Puppies Who Put Everything In Their Mouths
-
Our six-month-old neutered dog, Tucker, puts everything in his mouth and, if possible, eats it. I realize puppies are like babies and that's how they learn, but it's to the point that if it's not tied down, he'll probably grab it. This includes dirt in potted plants, twigs, leaves, garbage he finds on the ground or in the grass, pen caps, plastic wrappers from sliced cheese—the list goes on. So far, I've just been opening his mouth and pulling out what I can. I haven't tried any verbal or physical punishment or correction up until this point. I would appreciate any suggestions! Thanks!
This is pretty normal puppy behavior—taking your puppy to class and teaching "leave it" and "drop it" commands are very helpful in curbing this behavior. It's also important to get your puppy some aerobic exercise every day—use two balls to teach a retrieve (don't throw the second one until he drops the first one) and give him lots of "legal" outlets for his chewing, like bully sticks or food-stuffed Kong toys. Playing with other dogs is another great chew-and-energy burner!