How To Stop Puppy From Chewing On Your Stuff
The puppy chewing phase is not fun, in fact, it’s downright
stressful! One minute puppy is playing nicely with a toy, and just like that, he turns into a furry monster on a mission to chew and destroy.
Sometimes it seems
like they are an equal opportunity chewer!
When there’s a hankering to chew,
anything from their vantage point (furniture, plants, another animal) is fair game.
Other times it feels personal! In a room full of choices, the puppy goes to that one thing that belongs to you or you care about to chew on.
In all seriousness, there are many reasons why puppies chew. Usually, they chew when they are playing, teething, exploring or trying to ease anxiety or boredom. As for your personal items, your puppy loves you and because of this, they will often prefer to chew on items that have your smell, like the remote, your smartphone or slippers. So really you should look at as a term of endearment!
Yelling and/or spraying chemicals won’t stop your puppy from
chewing. Yelling will only make them
fearful, which can lead to other behavioral
issues. As for chemicals, some are
harmful, the smell/taste is temporary and some items can’t be sprayed – like the
remote or your smartphone.
Here are guidelines I use to help correct and prevent inappropriate chewing behavior with my dogs.
1. Puppy-proof your house or the area puppy will be free in
For the next few months, years, or as long as they live, depending on the dog, anything
you care about or is an endangerment, put
away or high enough off the floor that your puppy can’t reach it. View puppy-proof
your home similar as you would for a toddler.
For example, lay on the floor then get on
your knees so that you can see the dangers from their point of view. Tuck away electrical
cords or other dangling items, keep cabinets or rooms with toxins or other
hazards locked. Install baby gates to
either keep your puppy in or out of a room.
We have one baby gate in our house, it’s a
large walk-through gate in our family room where our puppy spends
most of his time.
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| Korben inside the clinker! |
2. Watch your puppy when he/she is out of
their crate
I look at raising a puppy similar to
raising a toddler. When my children first became mobile I never allowed them to
run around the house unsupervised. Either someone was with them watching or
they were in their playpen, crib, saucer, you get the idea.
If you’re watching your puppy you will be
able to stop them from chewing on inappropriate
items early and take corrective actions before it becomes an issue.
At our house, we have the following restrictions. I know this isn’t for everyone. Puppy…
At our house, we have the following restrictions. I know this isn’t for everyone. Puppy…
·
Can only come out when being watched, otherwise,
he/she is in their crate. To make crate
time a little easier, we rotate a few safe chews. It makes the crate more
comfortable and helps combat boredom.
·
Can only run free in the family room where it’s
gated, on a leash everywhere else
Obviously,
these restrictions loosen over time as
the puppy matures mentally. Just like a
toddler, the intent is to keep them out of trouble by restricting freedom until
they learn what is acceptable and unacceptable
behavior.
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| Korben's current crate toys |
3. Provide plenty of appropriate chewing
alternatives
It’s important
that you give appropriate chews for your puppy and plenty of them! Durable toys last longer and
a variety helps keep the puppy from getting bored. Just remember, even the most durable toys wear
out. Toys should be inspected often for tears, splintering, sharp edges, etc.
For aggressive or strong chewers I recommend products like a Kong or other hard rubber toys. Bones, bully/pizzle sticks, and antlers also make great, long-lasting chews – these are my shepherds’ favorite. I don’t recommend using Nylabones or other similar products as they have a tendency to break into small sharp shards that can cause internal injuries. Stuffed animals are also a big no-no.
For aggressive or strong chewers I recommend products like a Kong or other hard rubber toys. Bones, bully/pizzle sticks, and antlers also make great, long-lasting chews – these are my shepherds’ favorite. I don’t recommend using Nylabones or other similar products as they have a tendency to break into small sharp shards that can cause internal injuries. Stuffed animals are also a big no-no.
We buy our
shepherds a new toy or chew monthly. That may seem a little excessive to some,
but I’d rather pay $50-$100 a month for dog entertainment than having to deal
with destructive behavior.
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| Taking a break from one of their favorite pastimes, emptying the toy bin! |
4. Play with
your puppy
Bored puppies =
destruction! Just like us, puppies get antsy and restless, they need a certain
amount of proper stimulation to release all that energy. I remember when my
kids were young, they were always the most challenging on days when they didn’t
get enough mental and physical play. You don’t have to for play hours at a
time, but you should play often, incorporating a variety of activities such as
walking, tug, basic training, chase, fetch or find.
Playtime is one of the best times to teach your puppy what is appropriate or inappropriate to chew on because you can distract and redirect their behavior while they’re in the act. It’s important to give timely feedback so that your puppy learns what is an appropriate chew more quickly. Another benefit, it’s also a great way for the two of you to bond.
Bottom line: A tired puppy is a happy puppy (and owner)!
Playtime is one of the best times to teach your puppy what is appropriate or inappropriate to chew on because you can distract and redirect their behavior while they’re in the act. It’s important to give timely feedback so that your puppy learns what is an appropriate chew more quickly. Another benefit, it’s also a great way for the two of you to bond.
Bottom line: A tired puppy is a happy puppy (and owner)!
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| Leeloo playing with Korben so that I can capture this picture ;) |
5. Distract and
Redirect
As soon as you
see puppy about to chew on something it shouldn’t, use a vocal command (“hey!”) to get their attention, place a toy or
a bone in puppy’s mouth, then praise them
as soon as puppy plays or chews on it. In other words,
you’re redirecting undesired behavior for
desirable behavior without using harsh discipline. I’ve also heard people use:
For distractors:
·
tossing a shake can
·
using a noisemaker
·
touching the dog
on the shoulder
For
redirectors
·
treats
·
throwing a toy
I found that no matter what you use to distract and redirect, this technique takes practice and in some cases coordination to master. I’ve also found it to be the most effective at modifying chewing behavior.
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| My little land shark chewing on his |
As hard and frustrating this chewing phase is now, do try to take some solace in knowing that it is only temporary. It just takes patience, perseverance, and praise. Don’t worry, take one day at a time, you got this!
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| Korben chewing on an antler |
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