Train Puppy Not to Chew on You --or Your Shoes

Is that sweet little puppy who captured your heart getting on your last nerve now that he's decided to use you as a teether? It's no wonder so many puppies want to chew or teeth on their owners hands and feet, they have forty-two adult teeth coming in afterall. When Fido's twenty-eight razor sharp baby teeth are being replaced by his permanent teeth the process is often painful. Just like a newborn human baby, puppies want to chew on something to relieve some of the pain. Don't worry, you don't have to give up an arm and a leg just yet....read on to learn how to deal with this issue.

The key is to stop puppy from doing the incorrect behavior and, at the same time, teach puppy what the correct behavior is. In other words, don't just say "no" but offer up an acceptable alternative. Following is the method for doing so.

The key here is moderation. You don't want to hurt Fido, you only want to make things slightly uncomfortable. Everytime he begins to teeth/chew on you, say in clear and firm voice, "No biting." At the same time you say this phrase, use your finger to press puppy's bottom lip on top of his teeth. Don't apply so much pressure that it injures your pet, just make things slightly uncomfortable. Then offer up a chew toy instead.

If you use this method consistently and you always use the same phrase, it won't be long before your dog learns you are not a chew toy. However, do be patient. It may take a couple of weeks. Also, understand that your dog is only trying to relieve some pain associated with losing his baby teeth. Don't punish him by yelling or applying excessive pain if you become frustrated. Instead separate yourself from your pet until you have had time to calm down. Remember, dogs are eager to please and they don't intentionally try to make you unhappy. Take some time and remain consistent and you will see results.

A bonus is this...once your dog learns the phrase, "no biting," you can apply it to furniture, shoes, etc. However, you should keep your new pair of Jimmy Choos (pun intended) and other objects put away, if possible, when you have a new pet in the house.

You may wince at the thought of implementing this technique. However, though this method uses a smidge of discomfort to stop a negative behavior, this author believes it's worth it if it stops a pet owner from becoming frustrated and relegating their potential "man's best friend" to the backyard forever. Too many people get frustrated with their new puppy's puppyish behaviors and end up losing out on the great relationship they can maintain with their dog if they would just have used a consistent method for dealing with the behaviors in the beginning.

Also, understand that when you offer up a chew toy to your dog -they will chew it up! That is normal and expected. Don't punish your dog...but don't spend alot of money on these toys either. In fact, you may want to keep several around.

One last word of precaution. If you have small children, ensure they don't try to imitate your correction strategy and end up hurting their new found friend in the process. This correction is best left to the adults in the household. Adults should all agree on the phrase to be used and be consistent in using it.

While this hubber (Et al...) makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information, the content in this hub is for informational purposes only. It's accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. Please seek independent professional advice from a person who is licensed and/or knowledgeable in the applicable area before acting upon any opinion, advice, or information contained in this hub.