Want to know whether cockapoos chew furniture? Then you’re in the right place.
In this post, we’ll show you everything about the reasons why cockapoos chew furniture and the tips and suggestions you can do to stop them from doing so.
Do Cockapoos Chew Furniture?
Sometimes, dogs have tendencies that can become quite an issue, like excessive barking or chewing. Cockapoos, for example, can be found chewing on things like your furniture if left unchecked.
Dogs can come to form all furs and sizes. Naturally, these adorable friends can come with a few behavioral tendencies which are uncalled for as well.
Since cockapoos are known to be highly sociable and playful, they have huge reserves of energy that makes them the fun friend to be around. However, it’s all fun and games until someone realizes their favorite cushion sofa is already in tatters.
It is important to know what drives your cockapoo to chew furniture and other personal items lying around. Finding the root cause of potentially destructive behavior will help you solve it in no time!
Okay…maybe it would take a few days or so. Dogs are all about habitual training, after all.
Why Do Cockapoos Chew?
Teething
Chewing is normal, of course. Especially for puppies that are currently in the process of teething.
Around six months of age, your puppy would have stopped its chewing phase. Chewing comes from the need to alleviate the pain of losing their baby teeth and growing permanent ones.
Bonus: Want to know the best treats for Cockapoos? Check out our full guide here!
Curiosity And Exercise
As they grow older, dogs will still retain their tendency to chew on stuff like bones, sticks, or any other available toys that you let them play with.
Dogs have plenty of reasons to chew things around them. They can chew anything within reach just for plain curiosity’s sake or as a way to keep their jaws and teeth healthy, strong, and clean.
See, like humans, dogs have their own know-how as well. Chewing, in a sense, acts like their very own jaw exercise.
As for curiosity, it’s just like a normal human baby who tends to put anything they can grab with their little fists in their mouths. It is a way to explore the place they are in, especially if your dog is a new addition to your home.
Releasing Tension
Older dogs may also chew to release tension. This is a warning sign that your pup is feeling stressed out.
Cockapoos may often have separation anxiety to blame for if ever they start to chew on things you would rather not have them touched. This behavior can be attributed to the fact that they are highly affectionate toward their humans.
Do not – and we should write that with emphasis – DO NOT leave your cockapoos alone for long periods of time unless you want them to go all sulky and go off chewing everything that lies in their wake.
Boredom
If your cockapoo appears to be chewing furniture and other items that are not toys, or sticks, or bones, chances are they’re bored. They would love to do something else other than stay cooped up inside your house, otherwise, they won’t be able to contain their extensive energy reserves.
Allowing your growing cockapoo to chew on things just because they’re bored could very well lead to destructive chewing. Remember that you hold the key to your dog’s behavior so straightening their destructive behavior the first few times it happens is highly suggested.
General Tips And Suggestions For Stopping Cockapoo From Chewing Furniture
At the end of the day, stopping your cockapoo from chewing furniture all comes down to proper dog training. Below are what you can do to correct the destructive habit.
Make Your Home “Dog-Proof”
Not to suggest that your cockapoo is destructive to the point that it could substitute “bullet” or “water”, but, well, they can be. Will you be in a good mood if you get home and your furniture isn’t the pretty, polished thing it is anymore?
Give your cockapoo a break and make it easier for it to NOT chew on things. Tidy up your home and put things right where it belongs.
Usually, that means on a height that they would not be able to reach.
But of course, we’re talking about furniture. You can’t possibly elevate your sofa or cushions, can you?
If you ever need to get away from your cockapoo (not that you want to because who would want to leave these cute creatures, let’s be honest), leave them in the part of the house where there is only a few furniture that you wouldn’t mind finding tooth marks.
If you can help it, create a room that is exclusively for your lively dog and only put things that you got just for your pup. The cockapoo is a fairly small dog so installing door dividers can help prevent it from rummaging around the house.
Redirect Your Dog’s Chewing Fetish
You worked so hard to get that furniture and bring it home, only to have your lovely cockapoo rip it apart. If only the pup had other stuff to chew instead.
Pick out chewable toys that are the right size for your cockapoo. Not too big that your pup will find it hard to play with, and not too small that there is a possibility of swallowing.
And when you do pick, pick a handful of them.
You want to prevent your dog from getting bored. Who gets bored when there is plenty of toys to play with, plenty of stuff to explore and know about?
Not you, and certainly not your curious cockapoo!
Do not display all the toys at once. Rotate the toys every week or as soon as you see your dog losing interest in one.
Use A Chewing Deterrent
If the chewing is still going haywire, it might be a good idea to use a chewing deterrent. Basically, dogs won’t chew something if they know it tastes awful.
Do a test first for any deterrent that you intend to use. Spray a tiny amount on a piece of tissue and carefully place it on your cockapoo’s mouth.
You win if they spit it out.
Let your pup smell the tissue as well. This is to let it make the connection between the smell and the taste.
Once you observe that your cockapoo wants nothing to do with the deterrent-filled tissue, you can go ahead and spray your furniture and other stuff with it.
Keep spraying the deterrent for about a month or so. This will hopefully train your dog to permanently stay away from your furniture.
However, it would still be ideal if along with the use of a chewing deterrent, you train your cockapoo to really learn about what they can and cannot chew.
Employ Reward-Based Training
For destructive chewing behavior, it is best to catch your cockapoo on the act.
This is not to punish them on the spot, but to discipline them right away at the best time.
The very instance you see them gnawing on your furniture, get their attention by putting on your most alarming wail of “Oh, no!” Carry them away from the crime site and give them a toy they can chew instead.
Then praise them happily. Easy, right?
Do this whenever you catch them on the act. Soon enough, they will take a hint and stay away from your furniture to avoid upsetting their human.
Hey, above anything else – even above furniture, they love you!
If, however, your cockapoo shows signs of aggression when you try disciplining them, better get them checked. Cockapoos are not aggressive by nature.
Let Your Dog Run Free
Yes. Do not always put your cockapoo on a leash.
Sometimes, cockapoos develop destructive chewing habits because they would like to break free of what’s restraining them to run around and play.
As these dogs are really active and sociable, letting them loose while still keeping them within your watch is the best way to go. Don’t worry about losing them because if they are well-trained, they would be least likely to run away.
Chewing their leash and not calling them out for it will give them an idea that it is okay to chew whenever they feel tense, which is what one could feel if restricted.
The best thing to do? Let them free.
Give Your Cockapoo Your Love and Attention
Get a cockapoo only when you are ready to give it plenty of the time of your day. Cockapoos are active and outgoing. They would want to keep playing until they get tired.
Most likely, they won’t get tired of you, and you can use that to your advantage. They are intelligent, so make an effort to train them as early as you get them. A well-trained dog is always endearing to behold.
They also would love to just sit around the sofa with you. If they’re trained, they’ll let you do your work while they quietly cuddle.
If you’re not, well, the sofa is a nice toy to play with. Especially if it’s complete with cushions and all that.
Spare them your attention and help them dispense their energy right so they wouldn’t think of throwing it elsewhere. Go on walks and play outside. Let them spend time with other dogs.
FYI – want to know how hard it is to train a cockapoo? Learn more here!
Hope you enjoyed this post about do cockapoos chew furniture.
If you enjoyed this post, then you will love these posts:
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Thanks for reading! You can get many more tips and tricks for your Cockapoo here.