Puppies are perhaps the most adorable and lovable of all pets. They win the hearts of every family member, especially your kids with their winsome eyes, adventurous nature and playfulness.
But this cute little bundle come with an annoying syndrome that might pose a problem to you and other members of the family and that is the inherent habit of a puppy to chew and shred everything and anything that it could get its teeth on. When you puppy chews havoc on your favorite pair of expensive shoes or you kids most loved toy, it is time for you to put an end to his habit.
Before you embark on an anti-chewing puppy project, you should first understand the need and reason behind his obsessive habit. The main reason might be because he is teething and trying to relieve the pain by chewing on anything that takes his fancy.
Most often due to their high sensitivity to smell, they like to chew on objects that have the lingering scent of a family member. Sometimes they chew to ascertain their position as the top dog of the family and that includes you and your family. There is no doubt that a puppy cannot resist a good chew, but if this syndrome is left unchecked, he will never outgrow his habit and you will have to end up with a grown dog who still favors you favorite pair of shoes.
Now, a trip to your local pet shop is recommended! Invest in some puppy toys, such as those fake bones, hard rubber balls, squeak toys and knotted sisal ropes are good choices. Now you’ve got to teach him that these are his and everything else is yours! Present him with his collection of chew toys and let him go for it.
Let him have a go at these toys and allow him to chew to his hearts content. But the minute you see him eyeing one of your shoes or other household items, round him up and admonish him with the phrase Bad Dog! or a firm No!. This phrase will register in his mind and you can use it later to train him for other behaviours.
The only punishment you should administer to your chewing puppy is the disapproval in your voice, followed by leading him to his own toys in a restricted area. This can be as simple as a large cardboard box or as fancy as a dog crate. Let him have his own toys and chew to his heart’s content. With this simple process, he will eventually learn what belongs to whom!
