think?

“Yes, sure, but how do I do this?”

You should watch a wonderful free video series by a renowned trainer named Dan which is on this exact subject: how to be your dog’s pack leader. In Dan’s series, he explains everything in ways that are very simple to understand and teach to your own dog, and he gets immediately to the point so that you can start seeing these critical changes in your dog in no time.

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. And no, you’re not going to have to yell or be mean to your dog. Dan never uses those types of methods. Not just because loving teaching techniques are the right thing to do, but also because they’re the fastest way to achieve permanent changes in your dog’s behavior.

Why Do Dogs Chew on Pens and Pencils?

Dogs chew on pens and pencils mostly due to anxiety, boredom, or teething. Anxiety often leads our furry friends to chew as a way to self-soothe and cope with their feelings. Boredom can cause them to seek out objects to chew on, like pens and pencils, as a way to entertain themselves.

Finally, teething can also prompt chewing, especially in puppies, as a means to alleviate discomfort. Be sure not to let this become a learned behavior, as it could continue to be enjoyable even after the core issue is treated.

Storing your pens and pencils in a place your dog can’t access is a practical way to avoid damage, but it won’t resolve the underlying problem. Your dog will simply look for other things to chew on to satisfy their urge.

Your dog might also chew your AirPods, chew your jewelry, chew your glasses, or even chew your car keys. Practically any item you possess could be a potential target. That’s why it’s vital to address the core issue. To learn the specific steps required to do so, go back to the first section of this article now.

Is It Safe for Dogs to Chew on Pens?

It is not safe for dogs to chew on pens, as they could accidentally swallow small parts or ingest ink. The ink inside pens can be toxic and cause stomach upset or even poisoning, depending on the type and amount ingested. Moreover, if a dog swallows a pen’s plastic or metal parts, it could lead to choking or internal injuries that may require emergency surgery.

Is It Safe for Dogs to Chew on Pencils?

It is not safe for dogs to chew on pencils. The wood and graphite in pencils can splinter, potentially causing injury to the dog’s mouth or esophagus. Additionally, if swallowed, these splinters could lead to choking or create blockages in the digestive system.

The erasers on the end of pencils pose another risk, as they can be easily chewed off and swallowed, potentially causing an intestinal obstruction.

Good luck with all of this, and thanks for reading our article “Dog Chewing Pens and Pencils? What to Do + How to Stop It!”