Chewing and teething

Prevent

• Active supervision! When your puppy is exploring, watch them. Avoid multitasking.

• Have a puppy proof space in each living area they can go to if you can’t watch them – try a crate or pen with activities they only get on confinement.

• Puppy proof! Keep items you don’t want your puppy to have out of reach, use gates and pens to prevent access to areas where you can’t remove items.

• If needed, use bitter spray daily on items you just can’t remove (there are different brands, test to find one your puppy doesn’t like). *Never use on your puppy or your body.

What to do:

• Don’t let your puppy chew items you don’t want them chew as adults: shoes, socks, rugs, furniture, kid toys, your body.  After they have learned what to chew, these items can typically be reintroduced with a little supervision and redirection to be sure they know new items are not chew toys.

• Have appropriate chew items available free choice – pick up some of the toys and swap with others every few days to keep things fresh.

• Interrupt inappropriate chewing before or just as your puppy engages, and redirect them to something they are allowed to chew.  Remove the item or eliminate access if they return to it.

• Trade inappropriate items your puppy has for items they are allowed to have.  Use a tasty treat in exchange for that sock, then replace with a stuffed toy!

• Chewing is self-rewarding. Help your puppy chew the correct items to help them learn which items they should choose.

• If your puppy likes to steal items – chasing them to remove it can be a fun game for them.  Focus on getting something to trade and get your puppy to come to you with the item.

• Removing items by force can teach puppies to guard items – set them up to feel like they are choosing something better by offering a high value trade (favorite toy, chew, a treat, cheese, or meat).

• Telling puppies ‘no’ doesn’t help them learn what to chew, help them make a good choice.  Teach drop it and leave it cues with positive reinforcement instead.

• Attaching an item that a puppy was chewing to them will not help them understand that they shouldn’t chew the item.