Why Do Puppies Chew on Everything: Reasons and Solutions 

While it's perfectly natural for puppies to chew (it's how they explore the world and soothe teething pain), it can quickly turn into a nightmare for furniture, shoes, rugs, and even baseboards. What if we tell you that, though excessive chewing in puppies, especially during teething, is normal, you can significantly improve these tendencies and effectively correct them? Read on to learn more about common reasons for chewing in puppies and how you can stop it.  

5 Common Reasons for Puppy Chewing

We’d like to preface by saying that chewing is a normal behavior for puppies and adult dogs. Canines generally enjoy it, and it also brings certain health benefits, such as improved dental hygiene, stress relief, and keeping their jaws strong. However, once a dog destroys your valuable objects and possessions, it becomes a serious problem.

Let’s break down what causes your dog to chew things.

1. Your puppy is in the teething phase

Around 3-4 weeks of age, puppies grow their baby teeth, which they use until they’re 4-5 months old. At this point, they start losing their first teeth and grow permanent adult teeth that they will use for the rest of their life. Similarly to humans, the teething process can bring physical discomfort, which young dogs try to ease by chewing on different objects.

2. Your puppy is stressed

Nipping on things can be a coping mechanism your dog developed to cope with stress. If you notice that they turn to the habit only when left alone at home, you can suspect that they suffer from separation anxiety. Such behavior often goes hand in hand with other signs of stress, such as excessive barking, whining, or restlessness. 

3. Your puppy is hungry

Dogs not getting enough calories and nutrients from their diet can start chewing on different items, trying to find alternative sources of calories. In this situation, they often choose objects that look or smell like food. For example, destroying leather-based objects, like shoes, is common for calorie-restricted canines.

4. Your puppy is bored

Puppies and their developing brains thrive with appropriate physical and mental stimulation. If owners fail to provide their pups with opportunities to exercise their muscles and build new neuroconnections, young dogs may attempt to entertain themselves by adopting destructive behaviors.

5. Your puppy is exploring the world

Canines are curious about their environment. Their instincts drive them to seek and explore new things. A dog’s mouth can collect information about the world by analyzing the texture, taste, and weight of the objects they come across. After all, chewing is so much fun! 

How Long Do Puppies Chew on Everything?

The time period your pup will chew things depends on why they developed the habit. If the behavior is triggered by the teething process, you can expect the chewing phase to last for around 6 months (starting from 8 weeks of age and finishing at approximately 8–9 months). However, in some cases, the habit persists beyond this time frame.

If your older dog keeps biting things and destroying them after they graduate from puppyhood, you should look into the cause of the behavior. For example, excessive chewing caused by separation anxiety isn’t likely to resolve on its own. You need to tackle the underlying issue to break the habit.

When Do Puppies Stop Chewing Everything?

It’s hard to predict when your pup will stop this destructive behavior. Even if we’re talking about chewing in connection with the teething process, there is a broad range of acceptable timing. On average, you can expect your puppy to stop this unwanted behavior at 6–8 months of age. This is when they lose all the baby teeth and grow a new set of teeth, so at least nipping related to physical pain in a dog’s mouth should stop.

How to Stop a Puppy From Chewing on Everything

Though chewing is a normal canine behavior, it doesn’t mean you have to put up with it and sit helplessly as your valuable objects are destroyed. You can and should act upon it right away and help your dog make better decisions on what to chew. We’ve collected a few tips on how to tackle inappropriate chewing.

Puppy-proof the environment

Since chewing to a degree is inevitable, you have to ensure your dog’s safety first. Puppy-proofing your home is a must. This will allow you to keep your puppy safe, isolate potentially hazardous objects, and minimize chewing accidents since your possessions will be out of reach.

Start by arranging a dog-safe area. Dedicate a specific spot where your dog can play safely with no dangerous items within your dog’s reach. You can install a baby gate or use a playpen in this area to confine the puppy and equip it with bedding, a bowl of water, and appropriate toys to chew on.

If you can’t control where your dog plays, supervise them. Start by removing items that your dog seems interested in chewing, and make the space as pet-safe as possible. Monitoring your dog during their waking hours is a big part of stopping this destructive behavior. If you can’t confine the dog to a puppy-proofed area, you must monitor them to prevent them from grabbing inappropriate items around them.

Stock up on appropriate toys

While removing valuable and dangerous objects from your dog’s mouth is necessary if they get into something they shouldn’t, it’s also your job to give your puppy safe alternatives. Offer them special chew toys that vary in shape and texture to satisfy their sensory needs. Choose items sold specifically for dogs in a reliable store to avoid low-quality or toxic materials.

Popular dog chew toys include: 

• Rubber and nylon toys (freezing these with wet food can help to soothe sore puppy gums when they’re teething).
• Rope toys (but be careful if your puppy or dog tends to ingest toys, as rope can be harmful to the dog if swallowed).
• Interactive toys that dispense treats
• Bully sticks (just be careful that the dog doesn’t swallow the end, as this can lead to choking).

Provide physical and mental stimulation opportunities

Keeping your puppy busy helps prevent destructive behaviors and relieve anxiety. Stick to a daily walking routine, play active games to provide physical exercise, work on training with your pup, and offer mentally stimulating games, such as a puzzle toy, to entertain your puppy. You can also practice redirecting chewing to other objects or alternate the activity to stop the undesired behavior quickly.

Tips for Correcting Destructive Chewing

• Avoid punishment or yelling, and don’t scare your dog, as this can negatively impact your canine-human bond. 
• Notice when your dog listens to your “No!” when you ask them to stop chewing on an inappropriate object and praise them for it. You can also offer an appropriate chew toy to reward the behavior. 
• Praise your dog when they chew appropriate items to teach them that chewing on certain things is acceptable. 
• Have a variety of chew toys and rotate them to keep your puppy interested. 
• Don’t let your puppy chew on old shoes or cartons. This will confuse them, and they could become interested in similar items in your home.
• Use taste deterrents to make some objects unappealing for being chewed or licked. This can be particularly useful with items like a sofa or a bed, which you potentially can’t remove from your dog’s area.

Wrap Up

It’s perfectly normal for a puppy to chew on things. However, when a puppy chewing phase lasts longer than expected or becomes concerning due to your pup ingesting objects, you should work on correcting the behavior. Provide your dog with a safe space free from potential objects to chew on, replace inappropriate objects with dog chew toys, and ensure sufficient physical and mental exercise to help your puppy get the habit under control.