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There are few things more exciting than welcoming home a new puppy. But that excitement can quickly turn into frustration when your new friend starts teething. Teething puppies chew on anything and everything—your shoes, your furniture, your laundry.
The good news is that the puppy chewing phase doesn’t last forever. And there are steps you can take in the meantime to reduce a puppy’s opportunities to gnaw. We asked Tiff Score, CTC, FFCP-T, SDC, owner and head trainer of Free to Be Dog, about why puppies chew, what age they stop chewing, and how to stop them from chewing everything in sight.
What Age Do Puppies Stop Chewing?
“While the age a puppy will start and stop chewing will vary by individual puppy, puppy chewing related to teething typically starts around eight weeks and can last until the puppy is eight or nine months old,” says Score. Their gums become sore, and they turn to chewing to relieve the pain.
By nine months old, all of your puppy’s baby teeth will probably be gone, so they won’t feel as strong of a need to chew. If they continue to chew things they shouldn’t, it might be due to boredom or anxiety.
If you find your puppy’s baby teeth on the floor, don’t be alarmed. It’s perfectly normal for their baby teeth to fall out. Most puppies actually end up swallowing their baby teeth while they’re eating, which is perfectly normal too.
How To Stop a Puppy from Chewing on Everything
So what do you do to stop puppy chewing in the meantime? Correcting problem chewing requires a combination of consistency and redirection. With a little patience, you can guide your puppy towards more appropriate chewing habits.
Below, we’ll explore some practical strategies to help you stop your puppy from chewing things they shouldn’t.
Puppy-proof your home
Unfortunately, puppies can’t tell the difference between a shoe and a plush toy. In their world, everything is a potential chew toy—and they may be too young to learn otherwise. Instead of trying to change a young puppy’s instinctual behavior, move any valuable personal items out of your puppy’s way.
“Prevention is the name of the game,” says Score. “Keep anything unsafe or that you don’t want your puppy chewing out of their reach.”
You can also keep your puppy separated from hazardous areas of the house by setting up baby gates or playpens. “The better you prevent mistakes from the get-go, the easier it will be to give your puppy more freedom as they grow,” Score adds.
Provide safe chewing outlets
Without any household items to destroy, your puppy will need safe outlets to satisfy their chewing instincts. Toys like food puzzles, chews, and comforting plushies encourage healthy chewing habits, reduce stress, and keep your puppy entertained.
Score recommends traditional KONG toys for puppies. “When used correctly, they are a one-stop option for giving your puppy access to chew, lick, play, and problem-solve,” she says.
KONG toys are easy to fill with spreadable treats, like pumpkin or wet food.
For puppy teething relief, Score uses freezable puppy toys or makes her own. “I love freezing a washcloth soaked in a low-sodium chicken broth and water mixture for puppies in the thick of teething,” she adds. “The frozen treat helps relieve teething pain, and puppies love the flavor.”
Interrupt chewing with redirection
It’s hard to keep everything out of your puppy’s reach. If you do catch your puppy in the act of chewing something they’re not supposed to, use redirection training.
- Immediately approach them, saying their name to get their attention.
- Offer them a positive reward (like a treat or a toy) to help them concentrate on something they can chew.
If your puppy isn’t interested and goes back to the item they were chewing, remove them from the location and offer them the reward again. With consistency over time, they will learn what they should and shouldn’t chew.
Stay calm and avoid punishment
Try not to take out your frustration by yelling, punishing, or chasing your puppy. Puppies don’t know they’re doing something wrong when they follow their instincts by putting things in their mouths. Instead of punishing your pup, calmly redirect them with positive reinforcement elsewhere.
Remember, too, that it’s okay to take breaks in between training sessions if it starts to feel overwhelming to either you or your puppy. If you’re struggling to log practice hours, consider hiring a dog walker or daycare provider to give you a break. Pros with puppy experience can even help you reinforce positive chewing training.
Puppy Chewing FAQs
Puppy chewing is one of the trickiest phases of pet parenthood to navigate. To help, we’ve put together a list of FAQs.
How do I train my puppy not to chew?
With very young puppies, anti-chew “training” isn’t really the goal. You can’t override their instincts, so prevention and puppy proofing are key.
“The key to successful puppy chew training is to not fight it,” Score explains. “Chewing is a natural behavior that provides physical and mental benefits to your puppy. The best course of action is to prevent your puppy from chewing personal items by keeping them out of reach and providing your puppy access to ample chew-safe items.”
As your puppy gets older, you can start training them by rewarding them for chewing the right items. When your puppy grabs a chew toy, shower them with praise and encouragement.
How do I stop my puppy from chewing my furniture and shoes?
Teething puppies will often chew on furniture, shoes, or other household items to ease discomfort. Sunshine_butterfly via iStock
If you want to train your puppy to stop chewing specific items like furniture or shoes, you can try using a bitter spray deterrent. When bitter sprays are applied to furniture or shoes, the taste discourages your puppy from chewing. Make sure to keep more desirable chew toys around so your puppy has alternative, safer chewing options.
How do I stop my puppy from chewing when they’re left alone?
It’s difficult to monitor your puppy 24/7. When you can’t keep an eye on them, consider using a crate or pen.
Crate training can not only help your puppy adjust to being left alone, but it can also prevent them from getting into things they shouldn’t.
If you haven’t crate trained your puppy, you can set up a puppy-proofed area with baby gates or playpens that will keep them in a contained space with toys, puzzles, and other items they are allowed to chew while you’re away. The more you set your puppy up for success, the more likely you will be able to teach them to stop chewing destructively.
