When it comes to puppy nipping and biting, having some helpful tools in your toolkit will help save your hands (and clothes) from becoming your puppy's teething target. Preventive Vet's certified dog trainer and behavior consultant, Cathy Madson, shares her top picks for toys, treats, and chews to help with your nipping puppy.
Combine these with teaching your puppy appropriate behaviors, such as drop it and leave it, to set your puppy up for success.
Safety Note: As with all chews and toys, supervise your puppy to ensure their safety. Throw away chews before they are small enough to swallow. Toys should be sized appropriately for your puppy so they cannot be choked on or swallowed, and throw away toys when they become damaged.
Give your puppy something enticing to put their teeth on that isn't your hands! Bully sticks are a great option but should always be supervised when your puppy is chewing.
To help prevent choking on or swallowing the bully stick, use a bully stick holder. Or use a rawhide alternative, such as the one featured below.
Puppies that are teething often find relief by chewing on chilled toys. Make sure you're providing much-needed enrichment activities that help satisfy your pup's natural instinct to chew. For puppies with lots of energy that like to nip during play, channel that into using a flirt pole and keep your hands safe in the process!
To keep your fingers in one piece, use a squeeze-tube for giving treat rewards to your puppy. Simply fill the tube with peanut butter (mixed with water for easier delivery) or use your puppy's wet food. This trick also encourages licking for treats rather than snapping for them.
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