How to Train a Puppy to Stop Chewing on Things

Chewing on household objects like furniture or shoes is a problem with many puppies. Some owners simply put up with it, assuming that it’s just a phase and their pooch will grow out of it. But dog owners should not tolerate destructive chewing, and in fact it is a behavior that--in most cases--is easily un-learned. Here are some tips.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A bottle of dog taste deterrent such as Grannick’s Bitter Apple
• Durable chew toys such as Nylabones
• Ice cubes

1. As much as possible, put shoes and other items that might seem like tantalizing chew toys to your puppy up or out of his reach. When you’re not home, lock the puppy in his crate, or keep him in a restricted area inside or outside. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

2. If your puppy begins to chew on something, scold her gently but firmly whenever you catch her in the act.

3. Then, take out the Apple Bitter and spray a couple of squirts on whatever he was chewing. (Apple Bitter is colorless and odorless, but dogs hate the taste of it. It should prevent your puppy from chewing on that item again.)

4. Puppies need to chew on things, even when they’re not teething. Give your puppy healthy, durable chew toys such as Nylabones, and praise and pet her when she is chewing on them. (Even if you neglect this positive reinforcement, most puppies love to chew on bones!) These types of toys not only provide an outlet for your puppy’s chewing energies, they also promote canine dental health.

5. When you can tell that your puppy wants to chew (if he begins to nip at your hands, or chew on household items) try giving him an ice cube to chew on. Ice is something harmless for puppies to chew up and swallow, and the coldness helps numb and soothe his sore gums while he is teething.

[somuchtoknow]

on 4/2/2009 hi, give your dog plenty of physical exercise an metal stimulation during the day and he should sleep during the night. Also maybe give him some safe toys to chew on while you are sleeping. He could be bored or have some pent up energy. hope this helps

[needtolearn15]

on 2/16/2009 This article is great, but my dog will never chew something when I am home, only when I am either asleep or gone out. We do confine him to the kitchen, however, last night he broke down the gate to eat/tear apart my set of hand lotions in the spare bedroom. How do you fix something like that?