How to Train Your Dog to Not Eat Paper

How to Train Your Dog to Not Eat Paper
Medium difficulty iconMedium
Time icon2-4 Weeks
General training category iconGeneral

Introduction

Do you have a paper shredder at home?

No, not the electric plug-in-the-wall type shredder, but the four-legged furry sort that steals mail as it plops onto the mat. Transforming junk mail into a soggy pile of pulp isn't so much of an issue, but the trouble is that the dog can't distinguish between rubbish and that six-figure lottery winner's check that you're expecting.

Letters, newspapers, invoices, money, books...heck if you have a paper-chewing pooch then nothing in the house is safe. But no matter how unfortunate his habit, your dog is only doing what Mother Nature programmed him to do. Tearing, ripping, and shredding are all deeply ingrained behaviors from the days when dogs hunted for their supper and had to render a carcass in order to eat.

However, a combination of planning and training can teach your dog to lick this habit, and here's how to go about it.

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Defining Tasks

Teaching a dog not to eat paper is one of those situations that is best avoided in the first place. If you're in the happy position of having a new puppy, then be careful about what you give him to play with, as he'll add this to his mental,  "OK to chew" list. For example, letting him gnaw a newspaper or chew on a cardboard roll will encourage him to seek out other objects with the same texture.

However, once the habit has happened, help the dog to turn over a new leaf by reducing temptation (tidying up!), providing alternatives to chew, and training him to drop those things he's not meant to have.

This takes time, consistency, and patience from everyone in the household, but happily, it isn't an impossible task so stick with it and you will get there.

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Getting Started

To successfully train your dog not to chew, you'll need:

  • Chew toys
  • Squeaky toys
  • Two identical toys
  • Tasty treats
  • An external box for mail
You are going to use a combined approach of reducing temptation, providing an appropriate outlet for chewing, plus teaching a 'give it' command, in order to take charge of the situation.
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The Reduce Temptation Method

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Reduce Temptation method for How to Train Your Dog to Not Eat Paper
1

Understand the idea

Have you ever been on a diet, only to binge while eating out with friends? Temptation is a terrible thing and there's nothing quite like it for encouraging unwanted behavior. This is especially true for dogs, because the satisfaction of ripping up paper is its own reward. Thus, the dog happily teaches himself that chewing paper is fun. As part of retraining, you need to remove this potential source of self-reward by tidying up.

2

The letterbox

If you have a mail slot, fit a box around it to catch the mail and prevent the dog collecting it from the floor.

3

Troubleshoot from a dog's eye view

Look at each room from a dog's eye view. Look for newspapers, magazines, letters, printouts or anything else the dog can reach and tidy it away. Either put the papers in a secure box or up onto a high shelf that the dog can't reach

4

Don't accidentally encourage him

Stop giving the dog cardboard rolls to play with or rolled up newspapers to chew. If he is given these as chew toys, he won't recognize the difference when he sees the Sunday newspaper on the coffee table.

5

Expend energy with exercise

Give the dog plenty of exercise. A dog that's pleasantly tired gets up to less mischief.

The Provide Appropriate Chews Method

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Provide Appropriate Chews method for How to Train Your Dog to Not Eat Paper
1

Understand the idea

The dog isn't being malicious, he's exhibiting a natural need to chew. When he picks the wrong thing (paper), distract him and substitute a more appropriate outlet for his chewing. Indeed, giving him plenty of opportunity for appropriate chewing will decrease his interest in things he shouldn't.

2

Never chase after him

Avoid the pitfall of chasing after the dog when he's got hold of something he shouldn't. A game of chase is fun and actually rewards him for stealing the newspaper, making him keener to do this in future rather than preventing him.

3

Provide satisfying chew toys

When your dog has down-time, provide a suitable chew for him to get his teeth into. This feeds his inner need to chew so he doesn't go looking for his own outlet for this behavior. If this is rawhide or an edible chew, be sure to supervise him at all times.

4

Distract the dog

The dog is about to shred a letter. You should grab a squeaky toy and squeak it like mad to distract him. When he drops the letter, heap praise upon his furry head, and reward him with a hearty game with the toy.

5

Substitute one object with another

Alternatively, distract him with the squeaky toy and when he drops the letter, provide his all-time favorite chew toy as an alternative. You are rewarding him for relinquishing the letter, by providing something equally satisfying to chew on.

The 'Give It' Method

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'Give It' method for How to Train Your Dog to Not Eat Paper
1

Understand the idea

For those times when your reflexes are too slow and the dog snatches a papery snack, teaching the 'give it' command could save the day.

2

Start with two identical toys

Take two identical toys (which your dog adores). Play with one and keep the other out of sight. Let the dog have toy #1 and play with it.

3

Offer toy #2 as a reward

Now divert his attention to toy #2. Play with it as if it's the most interesting toy ever. Once the dog sees this, he'll lose interest in toy #1. As he opens his mouth to let go and take the second toy, say "give it" in a firm but happy voice, and let him have toy #2 as a reward.

4

The toy exchange

Repeat this toy exchange, making it into a game. The secret is perfect timing and saying "give it" just as the dog was about to relinquish his prize for another. This helps him link the words to the action.

5

Exchange for a treat

Alternatively, you can teach 'give it' by having him drop the toy to take a treat. Your aim is to have the dog automatically drop what's in his mouth when he hears "give it" since he's worked out he gets a reward for so doing and therefore there's nothing to lose.

Written by Pippa Elliott

Veterinary reviewed by:

Published: 11/03/2017, edited: 01/13/2021

Training Questions

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Maisoe

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Mini golden doodle

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One Year

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How to stop dog from jumping to counter to get paper

Dec. 6, 2023

Maisoe's Owner

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Tank

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French Bulldog

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3 Months

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Goes toilet for both anywhere he wants even though he has a designated area for this,he hasn't been toilet outside yet,he waits until he gets back home.

April 18, 2022

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Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer

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1133 Dog owners recommended

Hello Tina, Check out the article I have linked below, I recommend following the Crate Training method, or a combination of the Crate Training method while away or needing a break and Tethering method while home. That article will also cover what to do when you take pup potty outside but they don't go potty out there. Potty Training: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

April 18, 2022


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