Puppy chewing: it’s like having a tiny, fluffy chainsaw that eats your favourite shoes. Ever left a room for two minutes only to return and find your puppy triumphantly perched on the remains of your coffee table? I have. And trust me, you’re not alone.
Through years of training (and learning the hard way), I’ve helped countless puppy owners get through this phase without sacrificing their sanity or their home decor.
So, if you’re wondering, When do puppies stop chewing? or How do I keep my dog from making my house look like a crime scene?, read on!
Why Do Puppies Chew?
Teething vs. Exploratory Chewing
Puppies are basically tiny toddlers with a full mouth of sharp teeth. Teething hits around 3 to 4 months, and during this time, they’ll chew on literally anything to relieve discomfort—your furniture, your socks, maybe even your unsuspecting toes.
When Do Puppies Stop Chewing?
Great question! Adolescents chew to explore, for attention, to self-soothe, and sometimes, just because they can. If left unchecked, they might start treating your belongings like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Don’t panic—early intervention means you won’t still be replacing your sofa when they’re five.
5 Tips to Stop Puppy Chewing
Tip 1: Texture - Provide the Right Chew Items
Think of chew items as decoys for your belongings.
Try to match the replacement to your dog's chewing preferences to keep them engaged and away from your valuables. Bonus: frozen toys = extra gum relief.
Rubber Kongs and Nylabones – Great for aggressive chewers and professional toy-destroyers.
Soft plush toys – Ideal for pups who love chewing on soft things like pillows, sleeves, and socks.
Chew Roots and Olive Sticks – Perfect for wood chewers. If your pup is leaving holes in the skirting board, these can be a game-changer.
Also, don't forget to rotate toys regularly – Puppies get bored fast. Keep things fresh!
Tip 2: Opportunity - Puppy-Proof Your Home
It’s highly unlikely that your pup was born with a taste for your children’s beloved toys or your favourite watch. More likely, those items happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Keep valuables out of reach—your trainers are not a chew toy. Ensure that the right items are always more accessible than the wrong ones.
You can also give them a designated chew zone, like a chew mat or a specific area with their toys.
Tip 3: Appeal - Make the Right Option Irresistible
Still finding that Fido prefers shoelaces over a toy? Consider what truly makes an item appealing:
Attention – If you react dramatically when they grab the wrong item, they may see it as a game. Instead, stay calm and redirect them to a chew toy. Play it cool when they have the wrong items, only making a direct effort to remove or swap it if there is an immediate risk. Often something as simple as opening a door or creating a distraction in another room will do the trick.
Taste – Some items just have the right kind of stank (think salty insoles—ew). Try leaving toys outside for a bit or smearing a little cream cheese or peanut butter on a chew root.
Tip 4: Teach "Drop It" and Redirection
If your puppy grabs something off-limits, don’t panic. Use “Drop It" and reward them like they just won the lottery.
Haven't taught a "Drop"? If they grab something they shouldn’t, swap for something else (a toy or snack).
Tip 5: Avoid Punishment—Use Positive Reinforcement
Yelling at your pup won’t help. It might even make them chew more (stress response, anyone?) or teach them that chewing the skirting board is a fast track to attention.
Instead, redirect and reward calm chewing. If they start nibbling your hands, swap with a long toy and praise them for making better life choices.
Case Study: Theo, the Redecorator
Meet Theo
When Theo, a 4-month-old Labrador mix, joined my classes; the owners reported he had a serious chewing problem. Every evening, he turned into a tiny tornado of destruction, chewing anything in sight—including his owners' fingers.
Here's what we did...
Right off the bat, there was clear pattern in the evenings; so we started there. Before training began, I asked the owners to record when these spikes happened and how long they usually lasted.
They reported that two events in particular which related to these chewing epidemics: when everyone arrived home from work/school and also at around 7:30pm. Theo would go full hurricane mode for around 5 minutes, before switching over to create some more personalised etchings on the nearby wooden furniture.
The 10:5:1 routine:
I've used the 10:5:1 routine with countless clients throughout my career to manage these typically short-lived bursts of destructive energy.
It teaches the dog which items to chew when excited and how to calm down following play, instead of becoming an overtired house-destroying monster.
These are rough timings, so find what works best for your individual dog!
10 minutes of intense play (tug-of-war, fetch, zoomies—whatever burns energy). Stop early if things start getting out of hand of if Fido starts becoming more mouthy.
5 minutes of calmer training (sit, stay, drop it—focus-building stuff).
1 long-lasting chew (cue snooze-time).
Created opportunities for good behaviour:
Despite initially stating that Theo had being chewing everything, upon further investigation there was a notable preference for wooden items, which were getting more than a cursory chew.
I advised the owners to purchase a few tennis-ball sized Chew Roots and place these around the table and any other *ahem redecorated wooden items around the house.
If they spotted him so much as sniffing these, the owners were to act as if they had caught him with the most exciting item known to man (or dog, for that matter)!
The Result:
Theo's furniture feasting dropped dramatically within two weeks, and his owners kept their sanity (and their couch) intact.
Ongoing reinforcement, rotating chew toys and maintaining structured playtimes, helped ensure Theo stayed on track and formed the right habits with the right items.
Common Mistakes Owners Make
❌ Providing the wrong toys – If your pup chews your slippers, swap for a dog-appropriate item with a similar texture, like a soft chew toy, and make sure to put the wrong items out of reach to avoid confusion.
❌ Accidentally encouraging mouthing – No matter how cute it is, don’t let them nibble your hands. Future-you will thank you.
❌ Ignoring boredom triggers – A bored puppy is a chewing puppy. Keep their brain busy with mental enrichment.
Summary & Key Takeaways
Puppies chew due to teething, exploration, or boredom.
The chewing stage lasts until 6 months to 1 year, but good habits last a lifetime.
Some dogs continue to chew due to other reasons like anxiety or boredom, so ongoing management is key.
Provide proper chew toys and redirect unwanted chewing.
Use positive reinforcement to encourage better choices.
Need Extra Help? Join a Dog and Yogi Class
Still struggling? Book a session with our expert trainers and let’s get your puppy on the right track.
At Dog and Yogi, we help owners survive the puppy chewing phase with expert-led training sessions. If you’d rather your dog chew the right things (and not your sofa), sign up today and enjoy a stress-free puppyhood!
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Got a chewing disaster story? Share it in the comments—we’ve all been there!
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