Dealing with Puppy Chewing
From LoveToKnow Dogs
Puppy Chewing is Out of Control
Visitor Question
- I've recently gotten a Jack Russell puppy. She's been a pretty good girl about potty training, with the occasional accident every now and then, but we can't keep our eyes off of her for a second without her trying to chew or eat something. Is there anything thing I can do to stop this behavior?
~~Travis
Expert Reply
Hi Travis,
Congratulations on your new puppy!
Puppyhood is full of challenges for dog lovers and chewing is close to the top of the list. First of all, it's quite normal behavior for a couple of reasons.
- Puppies are driven to gnaw to help them teethe, whether it's to break through those first milk teeth or to help loosen puppy teeth as the adult teeth come in.
- Puppies have an insatiable curiosity for the world around them and they use their mouths the way a human toddler would use its hands to touch and explore.
That being said, here are a few recommendations:
- Puppy proof your home. This means picking up all loose items puppy shouldn't have, including shoes, toys, throw rugs, etc. You need to reduce the amount of temptations as much as can be reasonably done.
- Provide your pup with one or two chew toys that she can claim for her own. I usually recommend Kong dog toys because they are virtually indestructible and safe for your pet.
- Try spraying a product called Bitter Apple on furniture legs, wires, and any other favorite chewing spots your pup may have.
- Crate train your pup if you haven't already done so. This will give you a safe place to keep her when you can't watch her directly.
I think you will find all these suggestions useful, and remember, puppyhood doesn't last forever. The chewing will lessen in time as long as you don't allow it to go unchecked. Be patient and proactive, and then you and your pup will get through this.
Thanks for your question.~~ Kelly
Comments
As the owner of two young Jack Russell Terriers, I feel your pain.
I'm going to recommend several courses of action.
First, you need to reduce your pup's run of the entire house to a smaller area you can manage. Is she crate trained? If not, now is the time. This doesn't mean she has to live in the crate, but it gives you a safe place to keep her when you really can't monitor her.
Second, you need to get her into obedience classes right away. The technique of training to ignore distractions can be modified to teach her to ignore the walls and look to you instead.
Third, you could try training her with a shock collar. When used appropriately, these collars are not inhumane and can be a valuable training tool. You can choose a static collar or a citronella shock color that emits a spray that dogs don't like. You can use this to discourage her from damaging the walls by signaling the collar to spray when she goes near them.
I hope you find at least one of these suggestions useful. Good luck.
-- Contributed by: KellyHi, Kelly,
We have a 10-month old Scottie, who is a really sweet pup....but...and this is a big but...she has chewed through our walls!!! They are made of plasterboard...and she has destroyed two walls...is there something you would suggest? We have tried Bitter Apple on several other places she likes to chew, such as the bottom of our screened porch and the center of our carpet!!! Please HELP!!! Many thanx!
-- Contributed by: LaurieThis page has been accessed 507 times. This page was last modified 14:48, 5 August 2007.
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