Bringing a puppy home is a great feeling, but that joy disappears when sharp teeth find your furniture.
Having raised Sarplaninacs, I know what it’s like to find your favorite shoes chewed after just a few minutes of playtime.
Life isn’t always fun and games.
I want to help you finally relax with the puppy.
Out of Sight Out of Mind
Preparing your house is the first step to avoid the puppy chewing.
This “out of sight, out of mind” works because you take away what catches the puppy’s eye before a problem even starts.
Walk through each room and look for things the puppy might want to chew, like leather shoes, power cables, and house plants.
Moving these things into closets or onto high shelves saves your stuff and keeps the puppy out of trouble.
How I Protect My Things From Puppy Teeth
If you see the puppy with your shoes, don’t chase him, because he will think it’s a game.
Tug-of-war is fine, but playing it with your own things is a big mistake (in this case) because it teaches the puppy that your clothes and shoes are toys.
When those sharp teeth nip at a sleeve, I do one thing: I move out of sight.
You can also just freeze in place and ignore the puppy.
Choosing Toys to Stop Puppy Chewing
Giving the puppy something to chew on keeps him away from your furniture.
Instead of cheap plastic toys that puppies can easily bite pieces off, choose solid rubber toys or thick ropes that can take those sharp teeth.
Interactive puzzles with food are also great because they get your dog to use his brain instead of his teeth.
I always recommend swapping out these toys every few days.
If the puppy sees the same toy every morning, he might go back to your shoes.
How to Use the “No” Command
You need to set rules from day one, especially with powerful breeds. I always tell people who buy puppies from our kennel that while play is important, rules are what keep the peace.
When you say “No,” you need to sound like you mean it, but without getting angry. If you smile, the puppy thinks it’s a game.
Being a good owner isn’t about being harsh! You just need to show them what they can and cannot do.
Teaching Your Puppy to Go to His Spot
Every dog needs to know where his spot is, whether it’s a bed inside or a doghouse in the yard.
While you can send an older dog to his spot to calm down, that doesn’t work the same way for puppies.
Instead, you want the puppy to like his spot, so you lead him there with food or toys.
At that age, they just need to know where they sleep and rest, and you shouldn’t use it for punishment.
Conclusion
I hope this advice helps you stop the puppy from biting you and chewing your things.
Just stick to the rules we talked about.
Dogs read your tone of voice and body language perfectly, so stay calm and don’t get upset.
If you stay patient, the puppy will quickly learn what he can and cannot do.
