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124 Tips on How to Stop a Puppy from Biting and Chewing

Young puppies love to discover the world around them. It is a given fact that puppies do not have any hands to picks things up with, to touch things with or to feel the things around them. Puppies will use their mouth, teeth, tongue and nose. Just like small children will put anything they get their hands on inside their mouth, this is not uncommon for puppies either.

You have to accept that puppies are curious

You have to accept that puppies are curious and will try to take anything they can inside their mouth. Any puppy will try to nibble on the loose things they find, taste it, chew on it. It will be incredibly hard to stop your puppy from doing this and it will also not be fair to restrict him from this instinctive and natural behavior. What you should do is make sure that your puppy cannot reach anything dangerous. Store away valuable objects and really make your house puppy proof. Put away loose cables and make sure there aren’t any poisonous plants in your house or garden. Prevention is in this case a good thing!

Of course your puppy will still try to nibble on anything he can. Right now it might not seem like such a big problem yet and you might even think it looks cute. A small puppy that is playing with your shoelace looks adorable of course. Do keep in mind that it may look cute now but an older dog that is still trying to eat up your whole house will not be so enjoyable. Take care of this behavior immediately and teach your puppy what you do want him to do.

  1. A puppy will use his teeth and mouth to discover the world around him, this is natural behavior
  2. Puppies are curious and will chew on anything to discover what it feels and tastes like
  3. It is important to get to work with this behavior immediately while your dog is still young
  4. A young puppy chewing on shoelaces or chasing after flared jeans might look funny now but it will not be so funny when your dog is bigger and older
How to handle a puppy that will not stop biting

Trying to stop a puppy from biting or trying to change this biting behavior can be a really hard task. After a few days of your puppy being at home with you might already feel lost. Maybe your puppy is showing such annoying behavior that you really have no idea what to do. The first thing to realize and accept is that a young will bite and you will have to learn how to change this behavior rather than trying to stop it from happening. Accept that this takes time and effort. Getting a puppy takes time and effort, realize this.

Now the question remains, what is the best way to change a puppy’s biting behavior? There are different approaches you can take. It all depends on your puppy which approach will work best and it depends on you which approach you find the most successful. You can learn about all the different approaches on 123Tinki.com. The Tinki Academy has a very elaborate training on how to stop a puppy from biting in hands and chewing on objects. It is all about redirecting your puppy’s behavior towards objects he is allowed to chew on or bite in.

  1. Stopping a puppy from biting takes time and effort
  2. You can approach the biting problem several ways
  3. 123Tinki.com can teach you all about it
  4. It is more about redirecting the behavior towards appropriate objects than trying to stop the behavior
How to control a puppy that is biting?

Trying to stop your puppy from chewing all together will not be possible. After all, it is not about stopping your puppy from chewing or biting. Chewing and biting is natural behavior which you have to accept. You can steer this behavior towards things you would like to see. For example chewing toys or treats, you would rather want your puppy chew on those than on your couch. Chewing and biting is necessary for a puppy, it will help him to grow up. Sniffing grass, chewing on a leaf, licking a hand. Your puppy simply wants to know what everything around him is and does. What does everything smell like? This is all so beneficial for your puppy in growing up. Just like we teach our children to put food in their mouth and not play with it, how we teach children to play with toys and not with valuable objects or dangerous wires. This is what you want your puppy to do as well. Show him what he is allowed to chew on.

To help the process of understanding what he is and his not allowed to chew on, playing with other dogs is very helpful. Older dogs can show your puppy what they know already, how they know that you should not bite in hands but can sniff or lick them. How older dogs already know that chewing on the couch is not accepted but on the right toys they can. This socialization is so useful, puppies can really learn a lot from other dogs. Although, you do want to keep in mind that not every dog you meet will be perfectly socialized and raised. If you feel like a dog you meet in the park is showing certain behavior your do not want your puppy to show, it is up to you to not let your puppy play and socialize with those dogs. Besides that, not every dog around might want to play with your young, overly excited puppy. Keep that in mind as well.

