11 Tips to Stop Your Puppy From Chewing Everything You Own

Is your puppy chewing anything it seems to get its gnashers on?! We completely understand this can be a source of frustration for you, particularly if it means some of your favorite possessions have been ruined. Let us reassure you, though, that they aren’t doing it to be naughty, be spiteful, or annoy you.

Chewing is a completely natural part of being a dog and during their puppy stage, you’ll probably find they do it more than they will in other life stages (although some dogs don’t grow out of it as much as others!).

Dogs chew for a variety of reasons and have a natural urge to do so. It does have its benefits if done appropriately, too, as it can keep their jaws strong and brains active.

Therefore, we should prevent and redirect puppies from chewing things they shouldn’t, rather than punishing them and preventing it altogether. Puppies will chew a lot when they are teething, usually between three to six/seven months of age, as it can be a relief for their sore gums.

This is therefore a prime time to redirect them from your furniture and shoes, and onto more appropriate items to chew. It is also worth ruling out other causes of chewing, and this could involve a vet check to rule out anything medical.

Our 11 top tips below will help you prevent your puppy chewing inappropriately and hopefully help address any other problems which could be feeding into it.

There are a lot of chew toys on the market, so it can be confusing choosing the right one. Our tips for buying a suitable one include:

Redirection is key but avoid taking something directly out of their mouth and replacing it with something more suitable. If they’re chewing your shoe, for example, if you try prizing it out of their grip, they may see this as playful and it soon turns into a tug of war.

Catch their attention with a suitable chew toy by starting to appear like you are wanting to play with it yourself, and their curious mind will soon forget the shoe (or whatever they’re chewing) to come and see what the fuss is about!

As with any treats, chew treats should be given in moderation as some can be high in calories. Too many treats given too frequently can lead to your puppy becoming an unhealthy weight and at risk of obesity. Nonetheless, fed now and then, chew treats can be helpful in redirecting inappropriate chewing. 

Like the toys, you should be able to make an indent with your fingernail in the treats. Your puppy should be able to chomp down on the treats (so they get the benefits of chewing!), rather than just being able to eat them. 

Some treats which are not suitable include bones (cooked or not) and rawhides. They pose some serious risks, including breaking teeth, constipation and gut blockages or intestinal damage if they splinter and large pieces are swallowed. Bones may also cause constipation due to high levels of calcium.

Bored puppies become destructive puppies, which includes unwanted behavior like chewing. And this learned behavior can be difficult to retrain once it’s been learned. Boredom can lead to frustration, and this can lead to your puppy chewing things they shouldn’t.

We discuss exercise later on, but playing with your puppy can help with keep them entertained and tire them out so they are less likely to chew.

For many reasons, you should feed your puppy a complete, balanced diet. This may not seem like the obvious reason for chewing. But, if their diet is missing vital vitamins and minerals, this can lead to them to that exact behavior.

Check the labels and packaging of the food you’re giving them, and you should see the words ‘complete’ and ‘balanced’.

You should also feed according to how much they weigh – the amounts will be on the packaging – and feeding a few times a day during the puppy stage. This can help them not feel hungry between meals and be less inclined to chew.

Excessive chewing could be a sign of a health problem, so consult your vet if you have any concerns. Taking them for regular vet checks and monitoring their health at home can help with detecting health problems early on. This way, management or treatment can begin sooner.

If you think your puppy may have some type of early health issue, it’s important to consult any type of behavior that “feels a bit off” with your veterinarian.

Puppies actually enjoy chewing; it is a natural behavior after all. As above, it has physical benefits, but it is also a ‘self-soothing’ behavior. They may do this if they are feeling distressed or frustrated.

We’ve mentioned some reasons they may be feeling these emotions, such as boredom, but there’s other factors that can lead them to feeling this way, too.

A common one is if they have a degree of separation anxiety, or if something in their environment and/or routine is making them feel worried or unsure.

You should gradually build up the amount of time you leave your puppy unsupervised. This way, they have time to be accustomed to being on their own and keep them in a safe environment when you aren’t home.

Giving them chew toys can help keep them mentally occupied. This way they don’t feel the need to chew other things. You can also try pheromones or calming sprays, and providing them with a private, safe rest area they enjoy going to.

We recommend providing safe chew toys as an alternative. However, it’s quite important to pet proof your home for when you’re away and not there to redirect them to chewing something safe.

This should include making sure any poisons and toxins are securely out of paws reach and leaving them in a familiar, safe space when you’re out of the house.

Exercise is great for physical health, and can help with boredom, too. The benefits can reduce the chance of your puppy chewing when at home.

Be sure to keep the exercise to a reasonable amount during their puppy stage, as their bones are still developing. Five minutes per month of age is a good guidance to work with. As they get older, you can do different types of exercises, too, and they’re at a prime age for training.

Use safe toys during playtime; hands and feet aren’t for playing with! This will lead to your puppy seeing your hands and feet as a chew toy. This isn’t pleasant for you, and can make doing other, important things with them trickier!

It is important we don’t punish dogs for chewing, even if it is inappropriate. It is a natural behavior for them and punishing can make them fearful of you, so they will learn to hide their chewing from you instead of stopping/redirecting it.

We should employ positive, reward-based training if we spot them chewing something they shouldn’t and distract them with a safe chew toy or treat (mentioned above).

When they are using their chew toys, we should praise and reward them for doing so, to encourage them to repeat this behavior.

It’s busy and exciting being a puppy, and like human children, they need plenty of rest and sleep. Overtired puppies may start chewing. So, be sure to incorporate rest and naps into their schedule, and provide them with plenty of safe, cozy beds/areas for them to retreat to.

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