Why does my puppy chew slippers instead of his toys? How to stop it?

Chewing on lots of things, including human hands and clothing, is completely normal behavior for a puppy this age - this is how puppies explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. She will grow out of this behavior as she gets older, but there are some things you can do in the meantime that will help. Make sure that your pup has a variety of different toys to provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior - long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing and fetching. She should also have lots of different chews and long-lasting treats to chew on such as bully sticks, large rawhide chews, cow or pig ears, and puzzle toys like a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. You will need to keep your belongings put away out of her reach for now, just like you would with a toddler or small child. For furniture or other items that can't be put away, you can use Bitter Apple spray to make them taste bad, which should help to discourage her from chewing on them. If you are playing with her and she bites you, just redirect her to one of her toys and use that to play with her instead. If she bites your hands when you pet her, calmly stop petting and wait for her to settle down. I would not recommend restraining her against her will, or pinching her ear to punish her for this behavior - these techniques often make things worse by causing frustration, and do not help her to understand what you want. In addition, doing things like this may cause her to be afraid of being picked up or handled, since she associates pain and discomfort with these things. Just be patient and calm, and redirect her to appropriate things to chew as needed - this behavior will go away on its own with age :)

Sorry to hear that Volt is chewing up things she shouldn't. Chewing can occur for a variety of reasons including boredom, changes in the environment, or wanting attention. Obviously the best way to avoid chewing on specific things is to keep them out of reach while also providing positive reinforcement when chewing the right things, Additionally, I have notice that the more appropriate chew toys they have the more they tend to chew in general, so limiting her chewing to just a couple of things may be beneficial to reduce chewing in general. I would also recommend increasing her exercise and personalized attention in order to distract her away from chewing behavior. Always a difficult problem, but if you need more help, please set up a consult and we can discuss further, Take care and thank you, Dr, Steve Popish

Hi, I totally understand you chewing ca be a bit of a problem during these early months. You need to try to be consistent and not to give up and play with your hands. Even during normal play, interrupt play and ignore him if suddenly starting to play too rough. You should try to praise calm behaviour and when he manages (eventually) to sit and be focused. As times goes by, he will get better and better and hopefully grow in a well balanced adult !

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Shelley. I do not recommend allowing her to chew on old shoes or clothing unless you do not mind her chewing on any shoes or clothing in your home. She will not be able to recognize the difference the old ones you have given her and items you are currently using. Instead, she needs plenty of exercise and time out of the house (walks, fetch, etc.) I also recommend enrolling her in puppy classes. This will be mentally stimulating for her. Then be clear with what toys are hers and encourage her to use them. Be consistent with her and she will learn. It does take time though. Good luck!

Keep in mind that it is perfectly appropriate for a 9 week old puppy to be exploring his world by chewing everything in sight, and for most dogs it is a phase that will resolve as long as you don't unintentionally encourage the behavior. You should have plenty of appropriate chew toys (rawhides are okay as long as he isn't biting off large pieces) to give him whenever he is chewing on you or something he shouldn't. If he nips you, make a loud high pitched noise, give him an appropriate chew and remove your attention. If he keeps trying to bite at you he may need to go somewhere quiet. It will seem like you're not making any progress for awhile but eventually he'll catch on.

Unfortunately this is a common problem in puppies, but luckily there are many things you can do to help stop it. Redirecting him to appropriate toys and providing praise for when he chooses the correct things to chew on can help. Go to https://veterinarypartner.vin.com and type Destructive Chewing by Puppies and Dogs and Bones are Unsafe for Your Dog, No Bones about It in the search bar for more information. Also see the link below for training tips: https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/how-to-prevent-damage-from-a-destructive-dog/

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Charlie. I would recommend stop letting him chew on old shoes. He does not understand the difference and will just see the shoes on your feet as moving chew toys. This is likey a fun game for him. Put away all the old shoes. Then if he goes for the shoes on your feet, redirect him to something positive such as a toy. If he is still going after your shoes, walk a way for a bit. He needs to learn this is not an appropriate way to play. I hope this information helps!