When they start teething, puppies chew way too much. All juvenile mammals go through this process, where their baby or milk teeth fall out and their adult teeth erupt. When their adult teeth have fully erupted, usually between 6 and 8 months of age, it will be over.
Despite this, adult dogs still enjoy chewing, and some breeds chew more than others naturally. It should be encouraged and is actually very beneficial for them as long as they don’t use it destructively.
However, a dog’s gums may experience extreme discomfort, irritation, and even pain while they are teething, and the only thing they can do to find relief is to chew. Being so young, they don’t yet know the difference between good and wrong and will attempt to gnaw on literally anything they come across. Try not to get angry about it. Instead, let’s look at how to handle heavy chewers and teething in order to prevent it from turning harmful.
July 11, 2017
You can’t stop your dog from chewing on things. Puppyhood has just one clear, inevitable reality. You can be lucky enough to have a dog who practically eats you out of your house, or it might only be a little issue. #puppyproblems
There are two stages to chewing. The puppy’s need to have items in his mouth throughout the teething process causes the initial phase of chewing to occur. It should be ending about 5 or 6 months of age because it usually ends when all adult teeth erupt. The second chewing phase is a developmental stage that typically starts in late puppyhood around 7-8 months old and can extend up to 2 years. This chewing stage is totally driven by amusement and boredom and has nothing to do with teething.
Teenage puppies are just like teenagers in that you need to keep them occupied in order to keep them out of mischief. A dog finds it enjoyable to chew as a form of enjoyment. Fun is had! Dogs also lack a feeling of right and wrong, so he won’t understand why you don’t want him to eat the TV remote instead of his chew bone. To him, it’s all the same.
You can start your plans when your puppy is small and stick with them throughout his puberty because the techniques for stopping both types of chewing are rather similar. Following are some suggestions for preventing damaging chewing:
Exercise!
It is imperative to emphasize that a happy puppy is a weary puppy. Because each dog has distinct energy requirements, you must adjust the amount of exercise and playtime for your particular puppy. If he doesn’t exhaust himself every day, he will look for other activities to engage in. With the right amount of activity, harmful chewing will always reduce.
Swapping Puppy Chews
To prevent him from getting bored with his toys and chew toys, try switching them up every week. The best way to accomplish that is to place an urgent PupBox order! Replace any forbidden object he has in his mouth with a toy whenever you notice him doing so.
Put Away Your Valuables
Make careful to keep them away if you don’t want him tearing apart your brand-new Dolce pumps. Nothing should be left on the living room floor. You can effectively avert a catastrophe by restricting your dog’s access to objects!
Use A Bitter Spray
Purchase a spray that you can use to mist off restricted things. There are numerous options to consider. Although not all dogs react to these sprays, those that do find them to be quite beneficial.
Keep Your Pup From Roaming
If you are aware that your puppy is a destructive chewer, do not leave him unattended inside the house while you are gone. So that you don’t always return home to a mess, we advise crate training or researching doggy daycare choices. Give him more freedom in the house as he proves his dependability.
And keep in mind that puppyhood passes quickly and without warning. Take lots of shots while your pup is still young and remember to enjoy the moment!
Why is my dog still chewing at the age of two?
As they explore the world, puppies and dogs frequently gnaw on objects. A dog can achieve a variety of goals by chewing. It offers young canines a means of easing pain that potential future teething may bring. It’s nature’s method of keeping aging dogs’ jaws strong and their teeth clean. Additionally, chewing prevents boredom and eases moderate tension or frustration.
Rule Out Problems That Can Cause Destructive Chewing
separation phobia Usually exclusively chewing when left alone or chewing most vigorously when left alone, dogs who chew to ease the tension of separation anxiety. Other separation anxiety symptoms include whining, barking, pacing, restlessness, urinating, and defecating. Please read our article, Separation Anxiety, for more information on separation anxiety and how to address it.
