How to have a teething puppy & still have nice things.

We all love bringing home a sweet, cuddly new puppy…until we find a chewed up pillow, a missing shoe, a slobbery sock, or garbage drug all over the house.

First thought is wait, were we ready for this… I don’t know if I can do this? YES OF COURSE YOU CAN!

Set your puppy up for success! Don’t make your dog suffer for not being taught how to behave. A puppy is going to chew and explore new things through its mouth. You need to control what the puppy can chew and get a hold of.

I am writing this in hopes that you don’t have to learn these lessons the hard way as I have. My husband and I got a Great Dane as our first baby together. We learned quickly how strong he was, how high he could jump, and how clever he could be when he wanted something. Make sure you full proof your safe zone.

His favorite chew toy was my husbands favorite new leather gloves, they were soft and gummy. It was a new adventure everyday honestly. As a full size puppy he found ways to open doors to get in and steal the fresh delivered pizza in about the .5 seconds it took to go grab a drink to go with it….yep you guessed it he left a couple crumbs for us. Oh man everyone knows how your mouth waters when you smell a fresh pizza. You rush in with anticipation and stomach growling to find the door barely open that you had already shut, the box is high on the counter with 2 measly crumbs left in it and the dog is casually laying on the couch looking at ya like “what you looking at” 😤. All it takes is that one look at the dog, we all know the look, and they dog takes off for cover and pulls out the show stopper HUGE puppy eyes.

I can’t tell you how many new pairs of leather gloves my husband had to begrudgingly buy that year. He could sniff them out no matter where he tried to hide them….or we all know accidentally forgot to put away😬.

We learned some hard lessons that brought us to where we are today. Now you look at it in a positive way like at least it keeps the house clean, because if we leave even the tiniest sock out it might be chewed to a thread.

When you get a puppy, you are getting a baby. We don’t set a baby or a toddler in the middle of a room with markers, red fruit punch, sharp toys and just let them figure it out. A puppy is just like a baby, they have no idea what is dangerous or acceptable to chew on.

We put up baby gates, give them safe toys they can play with and chew on, and we certainly don’t leave them in reach of our best couch with markers close by.

Gate off a safe zone outside or inside where your puppy can be when you can’t be watching https://amzn.to/3sI3IT6. Make sure the only things inside that area are safe for them to chew or play with. Make sure and potty them often, play with them often and let them get their wiggles out. Puppies are learning and growing right now, help them learn what you want them to do. Consistency and repetition will teach them quickly.

Put them in a crate for down time https://amzn.to/3ltaqbv. Never leave a puppy unattended loose in the house or yard where you haven’t created a safe puppy zone.

When they are out spending time with you and they want to chew on something that’s not for the puppy quickly redirect them to what they can chew on instead, and give positive reinforcement. Have plenty of different textures and toys or treats they can chew on. https://amzn.to/3NpwrE5

A puppy has to be taught what is okay to chew on. Most importantly they have to be kept in an area with things you don’t want chewed on. Set them up for success and don’t let them have the choice to chew on shoes or a nice pillow. Give them lots of things they can chew on, remove the things you don’t want chewed on. When they go for a shoe redirect their attention by quickly giving them an acceptable toy and remove the shoe.

Until they are fully past the teething stage they do not get let loose in the house or have the full run of the yard. Set up temporary playpens or a crate when you aren’t watching the puppy, that way you can manage what they can get into and chew on. Provide them with access to go potty often where you want them to and give various toys or bully sticks they can safely chew on. https://amzn.to/3a17KiS

No more stressful puppy accidents or destroyed shoes and pillows. You choose where they get to be and what they get to chew on. It is not only safer for the puppy, but it will make raising a puppy stress free and enjoyable like it’s suppose to be!

Here are my favorite things to use to make a safe zone and favorite chew toys or treats. Portable dog playpen in all sizes-

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Crate in all sizes-

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Bully sticks, safe chewing sticks-

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Chew toys variety pack-

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Puppy Potty Pads-

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Love your puppy, teach your puppy, play lots with your puppy and before you know it they’ll be past that chewing stage. Good luck and enjoy that puppy!

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