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Help! My puppy is chewing
up everything in my house!
Page 1
It's time to
puppy proof! Before you bring the new puppy home you should remove all items
that your puppy can chew on. You should take the same safety precautions with
your new puppy as you would take with a new baby.
Remove plants. Make sure electrical cords are out of reach. Pick up
shoes and socks, and make sure there are no poisons or chemicals that your puppy
can get his mouth on. If you have mouse traps or roach motels, get rid of them.
Remove any object the puppy could put in his mouth. If he can put it in his
mouth, he can choke on it. There is nothing more terrifying than seeing your
little helpless puppy choking.
Always confine your puppy in a safe area while you are away. His
crate is the safest place. You can also use baby gates in the kitchen or
bathroom, but only after housebreaking is completed.
Closely watch your puppy. Puppies chew on whatever they can get their
mouths on - for many reasons. Mainly, they are curious - and much like human
babies, this is how they explore and learn about their world. They also chew
because they are teething or because they are bored.
Make sure you provide plenty of chew toys. Give him a variety of toys
to choose from so that when he chews on a forbidden object you can say
"NO!" with a firm matter-of-fact voice and give him a toy. When he
chews on his toys, praise him. If he continues to chew on… say… your
favorite pair of leather shoes, treat it with a bitter tasting product such as
"Bitter Apple" (available at pet stores).
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Chewing is important for the health of your puppy's teeth and gums.
We like Nylabone, but there are many safe chew toys on the market. |
Tempt him. After you have taught him what he can chew and what he
can't chew, it is time to put him to the test. Place tempting no-no 's near his
okay-to-chew toys. Pretend you are not watching him. When he begins to put a
forbidden object in his mouth, tell him "no" in your firm voice. You
then need to leave the room, but watch him from around the corner. If you see
him put the forbidden object in his mouth again, quickly correct him. Offer him
his toy and if he accepts it, praise him and tell him "go get your toy,
good boy/girl." Later that will translate into another form of
communication with your pet: Saying "go get your toy" when it is
playtime will tell him to retrieve his toy and bring it to you, or at least into
your vicinity.
Make certain your puppy gets plenty of exercise to burn off
energy.
A bored puppy = a destructive, unhappy puppy.
If your dog is older and only destroys things when you leave, then
that is a different problem. Go to separation
anxiety.
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