It’s no secret that puppies are adorable. However, that extra layer of cuteness comes along with a layer of mischief. Puppies require special care and training, so it’s best to be prepared in advance. However, it’s more than worth the effort.
Why Puppies Chew and Bite
Puppies, like babies and small children, explore the world through their mouths. Unfortunately, puppies also come with very sharp teeth. The first step to being able to train your puppy not to chew and bite inappropriate things, such as your fingers, is to understand why they do it.
One of the most common reasons that puppies chew things is because they’re teething. This is uncomfortable and painful, and chewing can relieve their discomfort. Puppies teeth up until about six months of age, so you have to be prepared for this.
The best way to help a teething puppy is to give them something more appropriate to chew. Special teething toys can be frozen, which numbs their gums while allowing them to chew something. Another option for older puppies is to give them frozen carrot sticks or other treats, but make sure that they’re safe to eat.
Puppies also chew because they’re simply bored. Sometimes they don’t understand that their bites hurt, or they don’t know what to chew and so chew everything. In a litter, their mother and fellow puppies would train them not to bite, but when they’re your puppy, that responsibility falls to you.
Training Puppies
Training puppies isn’t quite the same as training dogs. Like children, puppies can have a poor attention span, easily getting distracted or bored with what you’re training them. Don’t get frustrated with your puppy, because they simply won’t understand.
The first thing you should do is to teach your puppy its name. Address them with it often and, soon enough, they will know who you’re talking to. This usually takes a few days and, once your puppy knows when you’re talking to it, you can make some progress.
Be patient and consistent with your puppy’s training. As well as specifically training them not to chew, you should train them in other ways, so that they get used to your commands. Train them in short intervals so that they don’t get bored or frustrated and so that you can keep your training positive. Encourage them with their food. The trick is to make the training fun for both of you.
Chewing Behaviors
When it comes to training your puppy not to bite or chew inappropriate things, the trick is consistency. Be quick to correct your puppy when it bites you or chews your clothing, and always have a chew toy on hand to give them instead. Praise your puppy when it uses the chew toy, especially if they’re usually particularly destructive.
As your puppy grows into a dog, it will chew less. However, dogs still have a chew instinct and will chew things when bored. Provide them with high-quality chew toys and chew treats, such as those supplied by Superior Farms. This keeps them healthy and happy.
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