Desperate for your Scottish Terrier’s new habit of chewing on anything he can get his paws on? Do you feel like crying while looking at your shoes, your rugs, your sofa torn away by its destructive action?

I have good news for you: you can easily control the habit of chewing if you properly train your Scottish Terrier.

But first you must understand that chewing, like barking, is a natural instinct of Scottish terriers, as it caters to their need to sharpen their teeth. Puppies going through the teething process tend to chew on everything because it relieves sore gums. This behavior should only last for a few months, during the teething period.

If the chewing habit persists for more than a year, then your dog has a problem. And you too.

And this is where a good training program comes in. Your Scotsman cannot judge for himself what is valuable to you or not, it is up to you to teach him what he can and cannot chew. You will not realize that you cannot chew everything unless you are trained and correct the habit of chewing.

Training can be expensive, but all things considered, it is much cheaper to invest in training and chew toys for your dog than in replacing expensive furniture in your home.

In the meantime, follow these four easy steps to help you control your Scottish Terrier’s chewing habit:

1. Keep valuable things you don’t want chewed out of reach.

2. Keep your Scotsman in a closed place like his cage, for example, while he sleeps or is not around. Provide chew toys to entertain him.

3. Provide attention and physical activity to overcome boredom and loneliness. Walk and play with him whenever you can.

4. Rebuke him with a firm “No” when caught chewing and replace whatever he is chewing with a chew toy.

By following these instructions, it won’t be long until the bad habit of chewing is completely eliminated.