Most people who have owned a dog have dealt with the puppy chewing stage. However, surprisingly, not many of them know how to change a puppy’s chewing habits. Most of the time, it is quite simple to show your new puppy what is ok to chew and what is not ok to chew. But in order to do so, you have to know where to start. Remember, some breeds are avid chewers! In fact, many puppies are quite good chewers, considering their age. So it is always important to start very soon when training your puppy what he can chew and what he cannot chew.
Always keep in mind that your home should be puppy-proofed before you bring a puppy home. The little one just isn’t familiar with just about anything, so he’s not going to know what he’s getting into most of the time. Keeping your home safe for him is important. Make sure to pick up items you would prefer to keep. Although you are training your puppy to chew the correct things, it is always the best plan to prevent accidents, versus trying to fix them later.
First, establish what is ok to chew. Give the puppy his designated chew toys and when he chews them, shower him with praise. Allow him to chew for a while. Next, place something on the floor that is yours (it doesn’t matter what it is, we want to teach puppy that nothing but what is designated for him can be chewed). If and when he decides to chew it, firmly say “no” while grabbing the toy (never rip anything from the jaws of a puppy as you could hurt them), then replace it with his chew toy and praise him when he begins to chew on it. Repeat these steps until they stick. As you can probably gather, we are teaching the puppy that his toys are ok to chew (by praising him) and your items are not ok to chew (by firmly saying no and removing the item).
Keep in mind that the knowledge isn’t always grasped overnight with puppies. Yes, for some puppies the new training is a grasped concept within hours. But for most, it may take a little practice. Something that really helps most new puppy owners is a crate. Although some people may or may not like dog crates, they can really help with both house breaking and chewing issues. When a puppy can’t be supervised, it is good to have a place where they can be, because if a puppy is consistently doing the wrong things because he is unsupervised, it will take longer for him to learn the right ones. Puppy chewing phases tend to last anywhere from eight months to a year and a half, depending on the breed. Large breeds tend to chew longer than smaller breeds. But training can drastically alter this fact.
Teaching your new little one to chew correctly doesn’t have to be a complicated process. If you follow these few simple guidelines, you’ll begin to notice his habits and misbehaviors changing for the better.
Always keep in mind that your home should be puppy-proofed before you bring a puppy home. The little one just isn’t familiar with just about anything, so he’s not going to know what he’s getting into most of the time. Keeping your home safe for him is important. Make sure to pick up items you would prefer to keep. Although you are training your puppy to chew the correct things, it is always the best plan to prevent accidents, versus trying to fix them later.
First, establish what is ok to chew. Give the puppy his designated chew toys and when he chews them, shower him with praise. Allow him to chew for a while. Next, place something on the floor that is yours (it doesn’t matter what it is, we want to teach puppy that nothing but what is designated for him can be chewed). If and when he decides to chew it, firmly say “no” while grabbing the toy (never rip anything from the jaws of a puppy as you could hurt them), then replace it with his chew toy and praise him when he begins to chew on it. Repeat these steps until they stick. As you can probably gather, we are teaching the puppy that his toys are ok to chew (by praising him) and your items are not ok to chew (by firmly saying no and removing the item).
Keep in mind that the knowledge isn’t always grasped overnight with puppies. Yes, for some puppies the new training is a grasped concept within hours. But for most, it may take a little practice. Something that really helps most new puppy owners is a crate. Although some people may or may not like dog crates, they can really help with both house breaking and chewing issues. When a puppy can’t be supervised, it is good to have a place where they can be, because if a puppy is consistently doing the wrong things because he is unsupervised, it will take longer for him to learn the right ones. Puppy chewing phases tend to last anywhere from eight months to a year and a half, depending on the breed. Large breeds tend to chew longer than smaller breeds. But training can drastically alter this fact.
Teaching your new little one to chew correctly doesn’t have to be a complicated process. If you follow these few simple guidelines, you’ll begin to notice his habits and misbehaviors changing for the better.
Kady Stansbury is the dash of artistic temperament that makes any site a success. She is a certified dog trainer with more than 5 years of experience in her kitty. She is also a tremendous writer who has over the years developed a formidable reputation and is much sought after as a Dog Blogger. She has successfully conducted one on one sessions where her students have learnt the basic commands of dog training lightning fast.
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