How can I stop my new puppy from chewing on everything?

Stopping a new puppy from chewing requires redirecting their natural urge, managing their environment, and teaching them what is appropriate to bite. Puppies explore the world with their mouths and go through a teething phase, much like human babies.

• Puppy Proofing: Clear your floors of shoes, cords, and small items. Use baby gates or playpens to restrict access to unsupervised areas.
• Appropriate Chew Toys: Provide a variety of durable toys with different textures (rubber, rope, plush) so they have safe legal outlets for their teeth.
• Redirection: When you catch your puppy chewing on furniture or shoes, firmly say "no" or "leave it," remove the forbidden item, and immediately replace it with an approved chew toy.
• Crate Training and Supervision: If you cannot actively watch your puppy, keep them in a safe, enclosed area or a crate for short intervals so they don't practice unwanted chewing habits.
• Mental and Physical Exercise: Tired puppies are much less likely to chew out of boredom. Incorporate short training sessions, games of fetch, and puzzle toys into their daily routine.

If you want to tailor this strategy, tell me:

• How old is the puppy?
• What specific items are they targeting the most (furniture, hands, rugs, cords)?

I can give you targeted solutions for that exact behavior.

Yes—puppy chewing is normal, especially during teething, but you can teach your puppy what is appropriate to chew. Puppies typically finish getting their adult teeth around 6 months, so this phase can be intense for a while.

What works best

1. Puppy-proof aggressively.
   Put shoes, socks, children's toys, cords, remotes, and anything else tempting completely out of reach. When you can't supervise, use a puppy-safe pen or crate with appropriate toys.

2. Redirect rather than punish.
   If your puppy grabs a shoe, calmly trade it for a toy or treat. Once they take the toy, praise them and play with it. Avoid yelling or chasing them, which can make the interaction into a game or create fear.

3. Make the legal stuff more appealing.
   Keep several puppy-safe chew toys available and rotate them so they stay interesting. Food-stuffed toys and puzzle feeders can provide both chewing and mental stimulation.

4. Give them an outlet for teething.
   Chilled/frozen appropriate puppy toys can help soothe sore gums. Avoid extremely hard objects such as bones or antlers, which can fracture teeth; supervise chewing even with toys marketed as safe.

5. Teach “leave it” and “drop it.”
   Practice when there's nothing dangerous involved: offer something low-value, say “leave it,” and reward your puppy for turning away. For “drop it,” trade the object for something better rather than forcibly taking it.

6. Don't forget naps and enrichment.
   Puppies can become little destruction machines when bored or overtired. Short training sessions, age-appropriate play, sniffing activities, and puzzle toys can help channel that energy.

One important safety point: if your puppy actually swallows part of a toy, sock, electrical cord, medication, toxic substance, or another potentially dangerous object, contact your veterinarian promptly. Chewed objects can cause choking, poisoning, intestinal blockage, or other injuries.

A simple rule to remember: prevent → redirect → reward. Don't try to teach a puppy that chewing itself is bad; teach them which things are theirs to chew.

If you tell me your puppy's age and breed/size, I can give you a practical daily chewing plan and suggest what types of chews are appropriate.

Absolutely—chewing is normal puppy behavior, especially during teething. The goal isn't to stop chewing; it's to teach your puppy what is okay to chew and prevent access to everything else.

A simple strategy that works

• Puppy-proof aggressively. Shoes, socks, remotes, cords, children's toys, and anything tempting should be out of reach. Use baby gates, a playpen, or a puppy-safe room when necessary.
• Have a chew toy within reach everywhere. When your puppy goes for a chair leg, calmly interrupt and immediately offer an appropriate chew. When they take it, praise them.
• Make good chews more interesting. Food-stuffed rubber toys and appropriately sized puppy teething toys can keep them occupied. Some toys can be frozen to provide teething relief.
• Rotate toys. Keep only a few available and swap them regularly so they remain interesting.
• Teach “leave it” and “drop it.” If they grab something forbidden, trade for a treat or toy rather than chasing them. Chasing can accidentally turn it into a fun game of keep-away.
• Give them appropriate outlets. Short training sessions, play, sniffing activities, and puzzle toys can reduce boredom-driven chewing.
• Make sure they're getting enough sleep. An overtired puppy can become much more mouthy and destructive. A quiet crate or puppy-safe area for naps can help.
• Don't punish after the fact. Your puppy won't connect your reaction to the earlier chewing. Instead, prevent the opportunity and reinforce the behavior you want.

