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Posts Tagged ‘stop puppy chewing’

Puppy chewing problems can turn the joy of a new puppy into a nightmare.  However, you can solve the problem of destructive chewing.  All puppies chew, but it’s up to you as the dog owner to teach your puppy which items are off-limits to his teeth.  Here are ten tips that can help. 

1. Take Time To Puppy-proof Your Home

Instead of always yelling at your pup for getting into things, it’s better to temporarily put away things you don’t want him to damage. Cover or tape down electrical wires, hide your plants where he can’t get to them, and put away the throw rugs for now. Put trash bins in the closet, along with the toilet paper and any household cleaners. Put your clothes and shoes away. Secure anything heavy that a puppy could pull down on himself to prevent injuries.

2. Give Him Only Two Or Three Toys At A Time

If your puppy has too many toys, he’ll have a hard time learning what belongs to him and what belongs to you. Plus he’ll get bored with his toys after a couple of days. That’s when you put those toys up and give him different ones.

3. Confine Him Safely To One Place

If you’re not able to keep an eye on your puppy, it’s best to confine him to a safe area where he can’t destroy anything or get hurt. Keep him in one room by using a wire-reinforced puppy gate. You may want to confine him to a crate that’s the right size for him. Puppies often feel more secure in a small, protected den area like a crate. It also gives you peace of mind because you know destructive chewing isn’t happening while you’re gone.

4. Lots And Lots Of Exercise Is Essential

Your pup needs one to two hours of active exercise outside every day. Playing fetch with a ball or other toy can help to stop puppy chewing, too, as well as using up all that excess energy all puppies have.

5. A Puppy Playmate Can Help, Too

Playing with another puppy will also use up his energy, as well as teaching him how to interact with other dogs.

6. Begin Basic Dog Obedience Training Even Though He’s Still Young

Keep the sessions very short. A young puppy can’t concentrate too long, but a 30-second “mini-session” several times a day is a good start. Don’t ignore training opportunities as they arise during the day. If you take time now to correct small problem behaviors as they occur , you’ll prevent them from becoming big problem behaviors in a few months.

7. Find An Agility Training Course For Him

These classes are a lot of fun, plus your puppy is getting lots of exercise while he’s becoming more coordinated and confident. It’s easy to make it into a win-win situation for both of you.

8. Use A Bitter-Tasting Spray

If your puppy just won’t leave the sofa leg alone, try spraying it with a bitter-tasting substance. These sprays are available at pet stores, and they can be very effective in convincing your puppy that he doesn’t want to chew on the chair leg after all.

9. Don’t Punish Him After The Fact

You can’t stop puppy chewing by punishing him for something he did several hours ago. Dogs live in the present. Your pup can’t connect the fact that he chewed up your shoe two hours ago with your being upset now that you’ve just found it.

You either have to catch him in the act of chewing, or better yet, prevent the problem in the first place. See numbers one and three above.

10. Remember that it’s up to you to teach your puppy what kind of behavior is and isn’t acceptable, right from Day 1.

You should know that investing in a good dog training course will pay dividends now, and throughout your dog’s life.  If your puppy chews everything in sight, click on any link in this article to discover how a good dog training course will help you quickly solve your puppy behavior problems.

Tell me, does this describe you?Puppy chewing has turned your dream of having a happy, obedient dog into a nightmare as your belongings are shredded into a million little pieces due to of dog chewing problems.  Don’t despair.  You can stop puppy chewing by learning some dog training basics. 

You Need To Understand Why Puppies Chew On Things

If you’ve ever been around a human baby, you know that they learn about their surroundings by putting everything in their mouths.  A puppy is no different.  Puppies chew on chair legs, shoes, and whatever they can get hold of.  This is normal behavior, but that doesn’t mean it’s not destructive chewing.

Also like human babies, puppies chew on things because they’re teething.  When a dog chews, endorphins are released.  These chemicals soothe your puppy and make his sore gums feel better.

The Do’s Of Dog Training Basics For Puppies

Puppies don’t automatically outgrow chewing on everything.Training him to stop puppy chewing on things that don’t belong to him is your job as a dog owner.

