How to avoid chewing problems

The secret to preventing your puppy from chewing up your belongings is not by correcting them for mistakes but rather “channeling” their natural need and desire to chew into the things you want them to chew.



Observation will illustrate that dogs are most often attracted to chew things that move or that the owner wears or handles a lot. Books, glasses, plants, sofa pillows and underwear and socks lead the list. You handle these things and your scent is all over them and that attracts the puppy to want it too. Knowing this mimicking will occur gives us insight as to how to train the dog.

Begin with one type of toy and lots of them. Literally one or more for each room your new puppy will be in. The original “Nylabone wishbone” is the one we like best for this purpose. They last a long time, give good chewing satisfaction and are not abrasive to the dog’s teeth. If offered more variety, shapes, colors, textures, etc., it becomes much more difficult your pet to distinguish what is a toy.

Start with regular play sessions with the toy, where you manipulate it to make it interesting. Move it quickly, hide it on your person and especially sit on the floor and hold it in your hand while the puppy chews it. Make this a regular ritual the first few months; you want the puppy to look forward to and develop a strong association and habit with playing and chewing this toy.

Any time your dog picks the wrong item to play with, there is no need to correct or punish. Simply attract him with one of the toys and when he goes for it, put the other object away. This will take a little time and repetition to become a permanent habit, but this method will result in a happy, confident dog.