Help! My puppy chews everything!

Is your dog chewing everything he comes across? You are not alone!

Like all animals, dogs explore the environment and want to know more about it. Babies use hands and words while puppies use their teeth.

Dogs will experiment on everything in sight, including your shoes, your carpets and even your body!

Chewing is essential for dogs. It helps them to develop stronger jaws. And it also eases the pain that comes with teething.

Moreover, it helps to keep their teeth strong and healthy. Therefore, you don’t want to stop the act completely, but channel it into desirable behaviors.

So when do puppies stop chewing?

As a puppy, chewing is expected. Most puppies teethe between the age of three and six months.

Once their baby teeth are gone, the pup will stop chewing for some time because the pain of her new teeth is gone. Now, your adult dog may still be chewing on anything they come across. Don’t worry; you can still stop the habit.

Here are some tips on how to stop a dog from chewing items he shouldn’t:

1. Provide them with enough exercises

If your dog chews on anything he comes across, chances are he is bored.

Your canine friend is energetic and active, and if you don’t provide ways to expend that energy, it will be redirected to chewing and other destructive behaviors.

Regular exercises will help tire out your pup and provide mental stimulation. If your puppy chews your shoes when he’s bored, some physical exercises can help make him stay clear of your valuable shoes.

Engaging exercises, either indoors or outside, will help expend excess energy and meet your dog’s need for company. Therefore, they will not feel the need to gnaw on your valuable items.

2. Make sure he has enough chew toys

If your pup is chewing on anything he shouldn’t, make sure you replace that thing with acceptable items for him to chew on, like the recommended chew toys for dogs. This is stopping the behavior rather than punishing your dog.

In case you find that he isn’t too keen on the toy you provided, replace it with another one. Like human beings, dogs have tastes and preferences, so it is important to provide him with chew toys that he likes.

You can find a list of recommended chew toys for your dog online. However, make sure that your chosen toys are long-lasting. Once you notice that the toy is starting to wear, make sure you replace it immediately.

3. Dog-proof your house

Puppy-proof your house by blocking your dog’s access to anything you don’t want him to chew on and put aside everything he shouldn’t have.

If your dog is fond of chewing on your shoes, put them out of his sight to ensure he doesn’t chew on them.

If you are wondering how to stop puppy from chewing furniture, then put him in a crate for a reasonable amount of time or when you are unable to keep a close watch on him.

4. Use deterrents

Items that taste bad can help stop your dog from chewing on anything he shouldn’t.

You can apply Bitter Apple to electrical cables to teach your dog to stop chewing on these dangerous items.

Many pups find the smell of Vicks Vapo-Rub unpleasant. Apply Vicks on your furniture or to clothing covering other prohibited targets to stop your puppy from chewing on them.

5. Reinforce any good behavior

By now, you have removed your dog’s access to the items he shouldn’t have. You have filled his living space with acceptable items only. Your dog is now set up for success.

It is now important to reinforce any good behavior you notice. Make sure you reward every good thing he does.

Be observant. Whenever you find him chewing on the right items like chew toys, praise him and give him a treat.

To reinforce the behavior, you can even consider taking him out for a walk whenever you see him chewing a chew toy. Your dog will soon learn that chewing the provided toys is rewarding while chewing on other things is not.

6. Give Your Dog the attention he deserves

Sometimes puppies chew on things they shouldn’t because they need your attention. Therefore, it is important to give your dog the attention he craves.

If you keep him chained up throughout the day, he is not enjoying the attention he needs to know what is right and what’s not.

7. Do Not Punish

Punishment is not the solution. Punishing your dog is not the best way to teach your dog to stop chewing things up. Instead, it can encourage other unacceptable behaviors.

If you punish your dog, chances are he won’t relate the punishment to the behavior. And if he is wearing a guilty face, chances are he is not actually feeling guilty for the offense.

Dogs wear such faces when they are in a vulnerable position. So rather than feel guilty for their actions, they are actually afraid of you as they can see you are upset and they don’t know the reason.

Bear in mind that your puppy is like a human baby. You should not punish your puppy for chewing on something that you should have put away from him.

8. Seek Help:

If you are struggling to stop your dogs chewing problem, it is advisable to seek help from a professional program like Brain Training for Dogs.

In this program, you will learn how to get a dog to stop chewing using positive reinforcement methods. This is unlike dominance training, where pups behave just to avoid punishment.

The program will teach you how to prevent puppy chewing using rewards. This is a win-win situation for you and your dog.

The Doggy Dan the Online Dog Trainer is another excellent program for you to learn how to stop a puppy from chewing and any other destructive behavior.

This program offers everything you need to know about all aspects of dog training complete with video tutorials!

Throughout the Doggy Dan the Online Dog Trainer program, you will learn how to teach your dog a new acceptable behavior instead of chewing on your items. It teaches new puppy and dog owners to achieve their desired results through dog-friendly training methods.

Help! My Puppy Loves Chewing on Shoes

Are shoes your pup’s number one chew toy?

The Brain Training for Dogs and Doggy Dan the Online Dog Trainer programs are designed to help you identify the root cause of your dog’s chewing behavior and stop it before it becomes a major issue.

If you are prepared to follow the suggested training, you’ll be able to stop your dog chewing from the start.