Stop Your Puppy Chewing Now

Are you at your wits end because your puppy is chewing your furniture and possessions?. You may have now gathered that your little puppy can create a huge amount of damage, from picking at your carpet and scratching doors and floors, to chewing your brand new pair of very expensive shoes. As with any negative behavior, there is always a reason for chewing.

Chewing is a natural and healthy activity for a puppy. Only when the chewing becomes inappropriate,should you take action. In this article the main reasons for chewing will be outlined together with pointers on how to stop this.

There are many reasons why your puppy is chewing your house to shreds. The ones covered below include teething, boredom and separation anxiety.

Teething
At about 3-4 weeks your puppy’s teeth start to emerge. By 16 weeks they will start to fall out when the first permanent teeth start to come through. 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. You need to provide them with stimulating activities and exercise. If left alone for too long, your puppy could easily become bored and will then take to a destructive behavior such as chewing.

Stress and separation anxiety
Again, if a puppy is left alone for long periods he may start chewing in order to alleviate stress and separation anxiety.

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

• Start by giving your puppy three or four toys. 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 playing regularly with your dog with the toys, they are more likely to play with them when left alone because of positive associations.
• 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. The taste is not pleasant for the puppy and will prevent him from chewing.
• At the start do not leave your puppy alone for too long. 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.
• It is important to praise your puppy when you see him chewing the correct 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. Do this without fail whenever it happens.

Now that you appreciate the causes for your puppy’s chewing, you should be able apply the necessary remedial course of action. It is very important to reward the desired behavior and to correctly 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 stopping a puppy chewing, puppy separation anxiety and how to deal with boredom in your puppy.