How to Stop a Puppy From Chewing Everything in Sight
It can be incredibly frustrating when your puppy chews up your expensive shoes or gnaws on your furniture legs, especially when they seem to ignore all the toys you've bought them. But don't get mad or discouraged. Chewing is completely normal for puppies, and while it can drive you crazy, this behavior is manageable with the right approach.
Why Puppies and Dogs Chew And How to Stop a Puppy From Chewing Everything in Sight
There are three main reasons why dogs chew:
Teething Puppies lose their puppy teeth and grow permanent replacements between 12 weeks and 6 months old. During this time, they have 28 puppy teeth, and then 42 permanent teeth will erupt. This can be a painful period for your pet, making them want to chew on almost anything they can get their mouth around.
Natural Seeking Behavior Puppies are very curious and eager to explore new things. Because they don't have hands, the best way to investigate is to put something in their mouth and chew on it. This helps them learn about the taste, texture, weight, and consistency of new objects.
Play Behavior Curiosity may initially drive a puppy to put something in their mouth, but if they find it fun, they’ll start chewing, carrying, or tossing it as a form of play. This entertains them and provides a way to have fun, How to Stop a Puppy From Chewing Everything in Sight
How to Stop Puppy Chewing
Chewing is a natural puppy behavior, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept that your belongings will be shredded. Here’s how you can curb the chewing and save your stuff:
1. Puppy-Proof Your Home
While we want our puppies to explore and play, we also need to keep them safe and teach them what objects are fair game for play. Puppy-proofing your home is the first step.
The easiest way to puppy-proof your home is to dedicate a dog-safe area. This can be a small room or confined area within your home that is blocked off with a dog gate or wire pen. No items should be kept in that space that you don’t want the puppy to get into. Whenever the puppy can’t be actively supervised, he should be safely confined to this area.
Your dog’s designated area should be filled with dog-safe enrichment items, including:
Comfortable bedding
A crate
A water bowl
Toys
Dog-proofing is also essential if you adopt an older dog, as a new environment can spark their curiosity and lead to chewing habits.
2. Choose the Right Dog Toys
Along with removing things your dog shouldn’t chew on, you need to give them fun items they can chew. When choosing toys for your puppy, offer a variety of safe choices. Select toys that are the right size and consistency for your specific puppy, and provide a variety of colors and textures.
Good toys for chewing puppies include stuffed dog toys with squeakers and KONG toys. It’s important to rotate the toys frequently so your pup doesn’t get bored. Always supervise your dog when they’re playing with toys to ensure they don't swallow any parts.
3. Interrupt and Divert
New dogs and puppies aren’t going to immediately know what items are off-limits for chewing—it’s your job to teach them.
If your pup manages to get their jaws on a favorite shoe or another household item, grab a favorite toy and start playing with it in a happy, animated way. Squeaky toys are great for this as they get your pup’s attention quickly. Your puppy will soon come to you and may even drop the now-boring shoe to check out what you’re having so much fun with. Give the “fun” toy to your puppy and remove the item they were originally chewing on. This is a great opportunity to teach your puppy the “drop it” command.
If they don’t want to trade the shoe, try offering a more desirable toy or a treat. Once they take the toy from you, continue playing with your puppy for a while. Pick up the left-behind shoe later and place it somewhere your puppy doesn’t have access to.
When you catch your puppy chewing on something they shouldn’t, do not laugh or yell at them. Your puppy might think you’re excited about their newfound chew toy, unintentionally rewarding their behavior. Or they might become afraid, hurting your bond—an outcome you don’t want.
If you see your puppy chewing on a potentially dangerous object, quickly remove the item from their mouth as fast as possible. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you think your puppy may have ingested anything dangerous or toxic.
4. Keep Them Occupied
Providing dogs of all ages with ample enrichment is incredibly important for their healthy development. Mental and physical enrichment should be balanced based on individual needs. For instance, a young puppy may need playtime between naps and enjoy finding kibbles in a snuffle mat. An older dog might need multiple daily walks or even dog sports like flyball or agility to stay engaged.
If your dog stays engaged and active, they’ll be less likely to try entertaining themselves by chewing your belongings.
5. Use an Aversive
An aversive is something pet parents can use to keep their puppy away from certain areas or from chewing on large objects. These tools can keep your puppy from chewing up your couch or table legs. Common aversives include:
Sticky tape
Plastic coverings
Bitter apple spray
Motion-activated deterrents
These give your puppy a negative association with the area they try to chew—not with you, which is critical. Aversives can be effective if your puppy has more desirable choices to chew on nearby. Pretty soon, the puppy will learn what is and isn’t fair game for chewing, and you can remove any aversives.
6. Never Use Punishment Tactics
Chewing can be frustrating, but never use harsh punishment like yelling or swatting. Punishment only makes things worse in the long run, sets training back, and leads to a break in the human-animal bond.
With any unwanted behaviors like chewing, always revisit your management plan. Tighten up the puppy-proofing so hopefully the chewing of unwanted items is a non-issue going forward, and make sure your dog has lots of toys to chew instead.
Real-World Examples
Case Study: Redirecting Attention
A new puppy named Bella loved chewing on her owner’s shoes. Her owner started keeping shoes out of reach and provided Bella with a variety of toys, including a KONG toy filled with peanut butter. Whenever Bella went for a shoe, her owner would redirect her attention to the KONG toy. Over time, Bella learned to chew on her toys instead of shoes.
Case Study: Using a Designated Area
Max, a Labrador puppy, was chewing on everything in sight. His owners created a safe space for him in their living room using a dog gate. They filled the area with his bed, water bowl, and a selection of chew toys. Whenever they couldn’t supervise Max, they placed him in the designated area. This strategy helped Max learn what was safe to chew on.
Case Study: Employing Aversives
Luna, a curious Beagle, loved chewing on the legs of the dining table. Her owners applied bitter apple spray to the table legs and provided Luna with plenty of chew toys. The unpleasant taste of the spray deterred Luna from chewing on the furniture, and she started focusing on her toys instead.
FAQs
Why do puppies chew so much?
Puppies chew as part of their natural behavior. They chew to explore their environment, relieve teething pain, and play.
How can I stop my puppy from chewing on furniture?
Provide plenty of chew toys, puppy-proof your home, and use aversives on furniture legs. Redirect your puppy’s attention to appropriate toys whenever they start chewing on furniture.
Is it safe to use aversive sprays on furniture?
Yes, aversive sprays like bitter apple are generally safe for use on furniture. They deter chewing by making the object taste unpleasant.
How do I puppy-proof my home?
Create a designated safe area for your puppy, remove or secure items you don’t want chewed, and provide plenty of dog-safe enrichment items like toys and comfortable bedding.
What should I do if my puppy chews on something dangerous?
Quickly remove the item from their mouth and contact your veterinarian immediately if you think your puppy may have ingested anything dangerous or toxic.
Conclusion
Chewing is a natural behavior for puppies, but with the right strategies, you can manage and redirect this behavior. Puppy-proof your home, provide plenty of chew toys, and use aversives to protect valuable items. Remember, patience and consistency are key. With time and effort, your puppy will learn what is and isn’t appropriate to chew on.
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