Puppy Chewing
Puppy chewing is a natural part of the teething process. Chewing relieves the pain and pressure that comes when new, sharp teeth need to break through tender gums.
It's a fact that pups love to chew on things, and if you are bringing a puppy home, dealing with chewing is part of the deal. Chewing serves to both relieve the discomfort of puppy teething as well as act as an anxiety-reducer or boredom-reducer when your puppy is left alone. Some types of chewing can be tolerated, but others should be "nipped in the bud," so to speak, before they turn into behavior issues as your puppy matures. Puppies need to learn about your families boundaries when it comes to chewing in order to become good citizens as they mature into older dogs.
Puppy Chew Toys and Teething
One of the best, easiest and cheapest way to curb chewing tendencies on items that you don't want your puppy to chew on is to offer her toys made for this purpose.
Make sure the toy is attractive to your puppy by looking for some of these features:
- A firm, durable surface that gives a little when chewed
- Knobby protrusions that stimulate the gums
- A flavored or scented toy that smells or tastes like chicken or other flavorful food
- A toy that can be frozen
Puppies are individuals with individual tastes. What appeals to one dog is of little interest to another. Some of the process of selecting an appealing chew toy will be trial and error"
Help Relieve Your Puppy's Teething Pain
There are a number of things you can do to offer your puppy comfort when they are teething and have a strong urge to chew.
One effective solution is to massage your puppy's gums. Look for a fingertip dental massager at the pet store and even add a good-tasting dog toothpaste. This will also get him in the habit of allowing you to brush his teeth as he matures and keep them free of problems.
It is very important that you do not allow your puppy to chew your hands or feet because it encourages very bad habits, and nipping and biting can soon follow as your pup matures.
Many cloth or rope toys can be soaked in water and then frozen to give a bit of natural anesthetic from the ice.
If you find a rubber chew toy that your pup is not attracted to, try putting a bit of peanut butter on it from time to time to grab his attention. dogs have to warm up to their toys and you can help the process a long a bit with this method.