Clothing Sucking Some dogs chew, lick, and suckle on fabrics. According to some specialists, this behavior is a result of the baby being weaned too soon (before seven or eight weeks of age). It’s probable that a dog’s fabric-sucking activity has become compulsive if it persists for extended periods of time and it’s challenging to divert him when he tries to indulge in it. For information on how to locate a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), a Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist (Dip ACVB), or a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) with specialized training and experience in treating compulsive behavior, please see our article, Finding Professional Behavior Help.
Hunger A canine on a calorie-restricted diet may chew and damage items in an effort to find more food sources. Dogs typically chew on things that are connected to food or have a food-like fragrance.
How to Manage or Reduce Your Dog’s Destructive Chewing
dog teething Puppies chew due to their urge to explore new objects and their discomfort from teething. Similar to young children, puppies go through a phase where they lose their baby teeth and feel discomfort as their adult teeth erupt. By six months of age, this phase of increased chewing should be over. Some people advise feeding puppies frozen wet washcloths, frozen dog toys, or ice cubes to chew on to ease teething pain. Despite the fact that puppies must chew on everything, careful training can teach your dog to limit his chewing to acceptable objects, such as his own toys.
Typical Chewing Patterns For dogs of all ages, chewing is a totally typical behavior. Dogs, whether tame or wild, can spend hours gnawing bones. Their teeth stay clean and their jaws stay strong thanks to this activity. Dogs enjoy chewing on sticks, bones, and nearly anything else that is available. They chew for entertainment, stimulation, and anxiety reduction. Although chewing is a common action in dogs, occasionally they chew on undesirable objects. A range of suitable and appealing chew toys should be available for dogs of all ages, including pups. The right chewables alone won’t suffice to stop inappropriate chewing, though. Dogs need to learn what they can and cannot chew. They must be instructed in a kind, patient way.
- “Make your home dog-proof. Put priceless goods away until you’re certain that your dog will only chew on appropriate objects. Keep books on shelves, soiled clothes in a basket, shoes and apparel in a closed closet. Make success for your dog simple.
- Give your dog a ton of his own toys, as well as some inedible chew bones. Pay attention to the toys he enjoys chewing on for extended periods of time and keep providing those. To prevent your dog from being bored with the same old toys, it’s best to rotate or introduce something new into his chew toys every few days. (Take care: Only provide your dog with natural bones that are intended for chewing. Give him raw bones instead, such as leftover t-bones or chicken wings, as they can splinter and do your dog considerable harm. Also keep in mind that some people who chew extremely hard may be able to break tiny pieces off of real bones or even their own teeth. Consult your dog’s veterinarian if you are unsure what is safe to give him.)
- Bully sticks, pig ears, rawhide bones, pig skin rolls, and other natural chews are good options to give your dog. Sometimes, especially if they bite off and swallow big chunks, dogs can choke on edible chews. If your dog has a tendency to do this, make sure he is alone when he chews so he can unwind. (If he is forced to chew in the presence of other dogs, he can feel pressured to outdo them and try to gulp down food quickly.) Whenever your dog is chewing on an edible object, be sure to keep an eye on him so you can step in if he starts to choke.
- Find out when your dog is most inclined to chew and offer him a puzzle toy with some tasty treats during those times. You can put a portion of your dog’s daily food allowance in the toy.
- Spraying chewing deterrents on the improper items will deter chewing. Apply a small bit of the repellent on some cotton wool or tissue before using it. It should be placed gently in your dog’s mouth. Spit it out after letting him taste it. Your dog may toss his head, drool, or retch if the taste offends him. He won’t take the tissue or wool out of his pocket once again. Ideally, he will have discovered the link between the deterrent’s taste and smell, making him more inclined to refrain from chewing things that smell like it. All items that you don’t want your dog to chew should be treated with the deterrent. Every day for the next two to four weeks, reapply the deterrent. Please be aware, though, that more than merely using deterrents will be necessary for the successful treatment of destructive chewing. Both what they can chew and what they shouldn’t chew should be taught to dogs.
