Puppies are undoubtedly adorable and fun to have around; they’re great companions and incredibly loyal. Unfortunately, the younger the puppy, the higher your odds of coming home one day to find your loving friend has chewed something to shreds.
Puppies actually chew for a reason. In addition to their keen senses of vision and smell, they use their mouths to explore their environments. The good news is that you can train your puppy to chew on items you feel are appropriate instead of anything in sight.
Positive Reinforcement, Not Punishment
First of all, it’s essential for you to understand that punishing puppies doesn’t work. At best, your dog will develop inappropriate behaviors – and that’s not much of a best.
Your puppy’s mind moves quickly. Let’s say you go to work; while you’re away, your puppy chews your sneaker. By the time you get home, he’s already long forgotten chewing the sneaker. If you’re upset, yelling, and posturing, he’ll be completely baffled and confused by your reaction. All that does is teach him to associate your anger with coming home. He may even exhibit fear towards you because you appear “big and scary.” Constantly reinforcing your training lessons without becoming that “angry monster” he sees is critical to success.
Instead of getting angry, correct your puppy with a strong, forceful “no.” Then, divert his attention to an approved chewing toy. You need to do this when you catch him in the act; it’s the only time the correction will be effective. Give him praise when you see him chewing the appropriate toys.
Puppy Behavior Patterns
As your puppy begins to chew, take note of when he chews and what he chews on most. You may learn some interesting things about your pup’s personality and behavior patterns, especially when he hits the puppy adolescence stage. For example, puppies usually chew because they are exploring, bored, or need attention. Adult dogs chew when they experience canine anxiety, separation issues, or fear.
No matter what the reason for chewing, knowing is half the battle. You can modify your own behaviors around your pup to keep him at ease. Make sure he has approved items or toys to chew on to start with. If he seems anxious, seek a trainer to help with behavior modification.
Crate Training
Is your dog home for long periods of time throughout the day? Need to run errands or leave the house for a bit? Crate training is a great way to keep your dog safe while preventing him from chewing random furniture while you’re out. It’s also an important fallback in emergencies and should be an essential part of early puppy training for all dogs.
When you incorporate crate training, make sure you are leaving him with approved chew toys. He’ll start to associate chewing on toys with times you are away, making it something to look forward to instead of something to dread. Start this habit early and it will stick with him for life.
Supervision & Attention
You have to teach children not to touch objects and items that may be dangerous for them to handle. The same logic applies to dogs. Keep an eye on your puppy to make sure he isn’t getting into the wrong items or objects. Remember: he doesn’t know what you perceive to be right from wrong, and he can’t unless you show him.
Reminder: yelling and posturing isn’t appropriate here. Consistently telling him no and redirecting him to proper toys will reinforce the message over time. Your attention and supervision will help him to learn the canine house rules.
Puppy Playtime
Bored dogs tend to explore and chew more. Make sure your puppy is getting as much play and exercise time as possible. Time in the backyard, on walks, or even on car rides with you will keep him stimulated while strengthening your bond. The more occupied he is, the less likely he will be to seek out new objects to chow down on.
Don’t forget socialization. Dogs love being around people, so try to find someone to help with walks and play on the days you are busy with work or overwhelmed with appointments.
Safe, Chew-Friendly Toys
Be cautious when choosing toys for your dog. Toys purchased in pet supply stores are usually best, as they’re made of durable materials and don’t have small parts that may represent a choking hazard for a curious pup.
Some pet parents like to give their puppies plush toys to chew on. This is fine; however, you should be careful to follow the same guidelines as with human babies. That means no small pieces on the nose, mouth, or ears, and no loose strings or bits.
You should also avoid plush toys with squeakers. Even though they’re fully plushified on the outside, some dogs can chew through them to the speaker and the battery, which are toxic.
If you do use plush toys, make it a rule to take the toy away and replace it with another one as soon as your dog rips it open. Sure, it’s more expensive, but you won’t need to worry about your dog eating the stuffing or bits of the toy getting caught in his intestines.
Puppy-Proofing Your Home
Everyone in your home needs to take responsibility for their belongings. Clothing, shoes, toys, wallets, and electronics entice dogs and make them curious. Small bathroom wastebaskets, new rolls of toilet paper, and even plastic bags are puppy magnets, too. It’s up to you to take control of these items and keep them out of reach.
Take a look around your home and try to puppy-proof it a little bit. Anything with your scent will attract your pup (including socks and underwear). Purses and belts have a nice leathery chew and make tempting tidbits.
As for food garbage, keep it in a container with a lid. You can’t be angry with your dog for chewing when these items are within reach, especially if they have your scent. That’s just natural dog behavior, even if we don’t like it.
This is also an excellent time to teach your dog which rooms are off-limits. The bathroom is a prime example; your wastebasket, pill bottles, toothpaste tubes, and other items can represent a serious risk to his health. Keep them locked up or inside cupboards and drawers.
Remember, puppy teething is a phase. If you catch it early and correct the behavior, you will have no problem raising a confident dog. It’s all about understanding your pup and how he experiences the world.