To empower the behavior you are trying to teach your puppy, going to a puppy class is also a really good option. At puppy school, there will be difference in the ages of the dogs as well. Here your puppy can also learn from other dogs and of course learn how to behave around other dogs. If you are struggling with something you can ask your trainer and everything you learn at puppy school can be taken home to keep training there. You do need stay consistent in your biting and chewing behavior training which cannot be done if you do not continue this training at home. After all, puppy school is probably only one or two hours a week and in a different environment. While your puppy needs to learn at home and around the house what he is and is no allowed to chew on. You will have to keep training this yourself. The Tinki Academy can support you 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. This way you can look up all the information you need, whenever you need it. This is a good addition to your regular dog school because it can be done at home and has around-the-clock access with handy step-by-step guides to handle any situation.

  1. Accept that you cannot stop your puppy from chewing and biting, it is natural behavior
  2. Puppies need to chew and bite on things to grow up successfully
  3. It is the same as with small children, show them what is allowed
  4. Let your puppy socialize with other dogs, he can learn a lot from them as well
  5. Decide which dogs you want your puppy to socialize with
  6. Going to puppy school is really important!
  7. The Tinki Academy is a great addition to regular dog school and provides you of knowledge and answers 24/7
  8. Tinki Academy offers handy step-by-step guides, exercises you can train at home, clear instruction videos on elaborative subjects and answers to frequently asked questions
Teaching bite inhibition to stop a puppy from biting you

A very important aspect of trying to stop a puppy from biting you is the bite inhibition. The bite inhibition teaches your puppy to control his biting and the strength he applies when he is chewing. This is something they try to discover for themselves in the nest already, how hard they can bite in certain things, but you will have to teach him when it is actually too much. When they chew on a toy and figure out how to rip it apart, they are testing boundaries as well. Except toys, a couch or shoelaces do not make a noise to say: “Hey, stop that. That was too hard!”. Which is what you should do and what other dogs also do. If a puppy bites his brother and he did it too hard, his brother will scream. When puppies play around with each other and becomes too much, the mother dog will tear them apart. These are thing that disappear when your puppy comes home with you, which means you will have to replace this natural process.

This is why you should let your puppy bite your hands, as soon as he bites too hard you give a high pitched scream or yelp. You could also give a stern no but make sure it is a lot and it startles your puppy. A loud ‘ouch’ is a very natural reaction for us and very effective as well. Stop playing immediately, let your hand go limp. Show your puppy that this was too much and leave. The next time your puppy bites your hands again, keep giving the same reaction when the biting is too hard. Your puppy will have to keep trying until he understand where the boundary lies. If your puppy comes up to you, bites your hand softly and it does not hurt you, he will invite you to play. If you do not mind the biting this way, you can reward your puppy by playing with him or rewarding him with your voice. If your puppy invites you to come play but his biting is too hard, say ‘ouch’ or yelp and walk away. You will teach your puppy at what strength the biting is okay.

It is very important to control your reaction. If you yelp and pull your hand away quickly, your puppy might see this as a game and chace your hand. Try to control this and steer your emotions with your voice rather than the fastness of pulling away.

  1. It is about teaching the dog to control his biting and the strength he applies when chewing
  2. Teach your puppy what hurts and that rough playing stops immediately
  3. Puppies learn this in the litter as well, keep up this natural process
  4. When playing and biting becomes too much in the litter, the mother will intervene and show the dogs that it was too hard
  5. This is called the bite inhibition and you will have to continue with this now
  6. Control your own reaction, do not pull away too quickly

How to stop a puppy from biting your feet and hands

When your puppy comes home with you, you will be completely in love with him. Anything your puppy does is either funny or cute even when is supposedly a bad thing. You might not be as strict and just laugh it off when your puppy is chasing your feet. This is understandable because it can also feel like your puppy is connecting with you, making contact through trying to grab your feet. No matter how funny or cute it is, you will have to stop this behavior from the beginning. If you allow things now it will be really hard to change them later. A big dog chasing your feet or biting your hands might not be so cute anymore, keep that in mind.

Give your puppy alternatives for your feet and hands. Every time your puppy tries to reach your fingers or feet, offer him a chewing toy. Something he is allowed to chew on. Do not encourage the biting and chewing by letting the puppy play with your hands. Avoid games like pulling you hands up high and your puppy jumping towards them. Stay consistent and strict and show your puppy what he is allowed to chew on.

One thing to remember at all times is that it is okay to get help. You really want to avoid escalation. If you feel like the methods are not workings or your puppy’s behavior is becoming uncontrollable, get help. It is completely okay to reach out to a professional. There are many certified trainers and therapists specialized in puppy behavior.

