| Puppies are natural chewing machines. Anything within | | | | Keep all objects picked up off the floor and out of |
| their reach is fair game: your shoes, couches, kid's | | | | reach from your dog, including books, magazines, |
| toys, electrical cords, sticks, TV remotes; if it is loose | | | | remotes, telephone books and Harry Potter books, |
| and accessible, it can be demolished. | | | | (these are just a few items that have been lost to my |
| Since it is a natural instinct for your puppy to chew, it is | | | | dogs). |
| your job to direct the puppy to what can be chewed | | | | For larger items, such as couches, recliners and tables, |
| and what cannot be chewed. So your first job is to | | | | try using non-toxic bitter sprays that can be sprayed |
| puppy proof your home by keeping the puppy | | | | on the larger items. |
| confined in a crate when you are not home and limiting | | | | If you catch your dog chewing on something he |
| his free range to the puppy proof areas when you are | | | | shouldn't, say "No" or "Leave It", and then replace the |
| home. | | | | object with a chew toy. You must be vigilant when |
| I learned the hard way when my daughter left her | | | | watching your puppy so that you can direct him to |
| bedroom door ajar and my Golden Retriever | | | | what can be chewed and what is off limits. |
| commenced to chew my antique doll house and hand | | | | Give your dog his own "toy box". This can be a small |
| made furniture to toothpicks. It seriously looked like a | | | | box or basket to put his toys in. My dog thinks it is a |
| bomb had been dropped on the dollhouse with bits and | | | | great game when I vacuum the floor and put all his |
| pieces of my furniture scattered all over the floor. | | | | toys away in the basket. He then he commences to |
| Crayons and telephone books were also Chris's | | | | pull all his toys out and plays with them one by one as |
| favorite items to chew on and my Labrador, Jake, | | | | soon as the vacuuming is finished. |
| preferred books and magazines. | | | | Some dogs chew due to separation anxiety. This |
| When you do discover that something has been | | | | subject is covered more in depth in a separate article. |
| destroyed by your dog, your first response is to punish | | | | Your veterinarian can also help with some medication |
| the dog. Unfortunately, the dog has no idea what you | | | | to help calm the dog while you are re-training him to be |
| are punishing him for,even if you are waving the | | | | left alone. Crate training your puppy when they are |
| treasured artifact in your hand, after all, any thing loose | | | | younger can help prevent separation anxiety from |
| is fair game and their memory is very short. You | | | | developing when they are older. |
| simply have to ignore the dog and clean up the mess. | | | | Remember, chewing accidents are your fault for not |
| Puppies need to chew because they are teething. | | | | watching your puppy closely or allowing free roaming |
| Chewing on objects gives them some relief to their | | | | when you are away. Give your puppy plenty of his |
| tender gums and dislodges their baby teeth so their | | | | own toys to chew on so he will leave other items |
| adult teeth can come in. Once their teeth are in, then | | | | alone. Praise him when he is chewing on his toys and |
| they chew because they are bored, playing or seeking | | | | do not scold or yell at him if you discover a prized item |
| attention from you. | | | | chewed on while you were not looking. He has no |
| Provide your dog with plenty of safe chew toys, such | | | | memory after the fact to relate the chewed item to |
| as Kong Toys, dental chews, Greenies, and digestible | | | | your yelling and can cause more harm than good. |
| rawhides. Never give your dog real bones to chew on. | | | | As far as my dollhouse furniture, I was able to salvage |
| The can fracture their teeth, or splinter when | | | | a few pieces, and I bought another Harry Potter book |
| swallowed. A variety of chew toys keeps the dog | | | | to replace the one that was chewed up. We also |
| interested. When giving your puppy a new chew toy, | | | | learned to keep the bedroom doors closed, and we |
| watch him to make sure it cannot be shredded and | | | | moved all the books to a "no dogs allowed" room. I |
| swallowed, especially latex chew toys or stuffed toys | | | | suggest you look at your house from the eyes of the |
| with squeakers. Air Kong squeakers are Jake's | | | | dog and remove tempting objects from their reach. |
| favorite chew toy and they tend to stand up to his | | | | Puppies can be taught what can be chewed and what |
| chewing better that any other toy we have tried. | | | | is off limits, if the puppy parent is there to guide them. |