You can prevent dog chewing problems by putting things away.  Don’t leave out eyeglasses, shoes, or the tv remote where he can get them.Move your defenseless plants to a safer place, and put the trash can in the closet.  Pick up throw rugs, socks, and anything else he’s tempted to chew on.

One suggestion is to make furniture and things you can’t move taste bad to your puppy by spraying them with a bitter-tasting substance.  These sprays, available at pet stores, are very effective at stopping destructive chewing.

Provide lots of chew toys.  Only give him two or three at a time so he can learn that they belong to him.  If he starts chewing on something off-limits, say “drop-it” and make a noise to startle him into dropping the object.  Immediately give him one of his chew toys and praise him when he puts it in his mouth.  This teaches him two things; he’s learning the “drop-it” command, and he’s also learning what things he should and should chew on.

Your puppy needs a couple of hours of vigorous exercise every day.  Take him out and play with him.Use this playtime for training opportunities as they come up.  A young puppy can’t concentrate for long, but taking advantage of thirty seconds here and there to work on basic commands lays a good foundation for training. 

Keep an eye on your new friend.  If you’re busy and can’t watch him, put him on his leash and tie it to your belt.  Make sure he has something to play with.  Now he can’t wander off and get into mischief if you turn your back for a minute.

When you leave the house, confine your puppy to one area, either in his crate, or by using a wire-reinforced puppy gate. 

What Not To Do When Dealing With Dog Chewing Problems

Don’t confuse your puppy by giving him old shoes or socks or towels to chew on.  He can’t tell the difference between an old worn out running shoe and the ones you just paid $150 for yesterday.  The boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable things to chew on must be very clear.

Avoid leaving him tied up outside all the time.  Your puppy needs to spend lots of time with you, so he can learn what you expect from him.  He can’t do this if he’s always in a puppy-proof environment.

Unless you catch him the act of destructive chewing, don’t punish him.He can’t comprehend that you’re upset about what he did three hours ago.  You might think he’s acting guilty, but what’s really happening is that he’s scared and threatened by you being angry and upset.  The guilty-looking behavior is actually a submissive posture that has nothing to do with being caught misbehaving.

You can see that it’s very easy to do the wrong thing when trying to stop puppy chewing.  The best way to train your puppy correctly is to make the investment in a well-recommended dog training course right now.

If you’re trying to stop puppy chewing, visit No More Bad Dogs to discover how a good dog training course will help you solve your puppy behavior problems.

Let’s face it, puppies and chewing go together like bread and butter. Puppies learn about their surroundings by either sniffing on something or putting it in their mouths and chewing on it. Puppies chew on things, but to avoid destructive chewing, it’s up to their owners to teach them which items are off-limits. Here are ten ways to stop puppy chewing and destruction.

1. Take Time To Puppy-proof Your Home

Instead of always yelling at your pup for getting into things, it’s better to temporarily put away things you don’t want him to damage. Pick up the throw rugs, put the plants someplace where he can’t get to them, and cover or tape down electrical wires. Put trash bins in the closet, along with the toilet paper and any household cleaners. Put your clothes and shoes away. Secure anything heavy that a puppy could pull down and hurt himself.

2. Give Him Only Two Or Three Toys At A Time

If your puppy has too many toys, he’ll have a hard time learning what belongs to him and what belongs to you. Plus he’ll get bored with his toys after a couple of days. That’s when you put those toys up and give him different ones.

3. Confine Him Safely To One Place

If you’re not able to keep an eye on your puppy, it’s best to confine him to a safe area where he can’t destroy anything or get hurt. Keep him in one room by using a wire-reinforced puppy gate. Another idea is to confine him to a crate that’s the right size for him. Puppies often feel more secure in a small, protected den area like a crate. It also gives you peace of mind because you know destructive chewing isn’t happening in your absence.

4. Lots And Lots Of Exercise Is Essential

Your pup needs one to two hours of active exercise outside every day. Playing fetch with a ball or other toy can help to stop puppy chewing, too, as well as using up all that excess energy all puppies have.