  1. It might look funny and cute now but it will not be funny when your dog is bigger and older
  2. Stop this behavior at the start, allowing it now will make it harder to teach in the future
  3. Do not encourage biting and chewing with accidental games, offer an alternative
  4. Avoid escalation: when it seems to become too much and out of hand it is okay to reach for professional help
How to stop a puppy from chewing on your hands

Is your puppy trying to bite you when you are petting him? Then it could be your puppy is not used to being touched all over his body yet. When this is the case it is best to approach the situation carefully. Carefully pet your puppy while feeding him treats. This way he gets used to the feeling while being under the positive experience of the treats. Do keep in mind that it could be your puppy doesn’t like to be touched all the time. Some puppies love cuddling, others not so much. If this is the case you will have to except that cuddling and petting is not always an option for your puppy. Respect your puppies boundaries as well. This does not mean you should stop touching him because touching his body is also part of the socialization. It just means that touching is not the best reward you can give your puppy.

When your puppy bites your hands it is important you do not jerk them away quickly. Your puppy might see this as a game and chase your hands. Also, do not ever slap or hit your puppy when he bites you. Your puppy will have no idea what you are reacting that way for. The only thing you create is a negative association with you. Do not grab your puppy by his scruff either or grab/punish him in any other way. This hard handling will not work. Always show your puppy what you do want him to do and avoid getting angry or upset. You will only create negativity between you and your puppy which can cause him to stop trusting you while all a young puppy needs is someone he can trust. The more trust and positivity there is between the two of you, the better training will go.

  1. It could be your puppy is not used to being touched yet and that is why he tries to catch your hands
  2. Take it slow and pet your puppy while giving him treats to create a positive association with petting
  3. Never slap or hit your puppy! You will only create negativity and distrust
How to stop a puppy from biting your feet and chewing pant legs

A puppy that is biting your feet or trying to chase your pant legs can simply be inviting you to come play. If you do not react to this form of invitation he will soon realize it is not working. What you should do is offer your puppy an alternative. You can do this by giving your puppy a toy or other chewing treat he is allowed to chew on. Do let your puppy know that biting your feet or pant legs is wrong by telling him so. Simply say ‘no’ or ‘bad’ when he is doing so and then offer him the toy. If your puppy is trying to bite your feet or pant legs when you are walking or moving around, stop moving immediately. Freeze and wait until he stops. When your puppy gives up you reward him and offer him a chewing toy. This could for example be a tug toy but do keep in mind that tug toys do not always enhance the right behavior. Tug toys teach your puppy to pull things while playing and if your dog becomes really big and strong, this game will not be as much fun anymore.

  1. Biting in feet or jeans can be invitation to play, do not react to it
  2. Offer your puppy an alternative toy
  3. Tell your puppy that he is doing something wrong by saying so
  4. If your puppy bites your feet while you are moving around, stop moving immediately. Wait until your puppy stops biting and reward him when he does
  5. Tug toys are possible alternative toys but they can enhance the wrong behavior, pulling might not be as much fun when your dog is older and stronger
How to stop a puppy from biting your face

It could be your puppy is trying to bite your face when you are cuddling or playing. Amongst dogs, licking each other’s mouths is a sign of adoration and can also be an invitation to play from the dog licking the other. Biting is often to simply see what the reaction of the other would be, or they have already started playing. Especially when your dog is still so young, it is because he is trying to see what your reaction will be. Puppies are often discovering and testing boundaries. If your puppy bites your face it is best to stop playing or cuddling, to get up and leave. Show your puppy that you do not play that way, that biting is not okay. That if your puppy bites, the games stop. This way your puppy will soon realize that biting your face does not get him anywhere.

After you stopped playing and got up it is also good to offer your puppy and alternative. Give him a toy and leave him. Do not play with your puppy but teach him that you would rather have him chew on a toy than your nose.

  1. Stop playing immediately when your puppy bites your face
  2. Offer your puppy a toy as an alternative
How to stop a puppy from biting my child

A puppy that bites your child is not fun of course, but there is a reason children are often an easier target for your puppy. If there is one thing that definitely helps, it is to make sure you keep your puppy away when your children are eating. Children are closer to the puppy because they are smaller, this makes it easier for your puppy to reach your children and that way also reach their food. Besides that, your children might not be able to realize that giving the puppy food from your plate etc. is a bad thing. Teach your children that they are not allowed to feed the puppy and if your children are too small to understand that, keep the puppy away when your children are eating.

