Advice for a puppy that chews
Every dog suffers from destructiveness that demolish dolls and seat cushions, furniture, books, grab bedspreads off the bed and the best of all, your shoes. How could a little ball of fur do so much?
Puppies chew to ease teething discomfort, to play, to explore the environment, to assuage hunger, to establish dominance, and to relieve boredom. Families can plan a response to active puppy teeth that will soften the impact on possessions and limbs while the pup is growing.
Some suggestions
"Buy toys" he can chew on. Hard rubber balls and Kongs, sterilized bones, and knotted ropes are available at pet supply stores. Knotted rags and old socks and shoes are acceptable as long as the pup doesn't get confused between the discarded item and a pair of $100 Nikes or kid's new t-shirt. Soft squeak toys are fun for small puppies and for games of fetch, but are not sturdy enough for chewing exercise for older pups.
The sooner you realize that a puppy will chew and there is nothing you can do to stop it! But what you need to do is control it! Whenever a puppy chews the wrong thing, remove it from them, and never hit them!Take the puppy to a neutral area and give her something she's allowed to chew. When you correct them use a firm tone of voice. "No" This is one of the times I have said and will say over and over! When you can not watch the puppy it should be in it's crate. A confined pet cannot chew on thing it should be chewing! Make sure he has a toy in the crate that he is allowed to chew.
Limit access to bedrooms, living rooms, etc. with baby gates and closed doors.
Teach "no bite" to eliminate attempts to chew parts of human bodies. Puppies should never be allowed to teethe on people parts. Biting family members is an attempt to establish dominance. Even toy dogs try to become leader of the family pack if given the opportunity.
If you cannot stop the pooch from biting on crawling babies and toddlers, separate kids and dog. Don't fall for the old "he really doesn't mean it" when a puppy nips or growls at the kids. It doesn't matter what he meant, he's not allowed to put his teeth on kids!
GAMES
A game of retrieving a ball or Frisbee is one of the most import ways to teach a puppy / dog "COMMANDS". Be sure to teach "bring it" "give it" and "come" commands are one of the most important ways to teach your puppy you are the boss! And do not forget that the tone of voice is the key here!
Overtime you give the pup a toy or treat, say "take it" or "here", before you give it to him in his mouth. If he jump to grab it, is not allowed. Tell her to "SIT" and when she sits you can give her the toy or food. Putting a leash on will teach the retrieve game so you can guide her back and forth to get the ball. Grasp the ball firmly with one hand, open her mouth by placing the other hand over her muzzle and pushing in on her lips to protect your fingers from her teeth. Say "give" or "drop" and open her mouth to remove the toy.
Don't be intimidated by puppy growling and don't overreact. As she learns the appropriate responses, the growling will cease. Never play "TUG of WAR" with a pup with a rope or stick. If you pull the rope from his teeth, you may hurt his tender young mouth. Puppies that learn to play tug-of-war frequently look at any moving piece of clothing as fair game, even if there's a child inside.
Teach children that puppies must never be encouraged to chase or bite. Some dog breeds such as herding breeds may try to round up children by nipping at their heels, but this, too, is unacceptable. Owners can understand that their herding breed pups may exhibit this behavior, but they should not allow it to continue.
Use discipline, not punishment for infractions of the rules. A stern "NO" and banishment to a crate should handle most infractions. Puppies should never be hit. If you use the hand as part of the training do it in away that will not confuse the puppy! Be persistent and consistent. If it is wrong today it is wrong tomorrow.
The millions of dogs destroyed at animal shelters are testimony to the myth that good relationships with dogs develop automatically. You can avoid many of the behavior problems that often result in abandonment if you teach the basic to your dog and make your life much better and save one more dogs life by saying "NO" to the bite reflex.
And never let a small child play rough with a puppy!
