Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time, but it also comes with the responsibility of teaching them proper behavior. One of the most crucial early lessons is about chewing. Puppies naturally explore the world with their mouths, and chewing helps alleviate the discomfort of teething. However, unchecked chewing can lead to destroyed belongings and potential safety hazards for your new companion. This guide will equip you with essential strategies to foster appropriate chewing habits in your puppy, making the learning process enjoyable for both of you.
Provide a Variety of Safe Chew Toys and Bones
It’s essential to offer your puppy a wide selection of appropriate chew options. Providing designated puppy-specific toys, such as teething toys or plastic chew bones, is crucial. If you don’t provide these, your puppy will inevitably find their own “toys” from around your home.
When selecting toys, consider your puppy’s individual personality and chewing strength. A powerful chewer might quickly destroy softer rubber toys, while a gentler dog may prefer a softer texture. Exploring various safe puppy toys will help you find the perfect fit.
Utilize Frozen Options to Soothe Teething Pain
Puppies experience significant discomfort as they lose their baby teeth and their adult teeth erupt, typically before six months of age. Similar to human teething, this process can be painful for dogs.
Offering cold items can provide welcome relief to your puppy’s sensitive gums. Simple and inexpensive options include ice cubes or frozen, damp washcloths. You can also find chew toys specifically designed to be frozen. Furthermore, food-stuffable puppy toys can be filled with softened kibble or broth and then frozen, offering a soothing, chilly treat.
Consult Your Veterinarian for Safe Chewing Advice
Your puppy’s initial veterinary visit is an opportune time to discuss safe chewing options. Your vet can provide expert advice on selecting appropriate chew toys that match your puppy’s breed and chewing intensity, helping you understand what to expect as they grow.
Additionally, inquire about the suitability of edible chews. While a toy designed for puppies might suffice for a less aggressive chewer, options like bully sticks might be more appropriate for a strong chewer. Consulting your veterinarian ensures you make informed decisions regarding your puppy’s safety and dental health.
Secure Valuables and Potentially Harmful Items
It’s unrealistic to expect a puppy to distinguish between their chew toys and your personal belongings, such as a favorite sneaker. Anything they can fit into their mouth is likely to be considered fair game. Your shoes, in particular, may be more enticing due to their familiar scent. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep valuables out of reach and to puppy-proof your home to prevent your puppy from chewing on dangerous items like electrical cords.
Maintain Constant Supervision
Despite your best efforts at puppy-proofing, your new pet requires constant supervision during their waking hours to prevent them from making poor chewing choices. Items like couch cushions, table legs, or baseboards can quickly become targets for a curious puppy. By keeping a close eye on your puppy, you can intervene promptly, redirecting them to an appropriate chew toy when they show interest in something they shouldn’t.
Implement Crate Training or Secure Isolation
It’s impossible to monitor your puppy every single moment. When you need to step away, ensure your puppy is safely contained within a crate or a designated dog-proofed area. Providing a variety of chew toys within this space will help keep them engaged and prevent destructive chewing.
Consider using food-stuffed chew toys, as this offers a rewarding experience for your puppy, encouraging them to focus on appropriate items. This positive reinforcement can significantly aid in developing good chewing habits.
Teach the “Leave It” Command
To effectively stop your puppy from chewing inappropriate items, the “leave it” command is invaluable. This cue signals to your puppy that they are not permitted to engage with a particular item, which can be a crucial safety measure. It can prevent them from snatching slippers or, more seriously, ingesting dropped medication. Begin by teaching your puppy to only take items from your hand with permission, gradually increasing the difficulty to simulate real-world scenarios.
Teach the “Drop It” or “Out” Command
If your puppy already has something in their mouth that they shouldn’t, be prepared with the “drop it” or “out” cue. This command instructs your dog to release whatever they are holding. You can teach this by offering a trade – exchanging the item for a high-value treat or a favorite toy. Avoid chasing your puppy to retrieve the object, as this can inadvertently encourage a game of keep-away.
Ensure Sufficient Physical and Mental Exercise
Boredom can often lead to unwanted behaviors, including destructive chewing. Providing your puppy with adequate physical exercise and mental stimulation is vital. Engaging activities such as training sessions, walks, interactive playtime, and challenging puzzle toys can significantly reduce the likelihood of them seeking out inappropriate items to chew. Ensuring your puppy is tired before being crated or left alone can also promote calmer behavior.
Avoid Punishing After the Fact
Dogs operate in the present moment, meaning that any misbehavior that occurred even a minute ago is likely not on their radar. Attempting to explain their wrongdoing by showing them the damage is ineffective, as they do not understand human language in that context. Punishing your puppy after the fact will only teach them that you are unpredictable and potentially frightening, rather than helping them understand what they did wrong. Instead, focus on improving supervision for future instances. If you catch your puppy in the act of chewing something inappropriate, redirect their attention to a suitable chew toy or offer a trade.
The AKC GoodDog! Helpline has been supporting dog owners for ten years. If you require assistance with training challenges, their experts are available via phone or video to address any questions, from house-training puppies to managing unwanted behaviors in senior dogs. Join the ranks of nearly one million dog owners who trust the AKC GoodDog! Helpline for reliable guidance.