- Until you are certain that your dog’s chewing activity is under control, try your best to keep an eye on him during all waking hours. Tell him if you notice him licking or chewing something he shouldn’t be “Oh no, take it out of your dog’s mouth and replace it with something he CAN chew. Then joyfully commend him. Please see our article on finding professional behavior help for information on how to locate a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or Associate CAAB), a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB), or a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) with experience treating aggression if you have any suspicions that your dog may become aggressive if you remove something from his mouth.
- Your dog needs to be kept from chewing on improper objects when you aren’t there to watch him. For instance, if you work during the day, you are permitted to confine your dog at home for up to six hours. Use a crate or lock the door or a baby gate to a tiny room where you’ve placed your dog. Remove all prohibited items from your dog’s confinement area and provide him with a selection of suitable toys and chew items in their place. If you crate your dog, keep in mind that you’ll need to exercise him frequently and spend time with him when he’s not crated.
- Playtime with you and other dogs is a great way to give your dog physical and mental stimulation (training, social visits, etc.). Make sure your dog has plenty of playtime before you have to leave him alone for longer than a short while.
- It’s vital to refrain from confusing your dog by presenting undesired household items, such as worn-out shoes and discarded cushions, in order to assist him learn the difference between things he should and shouldn’t chew. You cannot reasonably expect your dog to learn which shoes are acceptable to chew on and which ones are not.
- Some young dogs and pups like chewing on soiled underpants. The best way to fix this issue is to consistently place dirty underwear in a closed hamper. Similar to puppies, some dogs enjoy raiding the trash and gnawing on used tampons and sanitary napkins. This carries a significant risk. A sanitary item that a dog eats may expand as it passes through his digestive tract. Put tampons and napkins in a container that your dog cannot access. As they mature, the majority of young canines outgrow these tendencies.
Some dogs merely do not receive sufficient mental and physical stimulation. Chewing is one method that bored dogs often use to pass the time. Make sure to give your dog plenty of opportunities to engage in mental and physical activity to discourage destructive chewing. Daily walks and outings, off-leash play with other dogs, tug and fetch games, clicker training lessons, dog sports (agility, freestyle, flyball, etc.), and serving meals in food puzzle toys are all excellent ways to do this.
Stress and Disappointment When under stress, a dog may occasionally chew, such as when he is confined in a car with youngsters or is crated next to another animal with whom he does not get along. Try to keep your dog away from stressful or upsetting situations to lessen this kind of chewing.
Dogs who aren’t allowed to participate in interesting activities occasionally bite, shake, shred, and chew on adjacent things. When visitors pass by their kennels, shelter dogs and puppies may grab and shake blankets or bowls in an attempt to attract their attention. They act destructively out of frustration when they don’t understand. When a dog spots a cat or squirrel running by and wants to chase it but is confined by a fence, the dog may seize and gnaw on the gate. When a dog is in a training session and observes another dog enjoying fun, he could become so enthused that he grabs and chews his leash. (Dogs that compete in agility and flyball are particularly prone to this behavior since they observe other dogs having a wonderful time racing about and want to get in on the fun.) Predicting potential moments of frustration and providing your dog with a suitable toy for shaking and tearing is the best course of action for this issue. Bring a tug or stuffed animal toy to class for your dog to hold and gnaw on. Tie a rope toy to a sturdy object by the gate or barrier if your dog gets frustrated by pets or objects on the other side of a fence or gate at home. Give puppies and dogs in shelters toys and chew bones to keep them entertained. Teach them to go to the front of their kennels and sit quietly to attract attention from onlookers whenever it is possible.
- Do not spank, reprimand, or otherwise punish your dog after the event by pointing out the harm he caused. He is unable to relate his actions from hours or even just minutes ago to the punishment you gave him.
- Use duct tape sparingly if you need to keep your dog’s jaws shut over a chewed object. This is cruel, won’t teach your dog anything, and has even resulted in the death of several pets.
- Never attach a broken object to your dog. This is cruel and will not provide your dog any lessons.
- To stop chewing, avoid keeping your dog in a kennel for extended periods of time (more than six hours).