For the time being, do not leave your children unsupervised with your puppy. If something happens, your child might not be able to react the appropriate way. You know that offering your puppy an alternative is the right way to react. Or that pushing your puppy away will not work because it only provokes a game. Your child might not know this or will not be able to remember to do so when the puppy bites. Besides that, it could end up in a negative experience for the both of them. Maybe your child was grabbing the puppy too hard or pulling his tail and your puppy snarled or bit out of protection. In that case your puppy was simply trying to show he did not like it which is not bad behavior. If you are there to see those things you can teach your child that handling the puppy that way is not okay and help your puppy to react properly. Once you know your puppy understand the rules better and your children have gotten used to the puppy, you can leave them alone.

As we mentioned, your children might not know how to react properly. It is important you teach your children what you are learning as well. Show your children that when your puppy bites, they have to stop playing and walk away. They should not jerk their hand away as that will trigger the puppy’s chase instinct. Show your children that they have to give the puppy an alternative to bite in. Still, do not leave them unsupervised until you are sure nothing bad can happen.

  1. Keep your puppy away if your children have food
  2. Teach your children how to behave as well
  3. Do not leave your children unsupervised with the puppy
  4. Show your children how to react when the puppy bites them

Who to stop a puppy from biting

The first person that will have to get to work with your puppy’s biting behavior is you. Of course biting behavior is annoying but it is normal. Be aware that your puppy is simply showing natural behavior that you have to steer towards behavior you want to see. It could be that you are not managing to get it right on your own, which is completely normal and understandable. Do not hesitate to get help! There are lots of professionals out there that can help you with that. You do not have to feel like you are failing or doing something wrong, sometimes you just cannot do it on your own. It can be extremely helpful to get and outside point of view, someone that can really of a fresh pair of eyes and that also know what he is talking about. Especially if you are suspecting your puppy is biting out of aggression, professional help is necessary.

  1. Biting behavior is completely normal but of course it can be annoying
  2. If you are not able to steer this behavior to what you do want to see, do not hesitate to get help
  3. There are lots of professionals out there that can help you
  4. An outsider’s point of view can sometimes be better
  5. Especially when you suspect that the puppy does it out of aggression it is necessary to get help
How to stop a puppy from biting when teething

A very logical and self explanatory reason for a puppy’s biting behavior is teething. You might not remember what it felt like when you got your own teeth but looking at all the babies crying because of it, it is definitely not a pleasure. Puppies will bite more when they are teething, this can be to release pressure or because it might help the process. This is where you should keep redirecting the biting behavior towards things they are allowed to chew on. Make sure your puppy is not left alone in a room without things he is allowed to chew. Offer your puppy toys continuously.

To help your puppy in his discomfort there are also special teething toys you can buy. These are made in such a way to alleviate pain and pressure. Often these toys are also made from a special material that can be frozen. After freezing it, the toy will be extremely cold which can help to cool irritated gums. Do keep an eye out for any medical problems. Make sure you are able to check your puppy’s teeth once in a while. If you are in doubt or your puppy seems in pain when chewing, always contact your veterinarian.

  1. Redirect your puppy’s biting behavior towards toys
  2. Look for special teething toys that can relieve pain and discomfort
  3. Some toys can be frozen to cool the gums
  4. Keep an eye out for medical problems, if in doubt visit your veterinarian
When to stop a puppy from biting

Start with this training from the beginning. The longer you accept your puppy’s biting behavior, the harder it will be to get rid of it later. This basically counts for anything you want to teach your puppy but behavior is a very important one. Any behavior your puppy shows that you do not like, show your puppy what you do want him to do from the beginning. If you start at the beginning your puppy will now know any better later. He will see it as normal.

If your puppy achieves success with his first approaches, for example you play a game after he bit your hands, your puppy will continue this behavior. Your puppy did not find any consequences in biting so he will not understand that it is wrong when you do want to correct him. Biting behavior that has nothing to do with playing should always be stopped. Maybe you do not mind that your puppy bites your hands to invite you to come play, that is fine. But you will have to teach your puppy that biting as an invitation cannot be done too hard and can only be done then. Show your puppy what behavior is allowed, to what extent it is allowed and when it is allowed. Dogs are smart enough to understand, as long as you stay consistent and clear in your intentions as well.