One important safety point

Supervise chewing even with toys marketed as safe. Puppies can break off and swallow pieces, and very hard items such as bones or antlers can damage teeth. Your veterinarian can recommend appropriate chews for your puppy's size and age.

A useful rule of thumb is: “If I can't supervise it, I manage the environment.” Give your puppy freedom gradually as they demonstrate that they can make good choices.

If you tell me your puppy's age, breed/size, and what they're chewing most often (furniture, hands, shoes, cords, etc.), I can give you a specific daily plan.

Puppies explore the world with their mouths, but saving your furniture and shoes comes down to redirection, management, and training.

• Puppy-Proof Your Space : Keep items you don't want chewed completely out of reach. Use baby gates, storage bins, and closed doors to limit unsupervised access.
• Provide Appropriate Chew Toys : Offer a variety of textures (rubber, plush, rope, and hard nylon) so your puppy has a legal outlet for their teething urges.
• Redirect Immediately : When you catch them chewing on something forbidden, calmly interrupt them with a sharp "uh-oh" or clap, and immediately replace the item with an approved toy.
• Use Positive Reinforcement : Praise and reward your puppy enthusiastically whenever they choose to chew on their own toys instead of household items.
• Crate or Playpen Management : When you cannot actively watch your puppy, place them in a safe, confined area like a crate or playpen to prevent practice of bad habits.
• Ensure Mental and Physical Exercise : A tired puppy is far less likely to seek out destructive chewing behaviors out of boredom or pent-up energy.

Would you like to know about best teething toys for aggressive chewers or how to address nipping and biting at hands?

Stopping a new puppy from chewing requires redirecting their natural urge, puppy-proofing your space, and managing their environment. Here is a clear breakdown of how to curb the chewing behavior:

• Puppy-proof your space : Keep shoes, cords, laundry, and children's toys completely out of reach. If it’s on the floor, a puppy assumes it's fair game.
• Provide appropriate chew toys : Offer a variety of textures (rubber, plush, rope, and hard chew toys) so they have safe outlets for their developing teeth.
• Redirect immediately : If you catch your puppy chewing on something forbidden, calmly say "no" or "leave it," gently take the item away, and immediately replace it with an approved chew toy. Praise them when they chew the right thing.
• Use crate or pen confinement : When you cannot actively supervise your puppy (like when cooking or working), keep them safely contained in a puppy-proof pen or crate to prevent rehearsal of bad habits.
• Increase mental and physical exercise : A tired puppy is a well-behaved puppy. Regular play sessions, training games, and puzzle toys burn off excess energy that would otherwise go into chewing your furniture.
• Apply safe deterrent sprays : For stationary items like table legs or baseboards, use a bitter, non-toxic apple spray specifically made for pets to make the surface unappealing.

Puppy Chewing Realities

Puppy owners share their practical experiences with curbing relentless chewing phases:

I found that freezing a wet washcloth or a Kong filled with yogurt really helped distract them when their gums hurt.

It gets so much better once they lose all their baby teeth, but consistency with the redirection is the hardest part.

If you want to tailor this strategy, tell me:

• How old is your puppy?
• What material are they chewing on the most (furniture, shoes, hands)?

I can give you a more targeted game plan!

Absolutely—chewing is normal puppy behavior, especially during teething. The goal isn't to stop chewing; it's to teach your puppy what is okay to chew and prevent access to everything else.

