How to Stop Your Puppy from Chewing in 5 Easy Steps

Have you recently added a four-legged friend to your family? Do his big brown eyes and fluffy tail just make you swoon. Or is his taste for your furniture and belongings making you doubt your decision to become a fur parent?

Puppies explore with their mouths, so it’s natural for them to want to chew everything in sight. As unfortunate as it is to have your belongings chewed to pieces and possibly destroyed, having a puppy can bring you much joy. They are called “man’s best friend” for a reason.

So how do we stop them from chewing our things?

Chew Toys

This might be obvious but buy your puppy lots of chewable toys. Plush toys are cute but aren’t suitable for chewing. Try something harder that they can firmly get their little teeth around. This will help ease any teething pains. Rubber toys and wood/bone substitute toys are great for this.

Keep an eye on what kind of things they are chewing on around your home, this will help when it comes to choosing a toy. Choose a toy with similar characteristics. If your dog chews on your wooden dining table legs, then you know a toy with a wooden quality is a good choice for your pup. We love the wide selection of chew toys from Kong and stock them here at Capalaba Produce.

Offering them a chew toy with a tasty flavour can also keep them entertained for hours. However, if you give them an edible chew, such as pig ears and rawhide bones, be sure to keep an eye on them. Your puppy may bite off more than they can chew, and if they swallow a large piece there is a risk of choking.

Exercise & Playtime

Is your puppy getting enough exercise? They require a lot of attention when they’re young and playtime and exercise can be a great way to burn off some off that excess energy.

What time of day do they chew the most? These are the times where you want to simulate them. Either with exercise and play, or by offering them toys they can chew on.

If your puppy becomes bored, frustrated, or anxious they may become destructive chewers. And will chew to ease themselves.

Try Confinement / Crate Training

Having a special area for your puppy to go to that they can feel safe is the ideal way for them to learn good habits. When they are in this area, assure it is a positive experience, offer them toys they are allowed to have and make sure it is free of things they can’t have. This way they get use to playing with the right toys.

Dog Proof

Dog proof your house until they are old enough to know better. Keep clothing off the ground and any other items your puppy might take an interest in.

If that fails, you can use spray deterrents. Spray the deterrent on things you don’t want your puppy to touch. They will avoid biting something that tastes and smells bad to them. These sprays can be quite affective, but you may need to try a few different types to see what works best against your puppy.

Training

Training your puppy, is the best way to ensure you both end up happy. No matter how frustrating their actions can be, never yell at your puppy, they don’t know better. If they start chewing something you should say “no” just once, take the item from them and immediately replace it with one of their toys. Praise them affectionately and make the moment a happy one, rather than negative. Your puppy will naturally start choosing the appropriate toys over time.

All in all, know that every puppy goes through a chewing stage, as it is their natural instincts. Be patient. Through your guidance they will learn their boundaries and will become a lifelong companion to you and your family.