How to Stop Your Dog From Chewing Your Cell Phone
There they go again! Your dog is chewing on your cell phone! What is happening when they do this? Why does your dog keep chewing on your phone? Do dogs get jealous of phones or is something else going on? And can your dog get hurt biting your cell phone?
Today, we’re going to answer all of the questions you have about this destructive behavior from your dog. Most importantly, we’ll tell you exactly how to stop your dog from chewing your cell phone for good! Soon, you’ll have this potentially very expensive problem from your dog behind you! Keep reading, and we’ll get started!
Why Does My Dog Keep Chewing My Phone?
Your dog keeps chewing on your phone because they’re experiencing anxiety and chewing helps to soothe them. It also has the added bonus of carrying your scent. They could also be teething (if under six months), bored, or wanting some attention.
To stop your dog from chewing on your cell phone, start by ensuring that they’re getting plenty of playtime, and that they have a proper outlet like a chew toy. You still, however, need to begin addressing their underlying issue of anxiety, which is the most likely reason why your dog is chewing on your cell phone.
Without being properly handled, your dog’s problem will only get worse. They’ll soon be looking to gnaw, bite, and chew on other things that smell like you and grab your attention. Your dog will be chewing up your phone charger, chewing up your tablet, or chewing up your TV remotes.
Obviously, you don’t want your expensive electronics getting destroyed and you want to put an end to your dog’s anxiety issues, so it’s important that you begin behavioral training with them right away. Skip to the last section now where we’ll go over how you will do that.
Do Dogs Get Jealous of Phones?
Dogs do get jealous of phones because it leads to them getting less attention, which causes them to feel anxious and upset. Dogs, however, do not engage in revenge chewing, but it may seem like they’re doing so when they chew on your cell phone. The actual reason they go after it is that it smells like you, and chewing helps calm them because it releases soothing endorphins.
Can My Dog Get Hurt Biting My Cell Phone?
Your dog can get hurt biting your cell phone. Dogs can bite through bone, so tearing a cell phone into pieces would not be a problem. These little slivers and pieces could easily become lodged in your dog’s stomach and create serious obstructions or blockages in your dog’s intestines.
The battery also contains toxic substances which would leak into your dog’s mouth, esophagus, and stomach causing critical illness or even death.
How to Stop Your Dog Chewing Your Cell Phone
To stop your dog chewing your cell phone:
- Give a calm but firm “no” or “stop” immediately.
- Do not yell or clap, as your dog is chewing your cell phone likely due to anxiety and this will only make things worse.
- Place your dog into time-out in their crate or a closed-off room for 10 minutes.
- Let your dog out, and redirect them to a chew toy if they start showing interest in chewing on your phone again.
- Make a 50/50 mix of water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Apply the mix to a cloth, then wipe a small amount on your case only (not on the phone).
- The smell will go away after it dries but will still deter most dogs.
- When they’re behaving and chewing their toy, give them pets, praise, and a small treat.
- Keep your phone safely stored away when you’re not using it.
- Give your dog plenty of attention and exercise.
- Make sure that anyone else in the home or who spends time around your dog is also following these steps.
- Be patient and consistent.
With time, your dog should learn that chewing on your phone gets negative results, while not doing so and choosing their chew toy instead gets rewarded. But you still need to address what was causing all of this in the first place, which is their anxiety.
Failure to get to your dog’s problem at its root will just lead to them chewing up other things as they attempt to soothe their stress and worries.
To do that, let’s first talk quickly about what makes dogs function to begin with. Dogs are pack animals, and in every pack, there is a pack leader. But when your dog reacts to anxiety by destructively chewing your cell phone and other things of yours, they are clearly displaying that they don’t completely trust you in this role.
If they did, they would stay calm knowing you’ve got everything handled, even when you’re away. They would still chew, but just to have a nice time, and would only seek proper outlets like their toys. And they would obey your commands — and do so happily — at all times.
You win, your belongings win, and most importantly, your dog wins because you’ll have lifted all of that awful stress and anxiety off of their little shoulders that they’re currently lugging around 24/7. That’s all terrific, isn’t it?
“Of course, but how am I supposed to do this?”
You should watch an excellent free video series by a renowned trainer named Dan which is on this very subject: how to be your dog’s pack leader. In his series, he’ll explain everything you need to know in ways that are very easy to understand and teach to your own dog, and he gets right to the point so that you’ll start seeing these important changes in your dog before things get any worse.
Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. And don’t stress or get worried, because no, you’re not going to have to yell or be mean. Dan never uses those types of methods. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but also because loving teaching techniques are the fastest way to achieve permanent changes in your dog’s behavior.
I’m sure you’re eager to not have to worry about replacing your expensive phone anymore, so I’ll let you get started now. Best wishes with everything, and thank you for reading our article on how to stop your dog from chewing your cell phone.