Puppy Chewing Got You Down? |
Puppies love to chew; in fact, pups have to chew things in order to develop their adult teeth. Chewing is a natural part of their development process. The trick is making certain that puppies have appropriate things to chew on, and are effectively discouraged from unacceptable chewing behaviors.
Dogs go through a teething stage just as human babies do, that lasts for about 6 months. Chewing helps the dog's teething process, and works to aleviate the pain and discomfort of their gums while they're teething. Puppies aren't particular about what they chew, and almost anything little dogs can sink their little teeth into is fair game.
You need to be vigilant about what you leave lying around that your puppy can access. This is not only so favorite possessions are not ruined, but because some things are not good for dogs to chew. Parts of toys that can break off when a dog chews them can be a choking hazard or cause an abdominal obstruction if swallowed.
Keep trash and refuse out of puppy's reach. Dispose of trash appropriately, making certain that trash indoors is stored in securely covered containers, and trash outdoors is also secured until it can be hauled away.
Do NOT give your puppy old socks, shoes, clothing etc. to chew on. By doing so, you are teaching him the very behaviors you'll be trying to break him from later on. If you have small children, teach them to pick up and put away toys, shoes, clothing and other objects that might prove atttractive to your puppy.
Provide your puppy with plenty of appropriate chew toys, and praise him when he uses them.
If your puppy chews on furniture or other inappropriate household items, try coating them with deterrents made for that specific purpose. These are substances that are safe for your dog, but will contain either taste or smells that will be unappealing to her, and thus deter her bad chewing behavior.
Monitor your puppy's behavior to train him to act appropriately in his chewing behaviors. Provide a variety of chewing toys, allow plenty of time and opportunities to interact with him, and make certain he gets plenty attention, stimulation and appropriate excercise and any chewing problems should be minimized.