Puppies are adorable bundles of joy, but their razor sharp teeth and playful nips can quickly turn into frustration for pet owners. Chewing and biting are natural behaviors for young dogs, but left unchecked, they can damage furniture, belongings, and even cause painful injuries. Thankfully, with patience, consistent training, and the right tools, you can help your pup develop appropriate chewing habits and quit saying hello with their mouths.
Understanding the Why:
Before diving into solutions, it’s crucial to understand the reasons behind your puppy’s chewing and biting.
Teething: Just like human babies, puppies experience discomfort during teething as their adult teeth push through. Chewing provides relief and helps strengthen their jaws.
Exploration: Puppies explore the world with their mouths, learning about textures and shapes through chewing.
Boredom and Lack of Stimulation: Under exercised or mentally understimulated puppies might resort to chewing or biting out of frustration or attention seeking.
Play and Excitement: During playtime, puppies often get carried away and might playfully nip without realizing the intensity.
Addressing the Chewing:
Provide Plenty of Chew Toys: Offer a variety of safe and engaging chew toys that cater to different textures and chewing preferences. Rotate them regularly to keep things interesting. Examples include rubber Kongs, stuffed toys with squeakers, bully sticks, and frozen toys (for teething discomfort).
Redirect and Reward: When your puppy starts chewing on something inappropriate, calmly interrupt them and offer an acceptable chew toy instead. Praise and reward them when they choose the appropriate outlet for their chewing needs.
Make Off-Limits Items Unpleasant: Apply bitter apple spray or deterrents designed specifically for dogs on items you absolutely want them to avoid. Remember, supervision is crucial until the deterrent becomes second nature.
Manage Your Environment: Keep tempting items like shoes, wires, and furniture out of reach. Utilize crates or gates to confine your puppy to puppy-proof areas when you can’t directly supervise them. Management is the best tool.
Exercise and Mental Stimulation: Engage your puppy in regular physical and mental activities like walks, playtime, training sessions, and puzzle toys. A tired and mentally stimulated puppy is less likely to resort to destructive chewing.
Curbing the Biting:
Ouch and End Play: When your puppy nips or bites, yelp a bit like a startled puppy (it really doesn’t have to be a dramatic reenactment). Immediately stop playing and walk away for a few seconds. This teaches them that biting means the fun ends.
Time Outs: If your puppy continues to bite after the “ouch” cue, calmly place them in a designated quiet area like a crate or pen for a short time out. This reinforces the association between biting and isolation while also giving them time to calm down.
Teach “Leave It” and “Drop It”: Train your puppy to leave or drop unwanted objects in exchange for a reward. This empowers you to redirect them from inappropriate chewing before it starts.
Socialization and Positive Reinforcement: Expose your puppy to other well-socialized dogs through supervised playdates. This allows them to learn appropriate play behavior and bite inhibition from their peers.
Be Patient and Consistent: Remember, habit change takes time and consistent effort. Remain patient, positive, and reward your puppy’s desired behavior generously.
Additional Tips:
Consider enrolling your puppy in puppy socialization classes to learn proper bite inhibition and interaction with other dogs.
Seek professional help from a certified dog trainer if you’re struggling to manage your puppy’s chewing or biting on your own.
Remember, punishment-based methods can worsen dog behavior. Focus on positive reinforcement and redirection for lasting results if you don’t know how to appropriately apply corrections.
By understanding the motivations behind your puppy’s chewing and biting, and implementing these strategies consistently, you can guide them towards appropriate chewing habits and enjoy a loving bond free from unwanted nips.
Remember, a little patience, positive reinforcement, and the right tools will go a long way in shaping your playful pup into a well-behaved canine companion. Some breeds will be more prone to this than others and will require extra patience.