A simple strategy that works

• Puppy-proof aggressively. Put shoes, socks, remotes, cords, children's toys, and anything tempting out of reach. Use baby gates, a pen, or a puppy-proofed room when you can't supervise.
• Keep legal chew toys everywhere. Have an appropriate toy within easy reach in the rooms where your puppy spends time. Rotate toys so they stay interesting.
• Redirect, don't punish. If your puppy grabs a shoe, calmly trade it for a toy or treat. Once they take the toy, praise them. This teaches, "Chewing this gets me good things."
• Teach “leave it” and “drop it.” Start practicing when there isn't a problem, rewarding your puppy for releasing or ignoring an object. Don't chase them for stolen items—that can turn it into a fun game of keep-away.
• Give them enough sleep and stimulation. An overtired puppy can become much more bitey and destructive. Short training sessions, sniffing games, play, and plenty of naps can make a big difference.
• Don't let people be chew toys. If teeth touch hands or clothing, calmly end the interaction and redirect to a toy. Everyone in the household needs to respond consistently.

One important safety point

Avoid assuming that a chew is safe just because it's marketed as a “dog chew.” Some very hard chews can damage teeth, and pieces can become choking hazards. The Humane Society of Missouri recommends avoiding items that don't have some give and checking with your veterinarian about appropriate chews for your puppy.

The magic formula is: Prevent → redirect → praise → repeat.

And don't worry if it feels like you're doing this 50 times a day. That's genuinely normal with a new puppy. Teething-related chewing generally becomes easier as the adult teeth come in.

If you tell me your puppy's age and breed/size, I can give you a specific daily chewing-and-napping routine.

Puppies are basically tiny explorers with teeth. Chewing is normal—especially during teething—but you can teach your puppy what is and isn’t a chew toy.

Try these strategies:

1. Manage the environment first

• Put shoes, socks, remotes, kids’ toys, and other tempting items out of reach.
• Use baby gates, a puppy pen, or a puppy-safe room when you can’t actively supervise.
• Don’t give your puppy lots of opportunities to “practice” chewing forbidden things—the habit gets stronger with repetition.

2. Give better things to chew

Keep a few puppy-safe chew options available and rotate them so they stay interesting:

• Rubber chew toys
• Food-stuffed toys
• Puppy teething toys
• Soft chew toys designed for puppies

Choose toys appropriate for your puppy’s size and chewing style, and check them regularly for damage.

3. Redirect instead of scolding

If you catch your puppy chewing a shoe or furniture:

1. Calmly interrupt (“oops” or “leave it”).
2. Offer an approved chew toy.
3. Praise when they take the toy.

Avoid yelling or punishment—your puppy may not understand what they did wrong, and it can make training harder.

4. Help with teething

Many puppies chew more while their adult teeth are coming in. Safe teething toys, including some that can be chilled or frozen, can help soothe sore gums.

5. Add mental exercise and naps

A bored or overtired puppy often becomes a “chewing machine.” Try:

• Short training sessions (sit, touch, leave it)
• Puzzle toys
• Sniffing games
• Age-appropriate play
• Plenty of sleep and quiet time

Puppies often need a lot of rest, and overtired pups can become extra mouthy.

6. Teach “drop it” and “leave it”

Practice when there’s no emergency:

• Offer a toy.
• Say “drop it.”
• Reward when your puppy releases it.
• Gradually practice with more tempting objects.

A few questions can help tailor the advice:

• How old is your puppy?
• What breed or mix?
• What are they chewing most (furniture, shoes, hands, cords, etc.)?
• Are they chewing when alone, or even when you’re watching?

Stopping a new puppy from chewing requires redirecting their natural urge while protecting your belongings . Puppies explore the world through their mouths—especially when teething—so the goal is management and redirection, not elimination of the behavior.