  1. Start from the beginning!
  2. It is easier to immediately teach your puppy what behavior is not allowed then trying to change it later
  3. Make sure your puppy is never able to achieve success with wrong behavior and always show him the alternative
  4. If your puppy knows what is and what is not allowed from the beginning, it will become normal for him
  5. Biting behavior that has nothing to do with playing should always be stopped
How to stop a puppy from biting when excited

It is very normal for your puppy to start biting out of enthusiasm or excitement. Although it is normal behavior amongst dogs to nip each other in a playful manner, it is not normal behavior towards us. This is why you should not react to this expression of enthusiasm and ignore your puppy’s biting. If your puppy bites when excited it is the right time to enforce the training of bite inhibition. Your puppy learns about the bite inhibition in the nest, but ha snow come to live with you so you will have to continue it. In the litter, his siblings and mother teach him when biting is too much or too hard. You will have to show your puppy the same.

Stop playing when your puppy bites you and yelp. Just like their siblings would scream or bark if he would bite them too hard. Say ‘ouch’ loudly or give a stern no. Get up and walk away. When your puppy has calmed down, you can continue playing again. Understand your puppy’s excitement but show him that it does not work that way with you. Your puppy will realize his biting was too much and maybe try softer the next time. If you do not want your puppy to bite at all you will have to continue until he stops.

If your puppy does not seem to be able to continue his enthusiasm, he might need a time out. A crate is a very good option for these situations. Show your puppy that he needs to calm down. Crate training a puppy has to be done gradually but a crate is a very good tool for a lot of other training as well. If your puppy escalates and you feel like the behavior is out of control it is completely okay to get professional help. A fresh pair of eyes that know what they are seeing can be incredibly useful.

  1. Do not react to your puppy’s enthusiasm
  2. Try to enforce the bite inhibition when your puppy bites from excitement
  3. Only get back to playing when your puppy calmed down
  4. If your puppy is not able to calm down, a crate can be incredibly helpful
  5. If you feel like things are getting out of control, get help

How to stop a puppy from biting and growling

Just like biting is often natural behavior, growling is also a natural form of communication. Of course this does not mean you simply have to accept it but you do have to understand that there is almost always a reason for it. Growling is often a warning sign which you have to take serious. If your puppy learns that warning has no use because no one takes him serious, he will not warn anymore the next time. Your puppy will attack immediately when feeling threatened or hurt instead of warning first. It could be that the growling is more playful, that is also natural. When dogs are enjoying things they could be growling out of pleasure as well. Puppies do still need to discover themselves and learn what reaction their behavior gets. In order to react the right way you will need to know what the behavior means.

If your puppy seems to growl because he feels threatened, for example when he is chewing on a bone and you want to approach, you have to react a different way than when he is growling during playing. Growling out of aggression is also a different situation so try to understand why your puppy is growling. Growling during eating or chewing on food is really something different and differences in all the growling will be thoroughly explained in the Tinki Academy.

If you feel like your puppy’s growling is from aggression and you do not trust it, professional help for this behavioral problem is necessary.

  1. Growling is a warning sign that you have to take seriously
  2. If you do not take the warns seriously, your puppy will not warn the next time and attack immediately instead
  3. Some growling is playful
  4. Try to figure out what the growling means
  5. If it seems to be aggression, get professional help
How to stop a puppy from biting and chewing on his leash

A puppy that is trying to chew his leash during walks can be extremely annoying. When you first put it on, you might think it looks a bit silly and do not mind the cute puppy trying to attack the leash. After a few walks it will be annoying. It could be your puppy is just being silly and tries to play around. It could also be your puppy is frustrated by the leash and does not like it being attached to him. Of course a good leash training goes hand in hand with this issue. You will have to teach your puppy how to walk on the leash before your puppy is able to walk beside you neatly during walks.

What you want to do is distract your puppy from the leash, after all it is a completely normal thing that we do not have to chew on. Feed your puppy treats during the walk to distract him and encourage the positive association. If you have been training for a while and it does not seem to work you could also spray some anti biting spray on the leash. Lemon juice or vinegar will also help to stop your puppy from chewing the leash. Especially if the leash biting was out of playful banter, an anti biting remedy or simply making it taste bad is a great solution. You could also bring a toy on your walks to distract your puppy from the leash.

