Top 5 Dog Tips to Stop Your Puppy from Chewing Everything

March 25, 2021

Getting a new puppy in your life is such an exciting time. You want to enjoy all the snuggles, tumbles, and cuteness that puppies bring. But it's hard to enjoy your new dog if it has found something new to chew every time you turn around! 

Chewing is a natural part of puppies' and adult dogs' lives. It's important to recognize that having something to chew is good for your dog. However, problems come when they are chewing what they aren't supposed to. 

If you're having trouble with puppy care for training what's right and wrong for chewing, you're not alone. This is a problem as old as time. But it doesn't have to be an ongoing puppy behavior issue. There are several ways that puppy training can effectively teach your pet what is appropriate for chewing. 

In this guide, we'll let you in on all the puppy tips to avoid inappropriate chewing. This way, your destructive puppy will be able to enjoy chewing freely, and you'll worry less about constant care and supervision! 

Why Do Puppies Chew So Much?

Those familiar with dog care will know chewing is popular among dogs of all ages. As long as your dog is not regularly consuming and chewing abnormal objects, this is most likely completely normal behavior. Just like adult dogs, puppies have many — if not more — reasons to love chewing. 

In general, knowing what dog tips are best for your pet means understanding the reasons behind their behavior. You can't help with training your puppy if you don't know why they act the way they do! That's why we're going to let you in on why your dog may be chewing, so you know what puppy tips are best for your pooch. 

Here are the most likely your dog is chewing almost everything it sees. 

Teething

When it comes to explaining puppy behavior with chewing, teething is usually the most likely culprit. 

Just like babies, puppy care involves looking after their development which includes their teeth growing. As puppies' teeth come into their mouths, they will seek relief to massage their gums. Your pup may not really want your nice new shoes. They just want anything to help its tired mouth! 

This is just one reason why proper puppy training doesn't always connect chewing with bad behavior. Chewing is a natural part of a dog's growth!

Boredom

Ever find yourself doing something, not because you necessarily want to, just because you enjoy it? Well, your dog may be thinking the same way when it chews! 

A dog doesn't have the luxury of deciding to turn on the TV, go for a walk, or learn a new hobby. So when your dog feels bored, it will seek out an activity that it can control. Chewing is an easy choice for a bored dog. That's why a destructive puppy may simply be a bored dog. 

Stress and Anxiety

Unfortunately for your beloved four-legged friend, dogs aren't safe from negative thoughts. 

Dogs that suffer from lack of exercise, severe separation anxiety, or general stress may turn to chewing objects. Chewing is a comfort to most dogs, and it can ease their negative thoughts. As your dog acclimates to a new home, it may seek out familiar comforts. 

Lack of Training

While there may be health reasons behind puppy behavior, their chewing could simply be due to lack of training. It is never too early to start training your puppy. 

Puppies don't understand human reasoning. If you say, “Don't chew these! They're my favorite shoes!” that won't help them understand how what they were chewing is different from their toys. 

Conditioning and puppy training is essential for dog care. You want your dog to grow into a properly behaving adult dog. Without training, a destructive puppy will grow into a destructive adult. 

How to Stop Your Puppy from Chewing

Now that you know some reasons your puppy may be chewing, it's time to learn how you can stop it. 

As we mentioned, there is usually a reason for your destructive puppy acting out by chewing. Whether it's teething, stress, or boredom, providing the proper puppy care is essential for not only protecting your objects but keeping your dog happy. 

Here are five ways you can provide dog care that decreases chewing. 

1. Give Your Pup Toys for Chewing

With so many reasons for puppies to chew, it's best to give them proper objects for chewing. Dog toys are great for allowing your dog to chew and play. This means they can relieve their teething gums, entertain themselves when bored, or soothe their anxieties. 

Training your puppy never to chew anything is not beneficial for you or proper puppy care. Providing them with what will make them healthy and happy is best.

One of the best puppy tips we can give is to find dog toys they love. Not all dog toys are made equal, and each puppy will have its own preference. Explore different toys until you find what's right. When your puppy loves its toys, it is less likely to seek out shoes and socks. 

2. Remove Temptation

Puppies aren't known for being timid. They want to explore their surroundings and learn about everything they see! One way they learn will be chewing on what they find. 

Being able to keep an eye on your young pooch is the best way of knowing whether they are chewing. But when you need to leave them alone, even for a short period of time, you'll need to limit their access to ensure they don't chew. 

You can leave your dog in any space meant for them. Whether that's a crate, room, or larger, it should be free of any objects you don't want chewed on. Provide your dog with toys and items that are appropriate for them, and they will have a ball freely chewing on what you give! 

One of our best dog tips for removing temptation is making their favorite toys readily available. Don't keep toys away in a drawer. If your dog can access its own toys, it can entertain itself while other objects are removed. This is how you establish good puppy habits. 

3. Give Your Dog Some Company — Even When It's Alone! 

Anxiety can be a frequent cause for a destructive puppy. Separation is one of the top reasons your dog may feel anxious. But you can't be home every moment of every day. So what can you do?

Two of your dog's strongest senses are sound and scent. Even when you leave the house, giving your dog a little company is possible! 

Our puppy tips for giving easing separation anxiety include leaving your scent for your dog's comfort. You can leave your scent behind by rubbing your hands on their favorite toys so they are reminded of you. 

Avoid long, sad goodbyes. Your dog will come to know goodbyes and react emotionally. In this instance, you are training your dog to be sad and destructive after goodbyes. 

You can also leave on some music or a radio station for additional comfort. This will help them feel less isolated when alone. 

4. Never Give Inappropriate Objects

Puppy training always needs to be consistent. So it isn't easy to regulate puppy behavior when they get mixed signals. 

Taking away brand-new shoes and then giving them your old heels will confuse your dog. How are they supposed to know wanted vs. unwanted? This is why we recommend only allowing dog toys for chewing and play. This forms the best puppy habits.

The best dog tips for defining inappropriate behavior are all about consistency. If you see your dog chewing an old sock, treat it the same as if it was your prized object! Teach them that their toys are theirs. Your objects are not for chewing. 

5. Praise Good Chewing Behavior

Since chewing is part of healthy puppy habits, don't discourage it! Positive reinforcement is key to good puppy behavior. When training your puppy, don't just tell them “no.” Show it the proper way to behave. 

The dog tips for praise are providing your dog with opportunities to be praised. When you see your puppy chewing on its toys, encourage your dog. Show that you are happy and proud. 

When you see a destructive puppy, don't react with negative punishment. This will confuse them. Instead, stop them to be consistent with your puppy training. Then, provide them with an object that is right for them to enjoy. Once they chew their toy, praise them. This positive reinforcement will teach your dog that chewing the right toys is good. Chewing inappropriate objects is what is wrong. 

Conclusion — Training Your Puppy to Chew the Right Objects

When training your puppy, it's all about promoting good puppy behavior. To make dog care easy on yourself and your pooch, make sure you provide your puppy with toys that they love. Limit your dog's access to inappropriate objects, and reinforce good behavior. Providing consistency for your young pup will form good puppy habits and grow into a well-behaved adult! 

If you want more tips on all things dog care, join our mailing list! We can tell you everything you need to know about puppy care, training, and health. 

No need to have a destructive puppy. We can help with more of our top puppy tips!