Puppies chew. We all know that. Actually, that’s one of the main reasons we choose to adopt dogs at or near six months of age. That’s when those gross, sharp puppy teeth have gone, and all the chewing time is done. Baby dogs can be cute, and thankfully, plenty of pet owners are prepared to endure a rough ride on their tables and shoes to experience the joys and awestruck moments of being a puppy.
Why do puppies chew? They chew to experience the world around them and alleviate the discomfort and pain caused by toothing. They also chew because chewing is a regular, healthy routine common to every young and old dog. As puppies mature and reach the point where they’re compelled to chew on anything they come across, older canines also require chewing to strengthen their jaws, massage their gums, and brush their teeth to alleviate tension and boredom.
It’s a time for many dog owners to learn that chewing does not stop when a dog reaches the age of six to seven months, at which point all of a canine’s adult teeth are set. Indeed, chewing could continue through the initial 18-24 days of the dog’s existence, provided they can do so. The majority of dogs chew until they reach their senior years.
It’s rare for a puppy to survive the first year of life without causing significant harm to one or more of his owner’s belongings. There are lots you can do to prevent chewing on your puppy or to limit damage.
Puppy Chewing Management
Management is the solution to many of the behavioral challenges. Puppy dogs develop a preference for chewing objects at the beginning of their lives. Therefore, the more adept you become in managing your puppy’s accessibility to chew-resistant items and directing him towards desired chew objects, the quicker the dog can enjoy freedom in the house. If you let your puppy dog free reign over the house, and he begins to chew on furniture, carpets, pillows, and books, as well as shoes and even coffee table legs, you’ll likely have an animal that chooses to use his jaws and teeth with things that aren’t appropriate for a long time to be. You will likely find yourself rubbing your dog often, even when he’s an adult dog, or, worse yet, relegating your pet to solitude in your backyard where he’s able to “only” chew on patio furniture, potted plants, and even the edges that surround your deck.
If you instead offer additional chew toys early in the stage and supervise your dog effectively to keep him from accessing your belongings, he’ll gain the right to stay in the house earlier. When he’s finished with your first year, you might be able to keep him in a secure area as you take him out to eat, shop, or even when you’re at work.
While you’re away, the puppy should always be under your surveillance – to ensure they are house-trained and chew-prevention. Put your dog on a leash or a tether, set the baby gates up or shut the room door so he’s locked in with you. He won’t venture into the room to slash your footwear while you’re looking back. If you’re busy with other things, you can put your pet in a crate or an exercise pen to ensure he’s out of danger.
Effective management requires “puppy-proofing” the house. Avoid leaving shoes – the most loved of pets that are not supervised – in a place where your dog could get the shoes. Remove all objects that are inviting far away from him, as you would for an infant toddler. If you’re unable to put electrical cords away from his reach, You can slip the cords through a piece of PVC pipe or a commercial item (such as the CriterCord) to keep cords from being eaten. The less frequently it would help if you got involved in removing anything from the person, the more convenient it is.
Supply Side
In addition, serve him with a large amount of “legal” chew objects to ensure his sharp puppy teeth are well-occupied. Pet product manufacturers offer numerous fascinating chew toys appropriate for puppies and adults. (See this sidebar) If you regularly provide your puppy with appealing and acceptable items to chew, they’ll establish a strong desire to chew on these same items. The dog will search for these objects when he needs to chew instead of gnawing on a nearby couch cushion. Eventually, the items you keep in your home will be safe, even if you’re not looking.
As dogs chew at various intensity levels, it isn’t easy to definitively answer the types of chewing products that are safe for your dog’s needs. The safety of chewing objects like rawhide bones, pig ears, and cow hooves is highly debated. However, the most common rule is that you must be aware of your dog’s behavior when playing with any chew toy and then take the item from the dog if it is consumed or chewed with a particular amount of force.
Like ropes, they are great chew toys for dogs of different breeds. However, some dogs are bent on chewing away and inhaling strings, which could cause severe gastrointestinal issues or even to the point of death. A dog can chew on an ear of dried cattle continuously for months. A different pet may be obsessed with destroying and ingesting the whole hoof within a few minutes – only to spend the rest of the day vomiting. If a dog chews rawhide or a pig’s ears for hours, breaking off and eating only tiny chunks at a stretch, it most likely will not suffer any adverse consequences; however, the dog that tries to swallow the shards that are sharp and crunchy from the ears that have dried or chunks of rawhide is likely to be in the vet ER one day.
