What to Do (and Not Do) When Your Puppy Is Teething

There’s truly nothing better than a puppy. They’re small, sweet, cute, and pull focus in any photo. But they’re not so fun when they’re biting us. And if this is happening with your puppy, you’re not alone. We’ve all be there.

A biting puppy isn’t the same thing as an aggressive puppy, which is a common misconception. (Yes, puppies can be aggressive, but 98 percent of the time I’ve found it’s not the case.) Puppies play and communicate with their mouths, and biting can also feel really good to them. Unfortunately, being on the receiving end of those little shark teeth doesn’t feel as good to us.

Honestly, this teething stage — along with potty training — can be one of the most frustrating things about the adorable puppy months. So let’s go over how to minimize puppy biting right from the start.

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Basic Management

I don’t let my puppies free-roam the house until they prove they won’t have an accident and won’t be chewing on household objects. If your pup is sneaking off and chewing on table legs and other items, it’s time to keep them tethered to you until this behavior stops.

Keep a Toy Rotation

Boredom is another cause of destructive chewing. Puppies are active by nature. Ensure you’re doing a mix of training and activity as well as providing a mix of mental enrichment toys and games daily — plus some safe puppy playdates. I rotate the puppy-safe toys in my house to keep the dogs busy and prevent boredom from setting in. I’m a huge fan of stuffing Kongs with kibble, goat’s milk, and other delicious goodies for them to chew on.  

Present Them With an Appropriate Item

When you catch your dog chewing on something they shouldn’t, like the furniture or perhaps you, tell them “no” and get an appropriate item for them to chew. Make this item exciting; you can drag it on the ground, squeak it, or throw it.

But we should also keep an eye on what they’re chewing because there might be a reason why they’ve chosen that object. Maybe it feels good on their gums and new teeth. If that’s the case, make a trade for a similar-feeling object. If they’re chewing clothes or socks, I’ll get a soft toy or a soft tug toy.

Whenever you are selecting a toy or something permissible for a puppy or an adult dog to play with or chew, consider the safety of their teeth. The enamel on dog’s teeth is much thinner than the enamel on human teeth and is therefore much more easily damaged. Always think to yourself, if you wouldn’t bite down on something, then neither should your dog. Choose rubberized toys or rope toys. Edible chews or chew toys need to be able to flex; if the item is too hard when the dog bites on it, it will sadly be the dog’s tooth that gets damaged, not the item. This also applies to sticks, stones, bones, and antlers, all of which are too hard and can cause teeth to fracture so supervision to ensure they don’t pick them up when out and about if essential.

Reward, Reward, Reward

Don’t forget to reward correct chew choices. If they’re chewing an appropriate toy, either on their own or because I gave it to them, it’s important to tell them how good they are. Unfortunately, humans often overlook the positive-reinforcement aspect of chewing; remind yourself to praise good chewing behavior. 

Watch the Clock

A puppy might also get mouthy when they’re tired or hungry. It just might be that it’s close to feeding time or that the puppy needs a nap. Pay attention to the times of day when this seems to happen, so that you can plan ahead. For example, do they always get excited and go crazy at 4 p.m.? If so, at 3:45 I would get out the fun toys or go for a walk and help them expel some of that energy in more acceptable ways. The more we make other play a good habit, the more predictable and harmonious our life with the puppy will be. 

How We Play Matters

We should talk about play, too. Play is great and healthy for puppies and dogs of all ages. By making toys rewarding and fun, we can encourage play with appropriate objects. I always have some puppy-safe toys easily available to my puppies at all times. 

I’m also careful of my mannerisms when playing with puppies, especially mouthy ones. Avoid playing with your hands or letting your dog bite them during play. Even if the bites are gentle and playful, allowing any hand biting at all can confuse the puppy. You don’t want your puppy to grow up thinking they can bite someone’s hands, even for play. This could be harmful to small children or older people. 

In those moments when your dog’s biting is getting out of control, run through this checklist:

• Do they need to go outside? 

• Are they overly tired? Due for a nap?

• Have they gotten enough mental stimulation today? And if not, is it time for a few minutes of training or to give them a mental-enrichment toy?

• Is there a behavior I can ask for to get them to focus, such as sitting on a mat patiently?

• Can I give them a puppy-safe toy or chew that will occupy them and fulfill their
  need to chew?

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Toy Suggestions

Indestructibone Professional Chew Toy

$36

These are great for puppies and adult dogs. Unlike a lot of hard chews out there, these won’t crack those grown adult teeth. This bone will provide a hard chew for those pups who long for something a little tougher to sink their teeth into. 

$36 at Amazon

KONG Puppy Toy

$7

The Kongs that come in pink and blue are for puppies. They are softer for the puppy teeth and give more feedback when being chewed on. For dogs who are enticed by chewing something a bit harder, there is nothing wrong with using the regular red Kong.

$7 at Amazon

Petstages Orka Tire Treat-Dispensing Chew Toy

$20

$13

This chew by Petstages is one I’ve seen many puppies love; it must feel great on their puppy teeth. — Kinship Collective member Nicole Ellis

$13 at Amazon

KONG Ballistic Hide ’n Treat

$18

This one is great for hiding kibble and treats and letting the puppies stay busy ripping it apart. 

$18 at Amazon

Fluff & Tuff Skipper Penguin Toy

$17

This brand makes some durable soft toys in various sizes; these are great to hold up to sharp and busy puppy teeth.

$17 at Amazon