My Rat Terrie Jax has the habit of gnawing on writs, noses or any other appendiages when I first get home and he's very excited. Is there any way of breaking this habbit with out swatting or yelling? I try and substitue with plenty of rawhides and other acceptable, chewable objects but it doesn't seem to be working. He also eats anything he can find when we are walking such as small twigs, and rocks. How do you correct this behavior aswell.

Thanks for your imput.

Dane 

First off, I would suggest reading Nora's "Correcting Chewing Behavior" post at the top of this section.  It has great advice!

With the excitement chewing, the toy trade-off is a good idea.  It sounds like, though, you are offering a number of different toys to Jax.  I have found that some dogs respond better to this if you pick one toy and get them excited about it.  Once you pick a toy and spend some time over a few days getting Jax to focus on it and get happy about it, play with him with *that* toy once you are settled after getting home.  You might even keep it in right next to the front door to grab and play with on only those "I'm home!" occasions.  (Don't leave it on the floor, though, where it becomes just another toy for him.  Takes all the special out of it.)

As for the "eats anything he can find" issue, I have had the same problem with Ripley.  Although I've taught him "leave it" with treat rewards (treating him for dropping whatever icky thing he's grabbed), it doesn't stop him from picking things up.  In the house, he occasionally is out of sight for a minute and will grab some odd bit from a kid's room or wherever.  I have never chased him, so haven't made a game of it for him.  I call him to me, and tell him to "give it."  (If he doesn't give it over, I do fish it out of his mouth, lol!)  If it turns out to be something acceptable (a hoof piece large enough to be safe, a piece of food, etc.) I give it back.  If it's not acceptable for him to have, I trade him for something that *is.*  When he takes the trade, I tell him he's great, often tossing the traded toy for him to fetch, which he loves.  Sooner or later, I am sure Rip will learn what is ok to pick up (what I let him keep) and what isn't.  He's just testing right now and learning how things work.  Probably the same with Jax.  Everything is just so *interesting!* right now!

Not everything works with every dog.  There are standards and basics off which you can build.  You both learn through some trial and error, and lots of love and patience.  I hope you find your solution in Nora's writing, my experience, or both!