5. A Puppy Playmate Can Help, Too

Playing with another puppy will also use up his energy, as well as teaching him how to interact with other dogs.

6. Begin Basic Dog Obedience Training Even Though He’s Still Young

Keep the sessions very short. A young puppy can’t concentrate too long, but a 30-second “mini-session” several times a day is a good start. Don’t ignore training opportunities as they arise during the day. It’s much easier to correct small problem behaviors as they occur to prevent them from becoming big problem behaviors in a few months.

7. Find An Agility Training Course For Him

These classes are a lot of fun, plus your puppy is getting lots of exercise while he’s becoming more coordinated and confident. Make it into a win-win situation for both of you.

8. Use A Bitter-Tasting Spray

If your puppy just won’t leave the sofa leg alone, try spraying it with a bitter-tasting substance. You can get these sprays at any pet store; they’re very effective in making your puppy wonder what he ever saw in that chair leg.

9. Don’t Punish Him After The Fact

You can’t stop puppy chewing by punishing him for something he did several hours ago. Dogs live in the present. Your pup can’t connect the fact that he chewed up your shoe two hours ago with your being upset now that you’ve just found it.

You either have to catch him in the act of chewing, or better yet, prevent the problem in the first place. See numbers one and three above.

10. Remember that it’s up to you to teach your puppy what kind of behavior is and isn’t acceptable, right from Day 1.

You should know that making the investment in a good dog training course will pay dividends now, and through your dog’s life. Avoiding destructive chewing now is only the first step in preventing dog behavior problems throughout your pup’s life.

If you’re trying to stop puppy chewing, visit No More Bad Dogs to discover how a good dog training course will help you solve your puppy behavior problems.

Are you are having problems with your puppy chewing your furniture and possessions. You have realized that puppies, as small as they are, can create a huge amount of damage, from scratching wooden floors and doors, to chewing your brand new pair of very expensive shoes. What you need to know is the reason for your puppy’s chewing.

It should be understood that chewing is a natural and healthy activity for puppies and shouldn’t be stopped. Only when the chewing becomes inappropriate,should you take action. The aim of this article is to draw your attention to the main reasons for chewing, then to give you tips on how to stop this.

There are various reasons why your puppy is chewing your house to bits. The reasons given below include teething, boredom and separation anxiety.

Teething
At about 3-4 weeks your puppy’s teeth start to emerge. By 16 weeks they should start to fall out when the first permanent teeth start to emerge. At this time their gums might become sore and they will want to chew a great deal to soothe their gums.

Boredom
Puppies tend to become bored quite easily. They need a channel for their energy, such as exercise and playing games. If left alone for too long, your puppy will easily become bored and may then turn to a destructive behavior such as chewing.

Separation anxiety and stress
Your puppy may start chewing in order to alleviate his stress and separation anxiety especially if he is left alone too long.

Once you know what the causes for your puppy’s destructive chewing, it will help you to take remedial action. Here is some advice to help you stop inappropriate chewing.

• You could start by making a few specific toys available. It is important that they are different in texture, taste and shape and are sturdy so your puppy does not become bored too quickly.
• By using these toys and playing regularly with your puppy, they will start to have pleasant with them and are more likely to play with them when left alone.
• Any items of value should be put out of reach. You can also discourage your puppy from chewing your furniture and other objects by spraying something like Listerine or other anti-chew deterrent. You puppy will dislike the taste and will stop them from chewing.
• In the beginning it is important not to leave your puppy alone for extended periods of time. Begin with a short 10 minute period and gradually build up to longer absences.
• If you are absent for a period of time or cannot watch your puppy, you could confine them either in a pen or crate.
• Always praise your puppy when you see him chewing appropriate items. This gives positive reinforcement. On the other hand if you see your puppy chew on something he shouldn’t, say something like “no” or “stop” in a stern voice. Be sure to do this consistently.

Now that you understand the reasons for your puppy’s chewing, you should be able apply the necessary remedial course of action. It is very important to reward correct behavior and to consistently teach your puppy what he is allowed to chew and what he is not allowed to chew.

Check out these links to read more about how to stop a dog chewing, dog separation anxiety and boredom in puppies.