My 7-month puppy eats plastic and has crazy energy. Is this normal?

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.

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.

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! That looks like a relatively small amount of plastic and it looks like she nibbled at it bit by bit. So unless a large chunk is missing or she is a tiny breed puppy (like less than 5 lbs), I am not very concerned. You may find tiny pieces in her stool within 48 hours of eating it in most cases. Sometimes you see nothing because the bits were too small. The boredom and chewing though, you will have to address. Obviously, next time you leave be sure there is NOTHING within her reach except a metal or ceramic water bowl and approved chew toys. One idea is a toy like a Kong. Smear some peanut butter in the little opening and put the whole thing in the freezer for an hour (or overnight the night before). This will buy a solid hour or more for many puppies. Another idea is -depending on her size and the feasibility - switch her to a crate. Crates work wonders for many dogs- puppies especially, there is nothing for her to destroy, etc. Best of luck to you and your girl!

It's normal for puppies to have a lot of energy and want to run and bite things constantly - this is how they play. Just like human toddlers, they're usually very active and constantly into things! She will get calmer on her own as she gets older, but for now you need to provide her with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to meet her needs. You can take her for walks, enroll in a good puppy class, and play with her using toys. I would also recommend getting her several different things to lay down and chew on, such as bully sticks, pig or cow ears, rawhide chews, or puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. This will help encourage her to lay down and relax after she's already played and had plenty of exercise.

Sounds like a possible case of the puppy zoomies! This is when a puppy gets very excited, runs around a ton, and may bark or hop at things exciting to them. This is a good opportunity to offer toys such as something stuffed or tuggable to play with to help him get out that energy on objects you don't mind him chewing on, rather than things such as shoes or household items! If he's barking randomly, looking up how to teach "quiet" may be useful. 9 weeks is the perfect age to start some basic training obedience. Often times, teaching things such as "speaking" on command AND "quiet" together can help with barking issues. Searching on YouTube for both should give you some ideas. (PS Bento is an adorable name for a corgi)

Yikes! It is perfectly normal for puppies to chew, and it is important to provide them with appropriate toys to chew on. Even if she has a lot of toys and chews Zoe might still be attracted to this area of the floor however. I would recommend keeping her crated or confined to another puppy proofed area whenever you are not directly supervising her. If you think she may have eaten larger pieces of the floor you should watch for signs of an obstruction like vomiting or a decrease in appetite.