My large breed puppy keeps mouthing everything. Is this normal?

Chewing on lots of things, including human hands and clothing, is completely normal behavior for a puppy this age - this is how puppies explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. She will grow out of this behavior as she gets older, but there are some things you can do in the meantime that will help. Make sure that your pup has a variety of different toys to provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior - long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing and fetching. She should also have lots of different chews and long-lasting treats to chew on such as bully sticks, large rawhide chews, cow or pig ears, and puzzle toys like a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. You will need to keep your belongings put away out of her reach for now, just like you would with a toddler or small child. For furniture or other items that can't be put away, you can use Bitter Apple spray to make them taste bad, which should help to discourage her from chewing on them. If you are playing with her and she bites you, just redirect her to one of her toys and use that to play with her instead. If she bites your hands when you pet her, calmly stop petting and wait for her to settle down. I would not recommend restraining her against her will, or pinching her ear to punish her for this behavior - these techniques often make things worse by causing frustration, and do not help her to understand what you want. In addition, doing things like this may cause her to be afraid of being picked up or handled, since she associates pain and discomfort with these things. Just be patient and calm, and redirect her to appropriate things to chew as needed - this behavior will go away on its own with age :)

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You are likely describing teething which is basically a normal type of behavior when puppies are growing up and it is secondary to mouth discomfort as teeth are growing. I recommend that you get Pechi teething type toys which you can get at your local pet store or online. Anytime that she tries to nibble at you, you say no and give her the toy. This is likely going to resolve the issue but it does take time as this is a normal part of their growth. Good luck and have a good night!

Yes, it's very normal for a 5-month-old puppy to try and grab whatever he can with his mouth - this is how puppies explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. I would recommend getting some nice long, floppy rope or fleece toys that you can carry with you for him to grab when he gets excited, rather that biting your clothes. This is a better option than scolding him, which tends to just make the pup more excited and often makes things worse. If you need some hands-on guidance to help you with this, you can search for a qualified reward-based trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! It is very normal for puppies to be mouthy: want to chew on your fingers, play with your fingers like they are toys, jump up and try to grab your fingers, nip, etc. It isn't normal to do it aggressively. They tend to grow out of this behavior by 6 months. https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-biting-nipping-of-hands/ Have a great day!

Hello. Chewing at this age is very normal & is a sign of teething behavior. Puppies also learn in this manner, too. It is your job to provide Lucy with appropriate chewing substrates & gently guide her to avoid those which may be harmful ( electric cords, house plants, items that are small enough to be swallowed ). Make sure shoes, eyeglasses, watches, tv remotes, jewelry are picked up or not left on low tables ( can you guess what I have lost in the past !). Kong toys are tough products made for dogs & puppies that can be packed with tasty treats such as kibble & peanut butter. This should keep Lucy busy for hours. Have patience, she will eventually outgrow this behavior. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Chewing is very normal at her age. Dogs do not mature mentally until about 2 years old so expect this behavior will continue until them. Crate training will help and she should be crated any time you are not physically watching her. Also, there is not a way you can try Skyler not to chew everything she should not and the best you can do is provide CONSTANT supervision. Here are a couple links with helpful information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-crate-train-your-dog/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/chewing-in-puppies-how-to-control-it/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Biting and mouthing during play and at other times including when you pet her, when you are walking, etc. is completely normal behavior for a puppy this age - this is how puppies explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play. I do not recommend scolding her for this or telling her "no!", as this often makes dogs more frustrated and worked up, and tends to make the problem worse. Instead, redirect her to one of her toys and encourage her to bite the toy instead. Make sure that she has a variety of different toys available to provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior - long floppy rope or fleece toys for tugging, plush toys for biting and carrying, and smaller toys or balls for chasing and fetching. She also needs lots of different things to chew on - bully sticks, rawhide chews, cow or pig ears, and puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter are all good options you can try. This behavior normally resolves on its own as puppies get older, so there is no need to attempt to punish her for it - just redirect her to something more appropriate, and be patient while she learns :)