My 8-week-old puppy eats furniture and floor. How do I stop it?

Ziggy is just being a puppy and exploring his area. Puppies don't know what is and is not appropriate to chew on or play with. First, I would recommend putting away everything that is not appropriate to chew on. If there are things that cannot be picked up, like electrical cords or upholstered objects, then you may have to prevent Ziggy's access to those areas by blocking off the object or using baby gates. Second, you can try a product like Bitter Apple Spray that can be sprayed on things to make them taste bad (fair warning, though, some puppies don't care about the taste!). Third, make sure that Ziggy has plenty of appropriate puppy toys available. You may have to try several different types to find what he prefers to chew on. Always monitor him - if he is able to tear it up then it is not safe for him! You may also hide some of the toys and rotate them every week so that he thinks old toys are new. Puppies get bored just like humans. Fourth, when you are gone, consider crate training to keep Ziggy safe. It doesn't take much for him to swallow something that gets stuck in his intestines! Here is some more helpful information: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1129 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1517

You may have have 2 separate problems or they may be related. If Shamu is generally bored and trying to find things to do, that may contribute to his eating his stool and his destructive tendencies. I am attaching a handout about eating stool below that may have some additional suggestions for you. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8587687 I like the food additives to help stop dogs from eating their own stool. As far as the chewing goes, I would consider adding Bitter Apple ( ) short term on areas of the floor that he is chewing, when work on tiring him out on a regular basis. I have a few suggestions for you that have helped me with my puppy. One thing that people think of first is treats that keep them busy for a longer period of time. This does seem to help. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for him to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer. Keep him mentally and physically busy during meal times. I love using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps him busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires him to work. And speaking of working. I have found that my dog is the most tired after we have done a good round of training. Even if you have done a basic obedience class, I would consider trying an advanced class, a nose work class, a tricks class, etc. And if taking a class isn't an option right now, work on training at home. When he goes on walks, make him sit at each corner before he crosses the street. It sounds simple, but additional mental stimulation can go a long way. Playing with other dogs is a great outlet for energy. If you haven't tried it yet, look into your local dog park or doggy daycare center. Sending my youngest dog to daycare once a week has made a huge difference. There are a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those. https://www.petco.com/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games So, I think the key is to vary his activities daily and include a wide range of physical and mental stimulation. Be sure to be creative to tire him out on a regular basis and help everyone keep their sanity and see if that resolves his stool eating and destructive tendencies. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Chewing is normal for puppies and unfortunately, most of them will not out grow it until thy are about 2 years old. Ingesting material can lead to an intestinal blockage which requires surgery. Heavy exercise prior to leaving may help (if it makes her tired enough to sleep all day) but a safer and more sure option in general is crate training. Crate training assures that Izzy will not be able to get into things she should not. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Puppies are notorious for destructive behavior. Most dogs will outgrow this by 2 years of age but not all do. Additionally, this behavior is not only destructive but it can lead to ingesting toxin substances and intestinal foreign bodies which are fatal without treatment. Patches needs to be crated any time you are not physically watching her. It's safer that way. Here are two helpful links: Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.co/article/chewing-in-puppies-how-to-control-it/ Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.co/article/how-to-crate-train-your-puppy-or-older-dog/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Zoey. It is a normal behavior for a dog to chew especially a large breed one. It is just generally an undesirable one. Dogs can be destructive in the home with their chewing. It can be harmful to the dog as well if she ingests an object she chews on. This can become a major abdominal surgery to remove the foreign object. Do your best to provide indestructible toys to satisfying her urge to chew. Keep things picked up around the home to prevent her chewing things she shouldn't. I hope this information helps you!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chicago. Puppies start teething around 4 months of age and this continues until they are about 7-8 months of age. So a lot of his chewing is most likely related to teething. You will need to keep things picked up and only allow him access to safe toys. The urge to chew should decrease over the next few months. I hope this information helps!

Yep! Welcome to puppyhood! It may even get worse over the next few months, so start puppy-proofing your house now! Play close attention to all electrical cords and any fabric or soft items that could be torn and swallowed.