Biting and Chewing: Why Puppies Do It and How to Stop It
Biting and chewing. It is one of those things that puppies do and we try so hard to break them of this bad habit. It is never fun to come home to find that adorable little puppy chewing on your favorite pair of shoes or your child's stuffed animals. So what can you do to teach your puppy better habits? Let's examine why puppies bite and chew and some solutions.
Biting and chewing is a physiological response. Puppies typically go through a teething stage between the ages of 12 and 26 weeks. Chewing during this developmental phase is common. The best way to survive the teething stage is to be vigilant about picking up things around the house. Put shoes in the closet, toys in the toy box and generally keep small chew worthy items picked up and put away. A little extra effort on your part during this time can go a long way to making everyone happier.
Beyond the teething stage, puppies often bite and chew for other reasons. Puppies bite as part of the learning process. They can also bite and chew from boredom, from lack of self control and out of excitement during playtime. The trick is to teach a puppy that biting and chewing is not acceptable.
As with any training, consistency is the key to success. Here are some solutions to help you and your puppy get on the same page.
- Never hit your puppy when he bites. Dogs don't associate the strike with the biting. Hitting your puppy will only teach your dog to fear you.
- Try letting out a little 'yelp' or 'ouch' to let puppy know that you are were hurt and pull your hand away.
- Walk away. By removing yourself from the situation, when your puppy bites, they will quickly learn that a bite ends the game.
- Provide your puppy with appropriate chew toys. When puppy chews on a table leg or electrical cord, remove him from the item, scold him, and give him a chew toy. Very quickly he will learn that there are appropriate things to chew.
- Your local pet store also supplies bitter tasting products that can be put on furniture to help prevent chewing.
Try not to stress too much about the biting and chewing. Most puppies grow out of this stage fairly quickly. As they grow and learn, your puppy will catch on to the rules of the house.
