It is natural for puppies to chew — that’s one of the ways they explore and learn. Try to keep valuable objects that are chewable safely out of reach and provide a chew toy. Destructive chewing is merely a way to work off excitement and relieve frustration, not an insidious plan to get even with you. Help encourage your puppy to be calm. Don’t encourage tug of war or play that involves chewing and biting.
When you leave home for the day, don’t make it into a big deal. By showing lots of emotion of any sort toward the dog at departure (stern warnings or long goodbyes) you build up emotional stress in the puppy. This is often vented in destructive chewing after you leave. Your last three or four minutes at home should be spent calmly. Then get up and leave, ignoring your puppy completely — don’t even say goodbye. Arrive home calmly too. Do not build up more stress by scolding the chewing pup after the fact — that just makes things worse. Show the puppy an acceptable chew toy and praise the puppy when it chews the toy.
|
The materials, information and answers provided through this website are not intended to replace the medical advice or services of a qualified veterinarian or other pet health care professional. Consult your own veterinarian for answers to specific medical questions, including diagnosis, treatment, therapy or medical attention.
|
Return to Articles
|