Consult your veterinarian and follow her suggestions regarding how to use these and other chewing toys you can give your pet. Check the quality of chew toys you offer your pet regularly, then dispose of them when worn and torn.
If you offer your pet chewing sticks or rawhide, Buy the biggest one you can, or even comically huge, and throw them away once they are chewed into a size that can potentially be consumed.
Stop Puppy Chewing With A Great Trade
It is possible to reduce the possibility of damage caused by objects that are snatched away by teaching your dog to swap toys in exchange for treats for toys that he is allowed to play with and enjoys, like a beloved chew toy or Kong with a food-filled Kong.
The most important thing to do with this game is to teach the child that when he does give the item up, he will get something more valuable for it while he also gets the item he gave up in return. There are two rewards instead of one! On the only occasion when he’s got an object that is prohibited, it’s much more likely that he will give it to you to exchange it than drag the prize back to the cave underneath the dining table to enjoy some time to eat. If the person doesn’t get “the thing” back, it won’t necessarily be satisfying to erase the work you’ve played by regularly taking part in your “trade” game with him.
For this latest program to be successful the new programming, it’s essential to put aside the sport that he plays of “chase the puppy” when he grabs a TV remote or any other prohibited object. It’s usually a rousing habit that he has mastered; holding “your” toys and dashing away with them can lead to an exciting playtime. The puppies and dogs who master how to trade well could effectively benefit and safeguard your possessions if they discover items lying around and bring them to you with the hope of getting a fair deal!
Here’s how you can help your dog learn to trade:
- Give your pet a food-filled Kong (or other favorite toy) and then say, “Take it!” If you are worried the dog will get away from the toy, have it leashed.
- Allow him sufficient time to become full-time engaged in his chewing, after which you can positively say “Trade!” and provide him with a few tempting treats, like little pieces of chicken or cheese with low-fat content. Place the snacks in front of his face and let him smell the treats.
- It might take a few moments to contemplate the idea, but in the end, it’s time to drop his Kong and eat the sweets. After he has fallen the Kong, you can say, “Yes!” But don’t give him the candy at once! Place the treats with your hands so the child can only eat one at a time.
- If he’s still eating while you still eat, grab the other hand and take the Kong.
- Take a bite more, and then give him the Kong once more.
- Repeat the game multiple times, ending the exercise by handing the player his Kong and letting him eat until he is material.
Try this game regularly when your child is playing with his toys alone or when you’re tempted to start it. Keep playing until the chewer gives up his object quickly upon the “Trade!” cue.
It can be challenging to trade. Take as smooth a course as you’d hope. Below are a few problems you could face
The dog may not want to let go of his favorite toy for treats you hold in your hands. You can drop the treats onto the floor using a Hansel-and-Gretel-style trail. Many dogs will let go of their most prized pet if they have accessible treats on the ground. When they’re looking for the hand still holding the food container, Kong is holding it together with the opposite hand.
Your dog may lose fascination with his toy once the pup realizes that you’ve got delicious snacks in your hands. You can try smaller treats or an alternative chew toy together. Play with him when he is playing with one of his toys.
– Your dog may guard valuable resources. If your dog snaps, growls, or even stiffens up and is tense whenever you attempt to make a deal with him, stop practicing the exercise. You should seek certified and constructive training to solve the resource guarding issue. In the meantime, monitor him attentively to prevent his access to prohibited objects and ensure that you aren’t in danger of getting injured if you need to get something from the person.
NOTE: When you teach your dog to trade, you may see him experience a phase similar to Dubhy, my Scottish Terrier. He is looking for items to give you so you can join the game. Be funny with him. The kid will likely grow out of this stage. Even if not, he should bring you rather than carrying things off for chewing on.
I still trade my pets for treats whenever I need something that they can have for the rest of their lives. It gives them material possessions and allows them to sacrifice things if I ask them to.
Graduating
Once you are sure that your dog is getting ready, you can begin taking him off the leash for brief intervals of time, 5, 10, and then 15 minutes. If everything goes as planned, slowly boost the time he is alone until you can believe he is safe and unsupervised in your daily routine.
As with all things worth having, spending time and effort can benefit your dog in growing to become the trustworthy and loved family member you wish to see him become. It will allow you to enjoy your work and rest comfortably at night, knowing that your possessions are safe from your pet’s dogs. Your shoes will appreciate you for this.