Puppy And Preventing Him From Chewing Shoes

[Gimbo]

Our puppy Mao, is now 4 weeks old, and increasingly he is starting to chew on things, like pups do.

Our slippers are a favourite subject of attention, and this being Thailand where everyone leaves their shoes outside, these will be prime targets for the little rascal.

Right now he is not strong enough to do any damage. But knowing dogs, later it will be unless we stop him.

I bought some of those hide "bones" for him to chew on, but they are just to hard for him now. So just wonder if it will be safe for him to chew on something less hard, like a rubber toy. But again, I dont think he will now the difference between allowed rubber things (his toy) and not allowed (our rubber slippers).

So what to do. He is left allone in the yard a lot, so appart from removing all tempting targets, I don't know.

Anyone got alternative chewing stuff recomendations until those hide bones become attractive?

[Nienke]

As being a dog trainer and -behaviorist, I get this question many times. When I tell my (easy) solution many dog owner looks astonished and disappointed as they expect a whole training procedure.

The easy solution is: get yourself a shoe cubboard and put your shoes in there each time you don't use them. After all, prevention is better than the cure! Then in order to satisfy his chewing, you can give toys, raw hides, bones and the like.

Just an hour ago I was trying to convince a 5 to 6 weeks old poodle that biting in a toy is much more fun than biting in my toes. Well ... at least for me. I've got to do these 'convincing' sessions a couple of time, though, as this little lady doesn't believe me that easily

Nienke

[elfe]

what i always do with very small puppies as yours, buy them some toy from soft rubber or wool, or even give them old shoes or buy a pair of the 40 baht flip flops for them to play. my own shoes are stored safely no success in training to keep away from shoes lying around so far , even in adult dogs just too tempting for them so better safe than sorry

what might distract your pup the most from things it should not bite is some kind of raw bone. it will not be able to bite off pieces but can chew on it and carry it around, it is the smell which will keep it interested can leave it for long time with puppy.

[Gimbo]

Ok then. Soft toys and shoe cupboard it is then

And the biting of toes, well, our little Mao is using mine as target practice. He will litterally sneak in, crawling low, then pounce. I wonder if there is a little hunter in our little "wolf".

Anyway, it's fun to make him miss the target. This morning he completely lost his ballance, took a roll, bounced back up and charged again. But then I do try to not encourage that, so down on all fours it is and have a little playtime until he thinks enough is enough and collapses in nap mode. Funny critters those puppies :-)