Puppies chew. All the time. It is part of their natural behavior. While it can't be stopped completely, you can direct your puppies obsessive chewing attention away from inappropriate objects by offering plenty of fun chew toys and rewarding good behavior.
Puppies begin shedding their baby teeth at around 4 months. This teething phase is marked by nearly constant chewing and gnawing. By 7 months your puppy should have all his permanent teeth.
Puppies chew to relieve teething pain and expend excess energy, as well as to relieve boredom. Keep them well stocked with several toys at a time. Rotate them out with new toys frequently.
Toys
Safety first. Choose toys that are strong enough to withstand focused gnawing by razor sharp teeth for a prolonged period of time. Size is also very important. Toys that are too small can become lodged in your puppy's throat. Most chew toy manufacturers will put a size chart somewhere on the packaging.
Stuffed toys and latex toys are a bad idea during the teething period. They are usually shredded in minutes due to your puppies very sharp teeth. Pieces of thread, fabric and latex are also choking hazards.
Always observe your puppy when he is chewing on toys. Remove any large, undigestible chunks that might break off. Replace the chew toy when it becomes small enough to be a choking hazard.
*A Kong is a hard rubber, super bouncy chew toy that is both durable and effective. It comes with a hole, which can be stuffed with treats or peanut butter to encourage chewing and occupy your puppy. It is very popular and highly recommended by vets and breeders.
*Nylabone offers an extensive line of hard rubber and edible toys and bones for gnawing.
*Some pet stores offer freezable toys. These toys are made of tough fabric that can be soaked and then frozen. Freezable toys help relieve teething pain while, at the same time, giving puppy something appropriate to chew on.
Training Tips
Reward appropriate behavior. When your puppy is chewing on the right thing, give him some verbal praise and maybe a treat. This will help to reinforce the idea that chewing on the right toy is in his best interest.
Make sure your puppy gets plenty of exercise through frequent walks and play times. A napping puppy can't chew on the table legs.
Keep your puppy in view at all times and don't let him wander freely throughout the house. Consider confining your puppy to a certain area of your home.
Use puppy gates to restrict access to other areas. Close doors to rooms that are off limits. Help your puppy avoid temptation by keeping children's toys picked up and put away.
Training Aids
If your puppy is tempted to chew on furniture legs or baseboards, spray these items with a bitter tasting product such as Bitter Apple, Bitter Break or Fooey! The nasty taste, coupled with your firm "No" will get the message across that this item is off limits. When he leaves that item, hand him his chew toy and praise him for chewing on it.
Although this teething phase is relatively brief, your puppy's chewing habits will be set during his teething phase. Proper training and supervision are vital for his future health and safety. Remember that dogs repeat behaviors that are rewarding.
Julie King is a dog lover and avid dog trainer. She has been dog training since 1997 and has lots of helpful tips and suggestions that could |
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