• Puppy-Proof Your Space: Keep shoes, cords, and clothes off the floor and out of reach. Use baby gates or playpens to restrict access to unsupervised areas.
• Provide Appropriate Chew Toys: Stock up on a variety of textures (rubber, rope, soft plush) and rotate them to keep things interesting.
• Redirect Immediately: If you catch your puppy chewing on furniture or a rug, interrupt with a sharp "oops" or "leave it," then immediately hand them an approved toy. Praise them enthusiastically when they chew the right item.
• Use Crate or Playpen Time: When you can't actively watch your puppy, place them in a safe, confined area with a safe chew toy to prevent mistakes.
• Cope with Teething Pain: For puppies under 6 months old, try freezing a wet washcloth or a rubber toy (like a Kong filled with dog-safe broth) to soothe sore gums.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Your puppy's age and breed
• What specific items they are targeting most (wood, fabric, shoes?)

I can give you more targeted training tips or suggest specific types of chew toys that might help.

Absolutely—chewing is normal puppy behavior, especially during teething. The goal isn't to stop chewing; it's to teach your puppy what is okay to chew and prevent access to everything else.

The most effective approach

• Puppy-proof aggressively. Shoes, remotes, cords, laundry, children's toys, and anything small enough to swallow should be inaccessible. If your puppy can't practice the unwanted behavior, it becomes much easier to change.
• Have a legal chew within reach at all times. When your puppy grabs a shoe or furniture, calmly interrupt and immediately offer an appropriate chew toy. Praise them enthusiastically when they take it.
• Don't chase them for stolen objects. That can turn chewing into a fun game of keep-away. Instead, teach “drop it” by trading the forbidden object for a treat or favorite toy.
• Use confinement strategically. When you can't supervise, use a puppy-proofed pen, safe room, or appropriately introduced crate with safe toys.
• Give them mental work. Short training sessions, food puzzles, sniffing games, and play can reduce boredom-driven destruction.
• Make sure they're sleeping enough. An overtired puppy can become much more mouthy and destructive. Puppies commonly need around 18 hours of sleep per day.
• Never punish after the fact. Your puppy won't understand why you're angry about the chewed shoe from 10 minutes ago. Just clean it up and improve management next time.

A simple rule to remember

“Wrong thing → calmly interrupt → right thing → praise.”

For example:

Puppy chews table leg → “Oops” → offer chew toy → puppy chews toy → “Yes! Good puppy!” + attention/treat. With repetition, your puppy learns that chewing their own stuff makes good things happen.

If you tell me your puppy's age and breed (or mix), I can give you a simple daily chewing/nap/training routine tailored to them.

Stopping a new puppy from chewing requires redirecting their natural urge, puppy-proofing your space, and managing their environment . Puppies explore the world with their mouths—especially during teething (around 3 to 6 months old)—so the goal isn't to stop chewing entirely, but to teach them what is legal to chew.

Key Strategies to Stop Destructive Chewing

1. Puppy-proof your environment
   • Keep shoes, laundry, cords, and children's toys off the floor.
   • Use baby gates or a dedicated puppy playpen to restrict unsupervised access to the rest of the house.
2. Provide appropriate chew toys
   • Have a variety of textures available (rubber, rope, soft plush for cuddling, and durable chew toys like KONG Classic Dog Toy Go to product viewer dialog for this item. for teething relief).
   • Rotate toys every few days to keep them novel and exciting.
3. Redirect immediately
   • If you catch your puppy chewing on furniture or a shoe, say a sharp "Ahn-ahn!" or "No," then immediately take the forbidden item away and replace it with an approved chew toy.
   • Praise heavily ("Good chew!") the moment they latch onto the correct toy.
4. Crate train or supervise
   • When you cannot actively watch your puppy, place them in a safe crate, pen, or a puppy-proofed small room. Unsupervised freedom leads to bad habits.
5. Ensure enough physical and mental exercise
   • A tired puppy is a well-behaved puppy. Boredom and pent-up energy are major triggers for destructive chewing. Incorporate short training sessions, puzzle toys, and walks appropriate for their age.

If you'd like, let me know:

• How old your puppy is
• What specific items they are targeting most (furniture, shoes, hands, etc.)

I can give you a more targeted training plan for their specific stage!