When it comes to new puppies, it’s normal to allow them to chew on objects. Chewing is a way for them to explore their new environment, as well as relieve teething pain, alleviate boredom, combat stress, anxiety and frustration, clean the teeth and strengthen the jaws.

However, chewing can quickly become a problem when your puppy chews on things like your favourite pair of shoes, furniture, your clothing or even your hands. What’s considered a useful routine can turn into a destructive act that not only destroys your home but also take a toll on your relationship with your new pet.

It’s best to resolve the problem as early as possible. Here are a few dog care tips to keep your new puppy from destructive chewing.

Identify Any Potential Medical Problems

In some cases, destructive chewing can be caused by an underlying medical problem. For example, most puppies in a new home will undergo pica, the compulsive action of chewing on items that are not food, in order to understand their new surroundings. However, if a puppy grows to be over six months old and they continue to chew destructively, the pica becomes a symptom that indicates your dog is experiencing nutritional deficiency in their diet. Separation anxiety is another likely cause of destructive chewing.

Whatever the cause, you should always bring your new puppy to the vet so that he or she can receive an appropriate diagnosis.

Dog-Proof Your Home

You can use the following tips to make your home less prone to inappropriate chewing while at the same time making it safer for your new pup:

Store household chemicals and cleaners in a locked cabinet.
Cover electric cords or make them inaccessible to your curious new pet.
De-clutter your home. Put away any object that might interest your pup. These can be anything from wallets to socks to shoes, and so on.
Don’t give your puppy access to rooms that are not dog-proof. Train him or her not to enter these rooms.
Secure cabinets and drawers so your puppy won’t be able to get anything from these places.
Store wastebaskets in places your pet won’t be able to reach.

Train Your Puppy on Appropriate Chewing

Training that supports acceptable chewing is easy. You can give your puppy certain chew toys that they will enjoy munching on. Make sure the chew toy you provide is safe and made of non-toxic materials. You can also give your puppy chewable and rawhide bones.

Avoid giving your puppy any cooked bones including chicken, as these can split apart into sharp edges that can seriously hurt your pet internally. Also, don’t give your dog old items that resemble everyday things inside your home. For example, you might think of giving your pet an old shoe to chew on, but this might teach your pet that it’s okay to chew on shoes, and they won’t know the difference between new and old footwear.

More often than not, destructive chewing in puppies is caused by a lack of attention or boredom. Make sure that you give your new pet all the love and attention they need and deserve. By doing so, you will be helping to prevent their chewing habit from getting worse.

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Featured image credit: “Bad puppy!” by Tambako The Jaguar, https://www.flickr.com/photos/tambako/4033141454. License by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/.