What to do: New puppy likes to chew

Do you have a new puppy? Then you know already that they like to chew!

Not only do puppies LIKE to chew, they really NEED to chew. Chewing is more than entertainment for puppies. It helps them teeth and it relaxes them. They are able to relieve themselves of frustration and anxiety by chewing.

Destructive chewing usually begins quite innocently for the puppy but it can rapidly escalate into a serious problem if the puppy is not supervised and directed properly.

Here is a typical scenario: Owner has new puppy. Owner leaves new puppy unsupervised. Puppy gets anxious and start looking for something to soothe itself with. It comes across a shoe or anything else that smells like the owner. The puppy is comforted by the scent of the owner and begins chewing the object.. As the puppy chews, he feels much better. The amount of reinforcement a puppy gets from this activity cannot be over emphasized.

So what do we do? We confine and supervise the puppy very carefully, and we make sure she has GREAT TOYS with a variety of very interesting chew items. You can use a box or basket of any type as long as the puppy can easily get to it to take out chew items. Some things that can go in the box are kong toys, nyla bones, real bones…..use your imagination and keep it interesting and varied. For the first week or so, put a tiny smear of peanut butter or cheez whiz on each toy once a day.

Here are some toys you can buy online very cheaply: