Puppies are curious by nature. They learn about their world by sniffing, touching, playing, and sometimes chewing. Chewing on bones or toys is a natural pleasure and a necessary activity for dogs. Puppy chewing is a normal behavior, and it can be redirected into appropriate habits through training before it becomes problematic. Here, we introduce methods for teaching proper chewing habits.
What should you let them chew on?
Choosing the Right Toys: Provide your puppy with toys that offer different textures for chewing. Ideal chew toys should be appealing to the dog, durable enough not to break easily, and made of safe materials in case they are swallowed. Toys that allow your puppy to extract treats or biscuits can also be effective for teaching chewing habits.
Redirecting Attention: If your puppy picks up something that isn’t its own, remove it from its mouth and guide them towards their own toy. Praise them gently when they choose their own toy voluntarily.
Rotate Toys: Both puppies and adult dogs are interested in new toys. Keep them engaged by rotating different types of chew toys to prevent boredom. When a specific toy is not used for a few weeks, it can reignite excitement when reintroduced. Additionally, cleaning toys to remove odors can also make them seem new again.
Teach Fetch and Find Games: Teaching fun games like “fetch” or “find it” can help focus your puppy’s attention on their toys. Have them fetch their favorite ball or hide toys for them to find, and reward and praise them when they perform well. These games are excellent for teaching new behaviors and manners while keeping both you and your puppy entertained.
Teach What Not to Chew: To prevent destructive chewing habits, review your home environment to ensure dangerous items are out of reach. Store items that might attract your puppy, like socks, clothes, children’s toys, slippers, shoes, tissues, and open trash cans, in safe places.
Always Supervise: Until your puppy is accustomed to their environment, closely supervise them to prevent them from chewing on inappropriate items. If you can’t watch them, use a crate or a safe area. Using a leash for close supervision or providing a designated dog room when you’re away can also help ensure their safety.
Training to Teach Proper Chewing Habits
Teach “Leave it” and “Give”:
In addition to setting up your environment with various types of chew toys, teach your dog two important commands: “Leave it” and “Give.” “Leave it” is used when the dog tries to pick up something dangerous or inappropriate to chew, while “Give” is used when you want the dog to drop something they’ve picked up. Using these commands correctly will make learning enjoyable for your dog and help them understand which toys are theirs and which items are not. Many puppy schools and training classes teach how to use these commands effectively.
Don’t Get Angry When Mistakes Happen:
If your dog chews on something they shouldn’t, avoid chasing, scolding harshly, or administering physical punishment. Reacting with anger may cause your dog to learn to chew things secretly or hide from you. Many owners mistakenly believe that these behaviors indicate the dog understands they’ve done something wrong. However, what often happens is the dog learns to avoid chewing in front of you or to hide, as a way to escape punishment. Therefore, to teach proper chewing habits, it’s more effective to observe your dog’s behavior, redirect their attention, and use reward-based training.
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