Tips to Manage Puppy Chewing

Chewing is natural for puppies and something they need to do. Chewing up shoes, kid's toys and valuables however, is not appropriate play. Puppies usually get their adult teeth around six months old and there are ways to help them make a seamless transition into the household. If you just can't stand chewing for another minute, here are five management tips to implement today to help maintain sanity during the chewing phase.

Tip One - Food stuffed toys

Today's pet marketplace has many toy options to keep puppies chewing on the right objects. One popular choice is the Kong, a hard rubber toy built to last that comes in many shapes and sizes. Stuffing the kong with food is a way to keep puppy focused on their own toys, keeping sharp, destructive baby teeth away from human objects. Kongs can be frozen and made ahead for a grab and go solution providing the puppy with much needed oral stimulation. Giving your dog something to do is important because puppies have very short attention spans. Kongs can be a great pacifier to an active, nosy puppy.

Tip Two - Chew bones

A variety of tasty chews can be used. In my household chew bones without chemicals are the choice or very hard knuckle bones, joint bones or ribs from the local grocery store. Supervision is required whether store bought or grocery bones are used to assure no small pieces come off and provide a choking hazar. Make sure the size of the bone is larger than the dog's head. This activity can keep puppy busy for hours and keep them out of the way during busy times.

Tip Three - Keep puppy busy chewing during busy family times

Usually the busy times of day are dinner time, kids coming home from school, watching TV or any other time used for relaxation, business calls and deadlines and time on the computer. The goal is to keep puppy busy so they do not get into things that are not for chewing on. If rules and activities aren't set puppy will make their own rules. Keep puppy near during these times by using pleasant confinement.

Tip Four - Confinement

The biggest error people make when raising a puppy is not setting boundaries. A puppy should not have the run of the house, but instead earn their way. This helps not only with limiting unacceptable chewing choices, but also with housebreaking and teaching puppy to respect the rules. When a chew toy is being enjoyed it should be done in a crate, an xpen, on a doggy bed and in an area where they can be seen and supervised. Teaching puppy quiet times and how to relax is an important part of puppy training. For times when puppy cannot be supervised confinement is a great way to help with training and to avoid inappropriate chewing. Giving puppy something to do while confined eliminates barking and whining.

Note: An xpen is a metal or plastic pen surround that comes in many sizes. Also, baby gates are excellent for confining movement through the house.

Tip Five - Create a toy box

A toy box can be a joy for years to come because puppy will look forward to the times of interactive play with their favorite person. The idea behind the toy box is to put different types of toys in a container with a lid or one inaccessible to the puppy. This will create a special time and excitement about play time. My dogs are six-years-old and still look forward to interactive play times and just the mention of toy-time elicits happy looks, tail wags and jumps for joy.

The goal is to spend at least 15 minutes a day just for toy box play. Let the puppy be creative, toss toys to fetch, use this time as learning time and toy training. Have a key word signifying this special time, such as, toys! Mine is toy-time! You'll need a second cue also as time comes to an end, such as, done! Pick up all the toys, except one or two, and put them away until the next day. The one or two toys left out will give them alone time play. Vary the toys daily offering a different one or two for variety and to cut down on boredom.

This helps keep puppy busy, happy, and mentally stimulated and keeps chewing manageable. If there is a chewing problem in the household these tips create the perfect way to manage and prevent now.