How To Teach Your New Puppy Not to Chew

If someone who has just adopted a puppy has done the proper homework, he will already know that dogs chew. It’s normal and also inevitable because it is just the way it is. Chewing is not necessarily an indicator of bad behavior; on the contrary, puppies who are teething need to find some relief from the discomfort. Human babies do the same thing.

Older dogs may enjoy chewing just for the entertainment value of the activity, or it may be a symptom of anxiety or some other issue. Here are some tips to help redirect a puppy away from chewing items you don’t want to be touched.

Supervise you dog

Supervise your dog, especially a new puppy, as much as possible. Often, people who have never had a dog underestimate the work involved in training a puppy properly. Like human babies or toddlers, they are prone to get into trouble easily and need nearly constant supervision when they are loose. Chances are, if left to their designs, they will chew something undesirable or even dangerous. Prevention is the key: it’s easier than trying to change behavior later.

Never let your puppy loose in the house without being with him at all times. Crate training is ideally suited to this purpose. When you can’t be with your dog, let him have his timeouts within the confines of a crate, and keep some toys in there with him to chew on. This simple concept will go long ways towards preventing unwanted destruction.

If you see your puppy chewing on the corner of a door jamb, use your sharpest voice (you needn’t yell) and tell it to “Leave it.” Use that tone of voice only for correction. Then offer your puppy an appropriate chew toy as an alternative. But if you are not supervising, you may miss this teaching opportunity. So, keep a sharp eye at all times.

Toys

Keep a supply of great toys on hand. If toys are readily available to a puppy in an easily accessible area, they are more likely to choose them to chew on. Never, ever, give a dog a discarded human item to play with. You have your things; he has his. He will learn to focus his chewing energies on rubber or nylon things, not on items like slippers.

A little deterrence also goes a long way. Pet supply companies offer a line of great products designed to prevent the chewing of unwanted objects. Coating exposed electrical cords with such products will help a puppy learn not to chew them and may also prevent a tragic accident.

Your pet should also learn to respect you and your family members. Never physically abuse a new puppy because physical abuse can lead to a pet fearing you. Physical abuse causes a puppy to lose trust in you, to fear you, and to avoid you.

After all, you are the most important person in the world to your pet. Their world, their existence, and their happiness revolves around their owner. Treat your puppy the way you would like to be treated-with respect and love. Dogs are truly man’s best friends.

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