How to Stop Your Puppy from Biting and Chewing Everything

 Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting experience, but dealing with constant biting and chewing can be frustrating. Understanding why puppies behave this way and using effective training techniques can help manage this issue. Here’s a guide to stopping unwanted biting and chewing.



Why Do Puppies Bite and Chew?

Biting and chewing are natural behaviours for puppies. They explore the world with their mouths, and teething causes discomfort, leading them to chew on objects for relief. Additionally, biting is a way for puppies to play and learn social boundaries.

Providing Appropriate Chewing Alternatives

Redirecting your puppy’s chewing habits is crucial. Offer:

  • Chew toys designed for teething puppies

  • Frozen treats to soothe sore gums

  • Puzzle toys that provide mental stimulation

Having suitable alternatives prevents damage to furniture and belongings while satisfying your puppy’s need to chew.

Teaching Bite Inhibition

Puppies need to learn how to control their bite strength. This is called bite inhibition. To teach this:

  • If your puppy bites too hard, let out a high-pitched yelp

  • Immediately stop interaction and ignore them for a few seconds

  • Resume play only when they behave gently

Repeating this process consistently helps puppies understand that biting leads to loss of attention.

Using Positive Reinforcement

Rewarding good behaviour encourages puppies to repeat it. Whenever your puppy chews on an appropriate item, praise them and offer a treat. Avoid punishing them for biting, as this can create fear and anxiety, making the behaviour worse.

Setting Clear Boundaries

Puppies need structure to learn what is acceptable. Establish clear rules by:

  • Keeping forbidden items out of reach

  • Supervising them during free play

  • Using baby gates to restrict access to certain areas

Consistency is key in reinforcing these boundaries.

Socialising Your Puppy

Enrolling in puppy training classes or puppy courses helps with socialisation. Puppies learn appropriate play behaviour by interacting with other dogs. Proper socialisation reduces fear-based biting and builds confidence.

Providing Adequate Exercise and Mental Stimulation

A bored puppy is more likely to chew destructively. Engage them in:

  • Daily walks and playtime

  • Training sessions that challenge their mind

  • Interactive toys to keep them occupied

Ensuring your puppy has enough physical and mental stimulation prevents unwanted behaviours.

Avoiding Encouragement of Rough Play

Encouraging rough play can reinforce biting habits. Avoid:

  • Using hands as toys

  • Engaging in tug-of-war games that promote aggressive grabbing

  • Allowing biting during playtime

Teaching puppies to play gently reduces the likelihood of them biting inappropriately.

Correcting Unwanted Chewing

If your puppy chews on furniture or other inappropriate items:

  • Interrupt the behaviour with a firm “No”

  • Redirect them to a chew toy

  • Reward them when they choose the correct item

Using this approach consistently teaches them what is acceptable to chew.

Conclusion

Stopping a puppy from biting and chewing requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. Providing proper alternatives, setting boundaries, and engaging in puppy training makes a significant difference. Enrolling in professional puppy courses can further support training efforts. For expert guidance, Puppy Stars offers structured training programmes to help your puppy develop good habits.

Location: Gateshead, UK

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