  1. Chewing on the leash could be playful but also frustrated behavior
  2. A good leash training is essential to stop the puppy from chewing on the leash
  3. You have to teach your puppy how to properly walk beside you
  4. You can use an anti biting spray or something with a bad taste like lemon juice or vinegar to stop your puppy from chewing the leash
  5. Take a toy with you to offer as an alternative for the chewing
How to stop a puppy from biting and jumping

A jumping puppy is not very exceptional. Lots of puppies jump up at people because they want to greet them. Dogs like to greet each other by licking their faces, especially if they like you this will be their way of communicating. Since your face is up high for them, they have to jump. If the puppy is never taught that jumping is not the right way to greet the person they love, they will continue doing so as they get older. You might love the sight of your jumping puppy trying to greet you now but as your dog gets older and probably a lot bigger it will not be so fun. Maybe your dog is of a smaller breed but if you are about to raise a big German Shepherd or Golden Retriever, you might not like the jumping as much. Besides that, if you have visitors over and they get startled by your jumping big dog they could get seriously injured.

Teach your puppy that he has to keep his 4 paws on the ground. The way to do so is simple, ignore him. Only until your puppy has put his paws on the floor, you will greet him. When this happens, reward your puppy. Greet him, tell him he is a good boy and play or cuddle with him. Never ever accept the jumping behavior, you will have to be stern!

  1. Jumping and biting often happens when a puppy greets someone
  2. You might like the sight of a jumping puppy now but as your dog gets older and bigger it will not be as much fun
  3. Teach your puppy he has to keep his paws on the ground and only greet him when he does so
  4. Reward your puppy for the right behavior
  5. Never accept a jumping puppy, you have to be strict!
How to stop a puppy from biting clothes

The same rule applies for a lot of the problems mentioned above, offer an alternative. Show your puppy what he is allowed to chew on instead of the clothes. Teach your puppy that clothes are not toys, how interesting and fun they may seem. If your puppy is chewing your sleeve during a game try to yelp or say ouch. Stop playing to show your puppy that chewing on your clothes is not done. Never encourage your puppy’s behavior by turning things into a game. It may look funny, a young puppy trying to catch a shoelace but enhancing this behavior by flailing your shoelace around is the worst you can do. Running away is not option either, your puppy will see this as a chase game and that it is the opposite of what you want. Always keep a toy prepared to make sure you can offer it as an alternative. Be stern and do not except the puppy’s behavior, how funny or exciting it may seem.

  1. Offer an alternative
  2. Teach your puppy that clothes are not toys
  3. Try to yelp or say ‘ouch’ when the chewing on toys happens mid game
  4. Never encourage the behavior by flailing your pants or shoelaces around
  5. Always keep a toy on you to be prepared
How to stop a puppy from chewing

It might happen a few times, you return home or get back in the room your puppy is staying in and there is it; a chewed up shoe or a torn apart newspaper. The first thing you want to do before your puppy even arrives at your house is to puppy proof it. Make sure you have hidden all your valuable objects but also store away dangerous objects. Put away electric wires or cables and check your house and garden for poisonous plants.

Chewing behavior is natural and puppies actually need to do it. You cannot stop your puppy from chewing, it would be cruel. What you can do is teach your puppy what to chew on. Make sure you are always able to offer your puppy an alternative. Keep toys near and give your puppy that when he happens to be chewing on your couch or something else that is not allowed. Puppies want to discover the world around them, keep that in mind. Discovering things is done with their mouth, puppies simply do not have hands to grab things with. Just like we teach our children what things they are allowed to grab, we have to teach a puppy this as well.

  1. Puppy proof your house to limit the options of things to chew on
  2. Check for dangerous objects as well and make sure your puppy cannot reach them
  3. Offer your puppy enough alternatives
  4. Puppies discover their surroundings with their mouth, accept this and teach your puppy how to discover the right way

How to stop a puppy from biting furniture, carpet and on walls

The right approach to stop any chewing or biting behavior is to not focus on stopping it but to redirect the behavior to something else. You want your puppy to chew on other things, chewing is normal behavior after all. Puppies discover the world around them by taking things in their mouth. This is something you cannot, what you can change is the things he is chewing on. Your puppy simply needs to be corrected, needs to be shown what the proper chewing behavior is. Keep in mind that you want to teach your puppy now, what you want him to do when he is older. Besides that, chewing on everything he encounters can be dangerous as well. You do not want your puppy to get in any danger because he happened to chew on a poisonous plant.

