Is Your Puppy Chewing You Out Of House and Home?
Puppy chewing can be destructive–it’s a fact. There aren’t many things cuter than a puppy, but they do have an incredible natural drive to chew anything and everything in site during the first three to four months of their lives.
Honestly, it can be pretty disheartening to come home every day to the fall-out from the latest “chew-fest”. Puppies seem to like shoes and furniture the most, although electronics and rugs are not out of the question. So how do you get your puppy to stop chewing everything in your home?
First, ensure that’s it’s not a medical condition. An illness called Pica can cause your puppy to chew as a way to deal with nausea. Your veterinarian will be able to identify if the chewing is a result of Pica.
Second, puppy proof your house. We already know that a puppy is a mini-child, and just as you would with a toddler, you must “puppy proof” your home. Put electrical cords out of the way. Get poisonous plants, household chemicals and food out of the way of your puppy.
Third, be sure and provide a safe and secure area for your puppy to rest and play while you’re gone. It’s always a good idea to crate train your puppy at an early age, as there are times in every dog’s life where they will need to be crated. Crating provides the most security for your puppy while you’re away from the house. There are various types of crates, but I’ve had the best luck with wire crates. Until your puppy is fully potty trained, the crate should only be big enough for your puppy to be able to stand up, turn around comfortably and lay down with a little room to spare. After your pup is reliably potty trained, you can use a larger crate with no worries of potty accidents while crated.
The most common reason for chewing, other than teething? Boredom and lack of exercise. Most puppies are full of energy and curiosity, but when left alone, get bored and find ways to “learn” about their surroundings…by chewing–much the same way a baby puts everything in it’s mouth. The best way to prevent puppy chewing is by keeping your puppy occupied and be sure he gets plenty of exercise.
Training a dog not to chew is challenging, but do-able with persistence and patience. Like with most dog training, you will have to be firm and consistent.
First, remove the item that’s being chewed using a simple but firm “No” command. The “No” command should be used consistently, but not overdone, so they understand the meaning of “No”. Also, using a loud noise, such as clapping your hands or shaking a cola can with rocks or pennies in it, are both effective deterrents from chewing when the puppy is caught in the act. Reprimanding your puppy “after the fact” will do no good as he’s long forgotten the incident and won’t make the connection.
You can also use a chewing deterrent like Bitter Apple. You smear or spray Bitter Apple on the item you don’t want chewed, and the taste alone will cause the puppy to take a detour away from the object immediately.
If training doesn’t work, the chewing may be from separation anxiety, in which case, you should consult your veterinarian.
Be sure you work on the chewing early, you don’t want it to become a habit the puppy keeps into adulthood. Then you can rest assured that you’ll come home to find your shoes and furniture in tact.
