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The good news: in the vast majority of cases, puppy biting and mouthing is EXTREMELY normal, for several reasons:
Distraction
In addition to mouthing people, puppies will also mouth things in their environment. This is mostly done out of curiosity. There are many ways to teach your dog not to chew on house furnishings. Besides puppy-proofing your home, be sure to provide an assortment of interesting and safe chew toys for your pup to play with. These toys should be chosen for your puppy’s level of chewing and destructiveness. For example, if she shreds a plush toy in 2 minutes, you may want to stick toys made of rubber or hard plastic.
Hide-the-treat toys are also great for distracting puppies from nibbling on other things. This type of toy not only distracts your pup but also provides mental stimulation as she tries to figure out how to get to the reward.
A final option for distracting your pup is to arrange a playtime for your dog with other puppies or vaccinated adult dogs. Not only will this help to socialize her with other dogs, but those dogs will also assist in the process of teaching your puppy when a bite is too hard.
How to STOP PUPPY BITING! (Cesar911 Shorts)
When adding a new pup to your family, one thing that most new pet parents aren’t always prepared for is when the puppy is chewing everything. The same goes for those who have adopted an adult dog who is chewing nonstop.
And it can get super frustrating when your new furry family member decides to target your shoes, furniture or miscellaneous household items as their own personal chew toys.
So when it comes to figuring out how to stop a puppy from chewing or how to stop an adult dog from chewing, it can be difficult to figure out the best strategies without getting frustrated.
By focusing your attention on eliminating inappropriate chewing opportunities, being consistent and providing appropriate dog toys, you can help your dog or puppy find appropriate outlets for their chewing.
Here are eight things pet parents can do to deal with dog or puppy chewing habits that are out of control.
Much like you would with a human baby, always keep an eye on your puppy or dog to protect him from his own curiosity and desire to put everything in his mouth and chew on it.
If you have to leave your dog alone, it is best to keep him confined. Whether for a longer portion of the day or only a little while (like a trip to the grocery store), use a dog crate or, if your puppy is unable to be crated, section off a small room in your home using dog gates. This will limit his access to undesired chewing targets and help him stay on track with potty training.
Keep in mind that puppies have limited “hold times.” Your puppys age in months roughly translates to how many hours he can be crated, so a three-month-old puppy can hold it for about three hours.
Puppies often begin chewing on things because they are alone and bored. And because they do not discriminate in terms of what they chew, an uncontained puppy can get into a lot of trouble, or even injure himself.
The area where you confine your puppy must be free of objects that he can chew on, except for those puppy chew toys that have been specifically chosen for their age appropriateness.
If you are leaving your dog for a longer duration, rolling your dog’s favorite toy or nylon bone between your hands will transfer your scent to help soothe him.
It is also important to avoid making an emotional farewell so that your puppy does not respond with anxiety (i.e., separation anxiety), which can lead to whining, barking and other destructive behaviors.
Many puppy owners have also found that leaving the radio on at a low volume (with calm, soothing music playing in the background) will help to calm an anxious puppy.