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Last Updated on June 24, 2023 by Thee Puppypreneur
PUPPY BITING AND PUPPY CHEWING
How to stop biting in puppies. How to stop your puppy from chewing everything. Why your puppy is chewing everything and more in this article.
PUPPY TEETHING
First, we need to give you a clearer picture of why your puppy is biting everything. The simple answer is that they are puppy teething because at around 8 weeks you get to bring your new puppy home and by this time all his razor-sharp baby teeth or milk teeth should have already come in.
By about 12 weeks their baby teeth should begin to fall out and make room for their adult teeth. This process shouldn’t last past their 6-month mark.
You may begin to find cute little teeth on the floor or your pup may end up swallowing them. Do not be alarmed if your dog has swallowed his baby teeth as this is a normal process. I got lucky with my little Princess as I wanted to save her baby teeth and I found quite a few on the floor.
You will want to keep a look out for impacted or non-erupted teeth or maybe baby teeth that haven’t fallen out yet. Things like this could lead to crowding of teeth. Impacted teeth or teeth stuck under the gumline could result in cysts later on down the road.
If you suspect that teeth are missing or haven’t come in or fallen out then your will want to go to the vet to make sure and have x-rays done to avoid any future complications later down the road.
HOW TO STOP A PUPPY FROM CHEWING
Your puppy is chewing everything because he is looking for relief. When new teeth are pushing up through the gums and just like a baby child, there is tenderness and soreness associated with this process. Puppy teething tends to soothe the pain from sore gums. Also, cold treats and toys tend to make this process more comfortable for your furbaby.
WHAT CAN I GIVE MY PUPPY TO CHEW ON INSTEAD
If the situation is not directed at specific toys and left to its own demise then the teething will turn into chewing on your favorite high heels, the television remote or whatever looks appealing to your little furbaby.
Since they are puppies, they have very different needs than the adult chewers. There are specific toys made for puppy teeth and these are the toys that are specifically made for the transition of milk teeth to adult teeth.
You can try things like cold dog treats, maybe even a cold baby carrot. Be careful not to leave your dog unattended while consuming treats.
Another option is to buy a teething toy specifically made for puppies like
Pet Supplies : Nylabone Puppy Chew Freezer Dog Toy Lamb & Apple Small/Regular (1 Count) : Amazon.com
This toy goes in the freezer and provides a cooling sensation for your little furbaby to chew on and helps with massaging their gums while saving your precious handbag or shoes.
Nylabone rates their toys depending on the dogs chewing style and although you may think your puppy is an extreme chewer, it is best to wait until those puppy teeth have all fallen out before bumping up to the indestructible power chew toys as they are harder and can hurt the dog’s teeth.
HOW TO STOP BITING IN PUPPIES
Allowing your puppy to chew on your hands and nip at your fingers is a great way to reinforce a bad habit. He will think you are playing and you most likely are, but this could turn into aggressive behavior down the road.
It is best that when your puppy starts to nip or bite at your hands you give a firm “No Bite”. You will then want to distract your puppy with a new toy and reinforce and direct the biting to the toy instead. When the puppy goes to bite on the new toy you praise him and say “good boy/girl”.
THINKING INTO THE FUTURE
Since your puppy is just getting used to all these new rules of what is acceptable behavior and what is not. This is a great time to start them off in the right direction by creating good habits in grooming, bathing, nail clipping and teeth brushing.
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