Being with a litter of puppies at home can be quite challenging, especially when they reach an age where teething can become a problem: the puppies may in fact begin to nibble on furniture, clothes or other important personal items. With a few simple tricks, however, you can keep an eye on your puppies' behavior.
Steps
Step 1. Offer the puppy items he can chew on
In fact, when the new teeth begin to push against the gums, it is natural for the dog to feel the urge to bite something. If you do not offer him a special toy, the puppy will then be forced to find something else to chew on, such as furniture, shoes and other objects that are important to you. However, you only need to get him a couple of toys to chew on, making him get used to it before he shifts his interest towards something precious. In fact, if you offer too many toys, the puppy may not learn to distinguish them from other chewable things.
Step 2. Encourage your puppy to chew on the right items
Increase his desire to bite the correct objects by sprinkling the toy a couple of times a day with something the dog really likes, such as peanut butter. However, try not to overdo it, since peanut butter is very filling and could push the dog not to eat the rest of the food, which is more nutritious and suitable for its growth.
For a change, or if you can't find peanut butter, you can try using lard
Step 3. Offer the puppy an ice cube to cool the gums
For a change, try pouring a couple of ice cubes into the dog's bowl every now and then. For smaller breeds, crush the ice cube before pouring it. The ice will melt in the bowl as the puppy eats, offering relief to his sore gums.
Step 4. Offer the puppy a frozen rag to play with
Freeze a rag after dipping it in water and wringing it out. Roll the rag into an elongated shape, such as a string, and set it to freeze. When the puppy starts to give the idea of wanting to chew something, offer him the frozen rag, which will cool and numb his gums, thus reducing pain. When the rag warms up and softens, you can rinse it and freeze it again.
