Why Puppies Chew Everything—and How to Redirect Them Safely

Chewing helps puppies explore, play, and cope with teething discomfort. The goal is not to stop the behavior entirely, but to steer it toward safer objects before shoes, cords, or swallowed pieces become a problem.

A puppy chewing a shoe, table leg, or stray piece of packaging is not necessarily being disobedient. Puppies investigate much of their environment with their mouths, and chewing can also ease discomfort as their adult teeth emerge.

That does not mean every chewing habit is harmless. Household objects can damage a puppy’s teeth, cause choking, expose the animal to toxins, or create a life-threatening intestinal blockage if pieces are swallowed.

Puppies use their mouths to understand the world

Puppies do not have hands to pick up and examine unfamiliar objects. Mouthing, grabbing, tasting, and chewing help them learn about texture, movement, and scent.

Chewing is also part of play. A puppy may grab clothing, hands, or ankles because movement makes them exciting targets—not because the puppy intends to hurt someone.

Teething intensifies the urge. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, dogs have 28 baby teeth and up to 42 permanent teeth. Baby teeth typically begin falling out at around 12 weeks, and most puppies have their permanent teeth by approximately six months of age.

Gnawing appears to help relieve some of the discomfort associated with this transition. The behavior may continue after teething, however, particularly when chewing has become enjoyable or the puppy is bored, restless, frustrated, or anxious.

Stopping all chewing is the wrong goal

Chewing is normal canine behavior, so simply telling a puppy “no” does not provide an alternative. A more effective approach is to prevent access to unsafe objects and make suitable chew toys easy to find.

Start by puppy-proofing the areas the animal can reach. Store shoes, laundry, children’s toys, medicine, batteries, food packaging, and other small objects behind closed doors or inside secure containers. Cover or block access to electrical cords, which can cause serious burns or electrocution when chewed.

Supervision matters even when a puppy has an appropriate toy. VCA cautions that no toy is completely safe. A toy that begins breaking apart can become a choking hazard or cause an intestinal obstruction if pieces are swallowed.

Choose toys that protect growing teeth

Extremely hard objects can fracture a puppy’s developing teeth. VCA advises avoiding hard materials such as bones, antlers, and rigid nylon products. As a practical test, look for a chew toy with some flexibility—one that bends slightly or can be indented with a fingernail.

The toy should also be large enough that the puppy cannot swallow it whole. Inspect it regularly and remove it when pieces are missing, seams have opened, or the material has started to crumble.

Some puppy-safe toys can be chilled or frozen to soothe tender gums, but owners should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ask a veterinarian for recommendations suited to the puppy’s size, age, and chewing strength.

Redirect instead of punishing

When a puppy grabs an inappropriate object, calmly exchange it for an approved toy. Praise or reward the puppy once it begins chewing the replacement. Repetition teaches which objects produce a positive response.

Rotating several toys can help keep them interesting. Food-dispensing toys, short training sessions, play, walks appropriate for the puppy’s age, and adequate rest can also reduce chewing driven by boredom or overstimulation.

Physical punishment is counterproductive. The ASPCA warns that hitting or frightening a mouthy puppy may intensify biting, create fear, or contribute to aggressive behavior. If the puppy grabs hands or clothing during play, pause the interaction and redirect it to a toy rather than turning the situation into a struggle.

Persistent chewing that occurs mainly when the puppy is alone may deserve closer attention, especially if it appears alongside barking, pacing, indoor elimination, or other signs of distress. A veterinarian or qualified behavior professional can help determine whether separation-related anxiety or another issue is involved.

Know when chewing becomes an emergency

Contact a veterinarian promptly if a puppy is known or suspected to have swallowed part of a toy or another foreign object. Do not wait for symptoms if the object is sharp, toxic, battery-powered, or likely to expand or become lodged.

Sudden drooling, gagging, regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, or repeated attempts to swallow can indicate an object caught in the esophagus.

Vomiting, refusal to eat, lethargy, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or shock may occur with a gastrointestinal obstruction. The Merck Veterinary Manual classifies gastrointestinal obstruction as an emergency because an untreated blockage can cause dehydration, tissue damage, perforation, and other life-threatening complications.

Most puppy chewing can be managed with prevention, appropriate outlets, and patient redirection. The crucial distinction is not whether a puppy chews—it is whether the puppy has been given a safe way to satisfy that natural urge.

SOURCES USED:

• VCA Animal Hospitals — Teeth, Teething and Chewing in Puppies
• VCA Animal Hospitals — Dos and Don’ts of Puppy Teething Toys
• ASPCA — Destructive Chewing
• ASPCA — Mouthing, Nipping and Biting in Puppies
• Merck Veterinary Manual — Gastrointestinal Obstruction in Small Animals
• Merck Veterinary Manual — Esophageal Foreign Bodies in Small Animals