If you have trouble redirecting the chewing behavior you want exclude medical problems first. Maybe your puppy keeps chewing on everything because it relieves him of pain. Do not hesitate to get professional help! Our elaborate training on how to stop a puppy from biting and chewing of our Tinki Academy offers handy step-by-step guides and answers to many frequently asked questions. This can help you to train your dog at home, whenever you want.

  1. It is not about stopping the behavior, it is about redirecting it to the right behavior
  2. Chewing is normal because a puppy discovers the world around him with his mouth
  3. Focus on what you want your puppy to behave like as he is older, that is what you need to train right now
  4. If you have trouble redirecting the behavior, exclude medical problems first
  5. Do not hesitate to get help!
  6. The Tinki Academy e-book offers handy step-by-step guides and answers many frequently asked questions that you can access from the comfort of your own home
How to stop a puppy from chewing shoes

The first thing you want to do before your puppy arrives at your house is make your house puppy proof. Clean up everything you do not want your puppy to chew on and also all the objects that could be of danger to him. Through the time your puppy is still learning not to chew on certain things, keep cleaning up! Leaving shoes lying around is not wise, keep the house spotless! Besides that, always be prepared. Keep toys on you so you can always offer your puppy an alternative for the thing he is chewing on. Never encourage your puppy to play with anything he is not allowed to chew on. No matter how hilarious it may look that your puppy is chasing your shoelace, do not let him do this. You have to be stern from the beginning and stay consistent in what you do and do not allow. Start from day one and stick to the same rules, otherwise your puppy is constantly confused and will just do what he wants eventually.

  1. Clean up and store away anything your puppy is not allowed to chew on
  2. Keep the house immaculate
  3. Never encourage your puppy to play with anything he is not allowed to play with
  4. Be consistent in your rules starting from day one, otherwise your puppy will have no idea what your intentions are
How to stop a puppy from chewing on electrical cords

Never leave your puppy out of your sight! If your puppy is able to reach any electrical cords, watch him like a hawk. If your puppy comes close to chewing on one, offer him an alternative immediately. As soon as you see your puppy only approaching the cable, wave a toy or something else he likes around. Do not take in any risk in your puppy getting a good chew out of it. Especially if your puppy is in his teething period, keep a close eye on him. Besides that, you have of course made sure any electrical wires or cables are out of reach as much as possible. There are aids you can use like cable protectors, anti biting sprays etc. Things to protect your puppy from himself as much as possible.

  1. Watch your puppy like a hawk, do not let him out of your sight
  2. Give your puppy chewing toys and snacks to distract him
  3. Wave a toy around when you see your puppy approaching a cable
  4. Especially if your puppy is teething, keep a close eye on him. As your puppy gets older the chewing will become less
  5. Look for aids like cable protectors or special anti biting sprays to protect your puppy from himself
How to stop a puppy from chewing wood furniture

Why is your puppy chewing? This is something you always have to ask yourself first. This will usually be out of boredom or because the need to chew has been strengthened by teething. There are special puppy toys that can help you to offer your puppy a relief. Some toys can be frozen to cool the gums, which can work really well when your puppy is teething. Offer these as an alternative for the couch or table. If your puppy is chewing out of boredom it is good to check his mental stimulation. Maybe he could use some more mental stimulation throughout the day. This can be done with special brain games and puzzles. A simple searching trail will also suffice.

Besides those two, chewing behavior could also be destructive behavior. Maybe your puppy has separation anxiety which shows itself through destroying things. This is common and when it happens it is best to get professional help.

Of course you cannot store away your furniture to keep it out of the puppy’s reach. What you could do is make the wood taste bad. There are special anti biting sprays to put on to make your puppy steer away from it. A bit of vinegar or lemon juice might also do the trick.

Above all: make sure your valuables are safe in the beginning as your puppy still needs to learn everything.

