Helping Break the Habit: How to Teach Your Puppy Appropriate Chewing Behaviors

dogs, golden retriever, playing dogs

Shredded furniture, toy after toy, shoes, socks, towels, and blinds: puppies will chew on almost anything they can get their teeth on. And while it may seem like your puppy is just waiting for you to turn your back for just a few seconds so she can chew up your favorite socks, she doesn’t know better. In fact, chewing teaches your puppy about the world around her.

So, let’s take a bite out of this problem by exploring why puppies have an insatiable appetite for odd objects and how you can teach your dog better munching habits

Why Do Puppies Chew?

All puppies chew. Some more than others, but it’s a normal part of puppy development.

Chewing can:

  • Be a sign of teething (just like human babies, chewing relieves pain and stimulates the gums)
  • Help your puppy release stress and extra energy
  • Relieve boredom or reduce separation anxiety
  • Release pleasure endorphins in her puppy brain
  • Teach her about the nature of objects (texture, weight taste, size)

Ways you Can Encourage Positive Chewing:

1. Give Your Pup Plenty of Exercise and Attention

A tired puppy is a well-behaved puppy. If you play with your bundle of fur, she can release pent up energy and will likely nap while you’re at the store rather than tear up your possessions.

Professional pet photography service Ireland

2. Try Crate Training

Crate training your puppy can help her feel more secure while you’re away and keep her out of trouble. If crate training starts early, you puppy with mature into a dog that considers her crate her own bedroom and den.

outdoors, man with dog, tourism

3. Entice Her with Positive Chewing Opportunities with Toys

Puppies and dogs need to chew. It’s natural. Finding the right items to chew on can be as simple as keeping plenty of toys around. Try our 6-pack or 4-pack of rope toys. These will tire her out and the playful interaction with you will encourage her to choose these toys over non-toys.

Our dog plush toys are also an excellent choice to add variety and the squeak makes them extra exciting! Putting them up when you’re done playing teaches your puppy when it’s time to play and when it’s time to calm down.

Professional pet photography service Ireland

After a few weeks, your puppy will develop positive chewing behaviors. So, stick with it. And be patient. You can even go a step further as she matures by offering her a treat when she drops an object you don’t want her to munch on.

Join Our Newsletter
Our emails are like organic treats!

By submitting your name and email you give us consent to use your details for the purposes of sending you email communications and for processing them in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Subscribers must be 18 or over.

Share this post with your friends

Scroll to Top

Join our newsletter:

Get 15% off

You'll also get our best offers right to your inbox and free gifts every so often

By submitting your name and email you give us consent to use your details for the purposes of sending you email communications and for processing them in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Subscribers must be 18 or over.

animal print, paw, paw print
animal print, paw, paw print
animal print, paw, paw print
animal print, paw, paw print
animal print, paw, paw print
animal print, paw, paw print
animal print, paw, paw print
animal print, paw, paw print

WE USE COOKIE TRACKING FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE

By continuing to browse or by clicking “Accept”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device. To learn more about how we use cookies and other tracking tools, please visit our Privacy Policy.