It’s not a simple thing to take care of a puppy.
A dog that’s maturing from puppyhood to adulthood will need a lot of things.
Having said that, you will have to take away a lot of things too.
Puppy teething, as some call it, is an inevitable process.
And if you don’t take care of it soon enough, it can ruin your expensive shoes, stuffed toys, bedding, and furniture.
There is a way you can avoid this. And take care of your puppy’s teeth. By following these impressively effective tips to deal with teething puppies.
When Does It Begin?
Puppies generally possess 28 baby teeth. You will notice the first teeth start to grow out at the age of 4 or 5 weeks. This will then start to shed when the puppy is about 12 to 16 weeks of age.
Puppy teething is the process of baby teeth shedding. This when the puppy starts to grow adult teeth. Not only is this process painful for a puppy, but it’s also tough on you too.
By the age of 6 months, your puppy will have lost all of his or her baby teeth. You can make this time a whole lot easier on your puppy if you follow these tips.
5 Tips to Deal with Teething Puppies
• Buy a bully chew toy
A bully chew toy is a sticky and gluey kind of chew toy. It’s the perfect and most delicious chew toy for dogs. They are dried pieces of Bull penis. I know that sounds disgusting but dogs love it.
It has the right texture and form for puppies to nibble at.
Puppies need something that is jelly-like but firm. Anything too hard like bones or dried chicken sticks will break their teeth. The last thing you want is your puppy to chip his or her teeth. It’s painful and hinders the teething process.
Look for safe and hygienic bully sticks for your puppy. Your puppy will not and should not swallow the stick. As your puppy chews on it, it will get smaller. So the best thing to do is to throw it out before your pup tries to break it into smaller pieces for digestion.
• Use an anti-chew spray or deterrent
This is to keep your furniture and essentials away from your puppy. If your puppy is spoiling the rug or blanket or jumping at your pillows the first chance he or she gets. Then you need an anti-chew spray or deterrent to send a message. And the message is to stay away from these items.
You can do two things. The first is to distract your puppy with a new chew toy. Second, spray the anti-chew spray on surfaces where you don’t want your puppy to go.
With both these tactics, your puppy won’t spend a long time tugging at things you don’t want your puppy to spoil. Rather he or she will immediately move on to the chewable thing in the house i.e. the new and shiny chew toy you just got.
It’s true that puppies love shiny things as much as humans do. So make sure you have the necessary tools available at home before you spray any kind of product. Also, just to be safe, consult with your vet first before you use a sensitive spray.
• Start training your dog
Puppy training can go a long way to avoid bad habits. If your puppy is running all around the house with your favorite shoe. There isn’t much you can do. Even if you have a chew toy or an anti-chew spray.
What is lacking, in such a situation, is proper training. You can train your puppy commands like “leave it” or “no” or “come here.” There are healthy commands to give to a puppy who’s misbehaving.
The worst thing you can do is yell or become violent with your dog. That is never a good punishment for any misbehavior. It can have a negative effect on your dog for life.
Another bad idea is to let your dog have his prize even though it’s wrong. Like your favorite shoe, for example. If you encourage your puppy to always pick on your things, he or she will think they’ve won.
This sends a wrong message and cultivates a habit that is a sign of poor pet-parenting. You want your dog to listen to you and not the other way around.
Successful and effective puppy training is essential.
• Give your puppy cool treats
During the teething process, it’s very likely your puppy’s gums are sore and inflamed. By giving your puppy cool treats, you can reduce that inflammation and redness drastically.
It’s best to consult a vet before you make this into a daily habit. But in general, puppies enjoy licking ice cubes until it melts completely in your palms. This can also soothe the pup’s gums and alleviate pain.
• Do not feed hard food
It’s best to switch your puppy’s diet from dry kibble to moist. You can always feed your dog a combination of both. But teething is a painful time for a puppy. So you want to keep things as natural and as easy as possible.
As for treats, you can always add frozen fruits like strawberries and bananas. They make great and healthy alternatives to store-bought treats. Another advantage of feeding your dog veggies and fruits is it creates a healthy habit.
If your puppy is used to having healthy treats from a young age, you don’t have to worry about having a fussy dog to feed!
Final Thoughts
Puppy teething is not the same for all puppies. Every puppy’s teething process is different. But these are some general must-know tips for proper care.
You can buy your pup plenty of enjoyable chewable toys. Maintain a healthy diet and proper training. And make sure you do not feed your puppy something that will aggravate their condition.
This also calls for a positive bonding moment with you and your dog. A well-behaved and calm dog is also a happy dog. And take your time to understand what your puppy needs at such a tender age. And make sure you keep your pup stress-free and relaxed.
