If your  new puppy chewing up everything in sight is getting old, here are ten training tips for puppies that can help you end this problem.

1.  Puppy-proof Your Home

Make life a lot easier for both you and your new puppy by putting away stuff you don’t want him to chew on.  Remember you can put them back later on, when he outgrows this behavior.

Put your plants into protective custody, tape down the electrical wires, pick up any throw rugs.  Put your clothes and shoes into the closet and SHUT the door securely.  Hide the trash cans in a closet, along with the toliet paper and household cleaners.  And if there’s anything heavy in your home that a puppy could pull down, secure it so he can’t hurt himself.

2.  Keep Him In One Room

Use a puppy gate to confine him to one room in your home that has been well puppy-proofed.  A wire-reinforced puppy gate that he can’t chew through is best.

3.  Too Many Toys Are Overwhelming

Two or three at a time is plenty.  He needs to learn what toys are his, and what belongs to you.  If he has too many toys out, it’s harder for him to learn this important distinction.

Plus he’ll get bored with them after a few days.  It’s best to swap them out every few days to keep them interesting for him.

4.  Start  Obedience Training Right Away

A young puppy can’t concentrate for too long, so keep the sessions very short.  30-second mini-sessions several times a day are best.  Take advantage of those teachable moments as they arise.  Correcting small behavior problems as they happen is much better than trying to deal with ingrained dog behavior problems later on.

5.  Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Every puppy needs one to two hours of rousing exercise every day to burn off that excess energy.  Playing fetch, running,  jumping, and long walks are a great way to keep him tired out.

6.  Playmates Are Fun

If you have a dog park nearby, take him there everyday to run and play with other puppies.  This is also a great way for him to learn how to get along with other dogs.

7.  Agility Training

This is a win-win situation for both of you.  These classes are a great way to channel your pup’s energy in a positive way.  He’ll also become more coordinated and confident as well.  And both you and your puppy will enjoy working together.

8.  A Bitter-Tasting Spray Can Stop Discourage Puppy Chewing

If your pup just won’t stop gnawing on the chair leg, try spraying it with a bitter apple spray. This is an easy way to make your companion wonder why he ever thought that chair leg tasted good. Plus you’re not being the bad guy by yelling at him to stop all the time.

9. Don’t Punish Him After The Fact

Puppies live in the present.  Punishing him for something he did a couple of hours ago is fruitless.  He doesn’t understand what he did to upset you unless you catch him in the act.

10.  Teach Your Puppy What Behavior Is Acceptable Right From Day 1

Puppy chewing might be cute when you first bring him home, but it will quickly become a major problem if you let him keep doing it.  Start working with him right from the start to prevent this dog behavior problem from ever becoming an issue.

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If your dog chews on anything he can get in his mouth, you’re probably getting pretty tired of it.  Shoes, clothing, eyeglasses, tv remotes, even the furniture!  He’s a one-dog wrecking crew.

Are you at your wit’s end?  Try these three tips for stopping dogs from chewing.

Why Do Dogs Like To Chew So Much?

Puppies chew on stuff  because they’re cutting teeth.  Like human babies, chewing on something helps to soothe sore gums.  Believe it or not, they actually make teething rings for puppies! A toy like this may help to solve your puppy’s teething problems.

Older dogs who chew may have other reasons.  The most common is that your dog is anxious or feeling stressed about something.  When a dog chews, endorphins are released into his body.  These chemicals are natural stress relievers.  Of course, your pooch doesn’t know anything about endorphins, but he does know that chewing on your new shoes makes him feel better!

Your dog also chews on stuff because it keeps his teeth clean and strong.

Understand that chewing in dogs is an instinctive behavior, not something your dog does to bug you.  But if your pet is destroying everything you own, it’s time to draw the line.

Training Your Dog To Stop Chewing

There’s a surprisingly simple answer to ending dog chewing, one of the most common dog behavior problems.  Believe it or not, your dog needs to learn which stuff is his, and which stuff is yours.  Even a dog with lots of chew toys will chew on your new sweatshirt because he thinks everything in the house is a toy.

You need to teach your pup two things:

1. Everything is NOT a toy
2. He’s not allowed to chew on your stuff.

The first step is to teach him what belongs to him.  Take one of his toys and play with him.  He’ll learn that his toys are fun.  You may want to get a Kong toy that you can stuff with a treat like peanut butter. As he plays with the toy, he’ll get an instant reward for playing with his own stuff.

When your dog starts chewing on something that belongs to you, say “drop-it,” or make a loud noise by clapping your hands.  This will hopefully startle him into dropping it.  When he does, give him one of his own toys right away, and reward him when he plays with it.  Do this many times, and your dog will learn what belongs to him, and what belongs to you.

Of course, you’ll have to keep an eye on him.  Be sure to dog-proof your home and put anything you don’t want chew on where he can’t reach it.  When you go out, you may want to confine him to one room with his own chew toys until you know you can trust him.

Shouldn’t I Punish Him For Destroying My Stuff?

Unless you catch him in the act, he won’t have a clue why you’re so mad at him.  And punishing him for chewing only teaches him to wait til you’re gone.

You need to know that dogs like rewards.  If you reward your dog with your attention (even when your yelling at him), he’ll keep doing whatever it was that got your attention.  Try to ignore bad dog behavior, unless he’s doing something life-threatening.  When he does something good, reward him with your attention and praise.  If your pet doesn’t get rewarded for doing something, he’ll stop doing it.

Training a dog is a never-ending process.  Remember that every time you interact with your pup, you’re teaching him something.  Be sure you’re teaching him how to be a good dog, and not inadvertently rewarding bad behavior.

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