Mary Allen
Small sharp teeth and large tears can cause enormous damage. Our dogs are not choosy: the cheap plastic garden shoe tastes just as good as the expensive living room table made of mahogany wood.
Does your puppy nibble on everything? Consider that he will also grow up to be a grown dog, which may still nibble on everything?
It is therefore just right that you think about your dog’s behavior in good time and find out how you can break your dog’s habit of nibbling.
At the latest when the young dog can no longer stop at the trouser legs and sleeves, the nibble becomes dangerous!
So that you, your family and your visitors are protected from unwanted snacking attacks, in this article we will explain why your dog chews everything and give you three professional tips on how you can prevent him from doing so.
In a nutshell: This is how you get your dog used to excessive nibbling
Does your dog nibble on everything that gets between its teeth even after it is a puppy? Then you should definitely set him limits, because he is getting bigger and his teeth too!
Your dog needs to learn what to nibble on (e.g. his chew toy) and what not (e.g. on visitors). Thankfully, most dogs understand these differences fairly quickly—although translating them is really, really damn difficult for a puppy.
So what you need is a lot of calmness, patience, empathy and understanding of your dog’s behavior.
Help, my puppy bites and nibbles on everything! Why is he doing this?
First of all, it should be said that trying out the teeth is completely normal behavior in puppyhood. The first milk teeth form between the third and sixth week of life and it makes your mouth itch!
Chewing on objects, your own and other body parts, trouser legs, shoes and many other super nibbleable things provides relief – to the chagrin of many dog owners.
It may help to know that this behavior is usually temporary. However, depending on how you handle it, your dog may get used to constantly nibbling.
Other reasons why your dog chews everything even in adulthood could be:
- boredom
- stress and overwhelm
- skip action
- Gamble prompt/gambling
- Joint diseases (chewing on legs and paws)
Why is my dog nibbling on me and on himself?
In addition to the normal nibbles in puppyhood or the nibbles caused by pain, there can be another reason why your dog nibbles on you and on itself.
He loves you and wants to take care of you!
Mutual body care in the form of licking and nibbling is also part of normal dog behavior. Unfortunately, even the tenderest nibble can hurt like hell!
Teach your dog to be more careful – he can do it!
3 professional tips: stop your dog from nibbling
You’ve already learned that nibbling as a puppy is part of normal dog behavior. Still, it can be annoying, expensive, painful, and dangerous, which is why it’s good to work on.
Tip #1: Think like a dog!
How do adult dogs deal with puppies? In no way timid. If a puppy goes too far, it will be immediately and incomprehensibly reprimanded by its older peers. If the young dog is too high-spirited in the game, no adult dog will continue to play with it.
So what does that tell you?
That’s right, you’re the boss! You as an adult decide not to play with a nipping puppy! If he gets too rough, you quit the game. You can do that with a clear “No!” make it clear, after which you pause the game and move on to tip #2.
Tip #2: Alternative chew toys
Attention, here comes trick 17: Distraction through alternatives! Once your puppy sets its teeth, offer it a chew toy to let off steam.
That way, your puppy doesn’t get frustrated and he learns what he can and can’t nibble on. Of course he won’t understand that overnight, but you’re patient and give him the time he needs!
Stay tuned is the motto!
Tip No. 3: Sufficient mental and physical workload
Keeping your dog happy can minimize their destructiveness. Challenge and encourage your dog’s skills, for example, with search games, impulse control, joint activities and mind games.
Attention danger!
Your dog destroys everything despite being busy? Workload and being overwhelmed are often very close together! Many dogs would do anything for their owners to the point of total exhaustion. Keep a close eye on the training level of your dog and also make sure that he has enough rest periods and breaks.
Are there any home remedies for dogs to protect against nibbles?
There are numerous tips circulating on the Internet that are intended to prevent nibbling with the help of home remedies. Cheat stop sprays are also often recommended if the dog is destructive.
However, it is difficult to say whether these really help. Some dogs shy away from such remedies, while others have no effect.
If you are thinking about using home remedies or sprays, you should keep in mind that you are not addressing the cause, but only combating the symptoms of the actual problem.
So I would recommend that you always research the causes first and use such methods as a supplement to your training.
Conclusion
Remember that nibbling and biting is normal behavior in puppyhood. But of course, it shouldn’t degenerate.
Does your dog nibble on blankets, pillows, furniture, shoes, clothes, you, itself, and everything, even though it is already fully grown? Then you should plan a trip to the vet with him to rule out any health factors.
If it is clear that your dog is not nibbling out of pain, you now have to be consistent. Your dog must and can learn that he is not allowed to nibble on everything if you make it very clear to him.