  1. Always figure out first why your puppy is chewing on something
  2. There are certain toys available that can be frozen to chill the gums
  3. If your puppy is chewing out of boredom, make sure he gets more mental stimulation throughout the day
  4. Chewing could be destructive behavior that manifests itself in a separation anxiety, it could be best to get professional help
  5. There are certain sprays available to make the furniture taste bad
  6. Make sure all your valuables are safe in the beginning as your puppy is still learning
How to stop a puppy from chewing pee pads

Maybe you decided to use peeing pads in your house training this is of course completely fine but when your puppy starts chewing on them you might not be so happy. A thing to do is make sure the pad is secured to the ground. This can be done with a pad holder or even duct tape could do the job. Moving objects are quickly seen as toys so make sure they are secured. Let your puppy know that chewing on it is wrong by telling him ‘no’ or ‘stop’. Make sure you are strict about this, if you allow it once it will be much harder to stop. You could also use a bitter spray or food to make the pad taste bad. If you decide to do something like that, make sure you are careful with the spray. If you spray it all over the pad your puppy might avoid peeing on it which is not what you want. Only spray it around the edges.

Always make sure you are one step ahead of your puppy. If you anticipate he is going to chew on the pad, offer him a chewing toy instead. If you are not able to keep an eye on him like that, a crate is a great solution to keep your puppy from chewing on things he is not allowed to chew on. Of course the best solution to stop a puppy from chewing on peeing pads is to stop using them. House train your puppy outside and make puppy pads a thing of the past.

  1. Teach your puppy a pee pad is not something to chew on
  2. Secure the pad to the ground
  3. Let your puppy know that his behavior is wrong by saying ‘no’ or ‘stop’
  4. Be a step ahead and offer your puppy an alternative when he wants to chew on the pad
  5. Crate your puppy when you cannot keep an eye on him
  6. House train your puppy outside and get rid of the pads
What can you use to stop a puppy from chewing

There are many different things that can come to your aid to stop your puppy from chewing. The first things are of course toys and treats. You can offer these as an alternative when your puppy is chewing on something. Besides that you will of course need treats. Reward your puppy for the right behavior as much as possible. To make it easier on yourself to leave your puppy alone for a while, use a crate. Focus on a good crate training, it can be of a lot of help. If you do not want to crate your puppy you could also look for special puppy pens to restrict your puppy’s access. Make sure the area you leave your puppy in is puppy proof, free of dangerous and valuable objects. You could also by special sprays to make things taste bitter.

  1. There are different tools available to help you stop your puppy from chewing
  2. The first thing you want to use are toys and chews to distract your puppy and offer as an alternative for the things he is chewing on
  3. Keep treats near to reward your puppy as much as possible
  4. A crate is a very handy tool to protect your puppy from his own chewing behavior
  5. You can also look for a puppy pen if you do not want to crate your puppy
  6. Always make sure the room your puppy is staying in is puppy proof
  7. Special sprays can be bought to make objects taste bitter
How to stop a puppy from chewing blankets

The first thing you want to do when your puppy keeps chewing on things is exclude any medical problems. Maybe the excessive chewing happens because your puppy is suffering from dental problems. Maybe your puppy is teething and a tooth grew double? Take your puppy to a veterinarian when you are not sure if his health is alright. Chewing is normal behavior but there is always a reason for it. Even nutritional deficiency good be a cause! A blood test can exclude that and checking your puppy’s diet for the right nutrients is always a good option. Make sure he gets everything he needs. Chewing on a blanket could also be a sign of anxiety. If you suspect behavioral problems like this it is best to get help from a professional.

  1. Exclude medical problems
  2. Your puppy’s diet has a big influence as well, check if he gets all of his nutrients with his daily intake of food
  3. Chewing could also be a sign of anxiety, if this seem the case getting professional help is wise
How to stop a puppy from chewing on plants and stones

Not only your house should be a puppy proof place, your garden should be so as well. You do not want your puppy to be able to chew on poisonous plants or something else extremely dangerous. Make sure there aren’t any toys from your children left lying in the garden. For the rest, the principle stays the same: redirect the chewing behavior. Give your puppy alternatives to chew on when you are in the garden as well. If your puppy starts chewing on a stone, take it away from him and give him a dog toy. While doing so tell your puppy ‘no’ or ‘stop’. If you stay consistent in these actions, your puppy will quickly understand. Never leave your puppy unsupervised in your garden, chewing on insects or plants can be really bad. Teach your puppy the right chewing behavior just like you would inside the house.

  1. Puppy proof your garden as well
  2. Make sure there aren’t any poisonous plants in your garden and don’t leave kids toys lying around
  3. It works the same as inside; redirect the chewing behavior
  4. Give your puppy alternatives he is allowed to chew on
  5. Keep a very close eye on your puppy, do not let him out of your sight
Tinki

Written by Tinki in Raising a dog

123Tinki.com

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