Teething is a rough time for both puppies and owners. Your pup will get very creative with household items, so hide the shoes, computer cords, and keep your pup in sight throughout the teething stage. Unfortunately, teething is not short lived and can last from 2-6 months.
Teething is normal, natural, and a must. The baby teeth are coming out and the adult teeth are pushing their way through. The process can be painful for your baby, and the chewing and gnawing can help soothe the pain. The most important thing to remember during the teething phase is to not get frustrated with your puppy. As a new puppy parent, it is your job to help soothe those achy baby gums.
What can you do to make teething easier for everyone in the family?
Give your pup lots of chewing options.
Make sure they are age and size appropriate, excessively hard items can crack his baby teeth. Look for both edible chewing items and non-edible, softer chewing items. You can also use vegetables like carrots, sweet potato slices or strips and green beans as teething tools.
Always redirect attention.
Redirect attention to an appropriate chewing item when you see him chewing something he shouldn’t. Have lots of toys lying around so he has plenty of options. Engage him in play with his toys to redirect attention away from the table leg or whatever it might be at the moment.
Invest in a bitter spray or gel.
They vary in efficacy, and they don’t work for all dogs, but when it works, it works well. You will need to reapply, so it’s best to apply the product when you see him chewing the item. For example, if he’s chewing the fringe on your carpet, apply the product then because he will test it out.
Rotate toys.
Constantly swap toys so that they are all new and interesting to him. Sometimes puppies get bored with what they have, so keep replenishing the toy bin with new PupBox goodies!
Puppy proof your house!
Prevention is the easiest way to protect your treasured belongings. Make sure to always put things away, so your puppy can avoid the temptation.
Exercise!
Puppies tend to be more destructive when they have extra energy, and puppies always have energy. Wear your puppy out each day with playtime, exercise, and other activities.
Teach a “Leave It” command.
This command will take some time to achieve, but he can begin learning it at a young age. It simply tells your puppy to remove his attention from whatever it is on. Combine this command with lots of praise for leaving something, and then be sure to put his attention elsewhere ….or he’ll probably go back to chewing since puppies have short attention spans.
Remember to keep your patience. Before you know it, he’ll be on the other side of teething.
Bringing a new family addition into the home is extremely exciting! Becoming a new puppy parent comes with a ton of new joys, challenges and responsibilities. PupBox was created to help new puppy parents like yourself, by providing all of the toys, treats, accessories and training information you need, when you need it. CLICK HERE to learn more about PupBox.
And remember, puppyhood is fast and is gone before you know it. Make sure to savor the time when your pup is young, and take lots of pictures along the way!
