Puppy Chewing Everything: Why It Happens and What to Do

A puppy that chews shoes, table legs, cords and your hands is usually doing something normal. The harder part is telling normal teething from a habit that needs more management, and knowing what to give a puppy to chew instead. This guide summarizes what veterinary and training sources say, so you can set up the house and the toys before the damage adds up.

Note: This article is general information, not veterinary or training advice. If your puppy swallows something that is not food, seems to be in pain, or has a tooth problem, contact your veterinarian.

Quick answer

Most puppy chewing is teething and exploration, and sources agree it is normal. Your job is to manage what the puppy can reach, redirect chewing to an appropriate toy as soon as it starts, and offer several safe options. Heavy chewing often continues well past teething, so plan for months, not weeks.

Why puppies chew everything

PetMD reports that baby teeth begin erupting at around 3 weeks, that puppies usually begin losing them at around 3½ to 5 months, and that most puppies have a full set of permanent teeth around 6 months. It describes the most common signs of teething as increased chewing, mouthing and a stronger desire to gnaw, and calls increased chewing and mouthing completely normal during this stage. Whole Dog Journal, in an article by trainer Pat Miller (CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA), puts the end of teething at around seven months.

The same article adds that most adolescent dogs have an increased desire to chew until around 18 months, and for some dogs even longer. That is the part owners often miss. A puppy with a full set of adult teeth can still chew heavily, so the plan below applies after teething ends too. For dogs that keep destroying toys, see why dogs destroy toys.

What to do

1. Manage the environment. Whole Dog Journal advises managing the puppy’s world so there are fewer chances to chew inappropriate objects, using gates, pens and crates to control access to things you do not want chewed. Removing the target is more reliable than hoping the puppy ignores it.
2. Redirect right away. The same source advises redirecting the puppy to a chew toy as soon as possible when it starts chewing something it should not.
3. Offer variety. Whole Dog Journal suggests providing plenty of appropriate chew toys in different textures so you can see which kind the puppy prefers, then buying more of that kind. Rotating what is available can help; see our toy rotation guide.
4. Use cold options during teething. PetMD says the best way to help a teething puppy is safe chew toys and cold treats that soothe sore gums, and lists frozen blueberries, green beans and carrots as examples. It also suggests freezing a puppy’s regular kibble inside a Classic KONG. Choose by age and teeth, not by default: KONG describes its Puppy toy as made from a rubber formula designed for teething gums, “the most gentle within the KONG rubber assortment,” and says it is not recommended for puppies over 9 months (KONG Puppy page). KONG also says supervised use only and to discontinue use if the toy is damaged. VCA Animal Hospitals warns against very hard items, including large ice cubes, because they can chip or fracture teeth. We therefore suggest chilled or only partly frozen items rather than rock-hard ones. Choose a size and shape that suit your puppy, stay with the puppy while it eats, and take the item away once it becomes small enough to swallow. Size alone does not remove the risk of choking or tooth damage.

Hands, feet and cords

Mouthing hands and feet. The Anti-Cruelty Society says puppies use their mouths and needle-sharp teeth to play, chew and investigate, and that the behavior is not intended to be aggressive but gets harder to break as the puppy gets older. It advises teaching a puppy that teeth do not belong on human skin by substituting a chew toy, distracting a puppy that goes for your feet by waving the toy, and ignoring the puppy until it is calm if it keeps nipping. It also warns never to slap, hit or use any other physical punishment, which it says can backfire and cause fear and aggressive behavior.

Electrical cords. Cord chewing is the habit with the most serious consequences. The Animal Medical Center in New York warns that the electric current traveling through the body can cause severe oral burns, facial swelling, heart arrhythmias, fluid in the lungs and sudden death, and says that if the cord was plugged in during the chewing, an emergency visit may be required. The management step above applies directly here: keep cords out of the puppy’s reach, and if your puppy has chewed a plugged-in cord, contact an emergency veterinarian. The same source suggests plenty of exercise and food-dispensing toys to keep puppies occupied.

Choosing safe chew toys for a puppy

Use the same checks you would use for any dog, with extra attention to size. VCA advises avoiding toys small enough to fit entirely in the dog’s mouth, avoiding toys with removable parts such as ribbons or eyes, and choosing toys soft enough to indent with a fingernail. It also says to supervise and to take the toy away if the dog is chewing off chunks. Nylabone’s guidelines say to always supervise a puppy so it cannot bite off large pieces. Our size guide explains how to read size bands, and when to replace a toy covers retirement signs.

When chewing is a different problem

• A retained baby tooth. Whole Dog Journal says to tell your veterinarian if you see a baby tooth that has not fallen out when the adult tooth is in. PetMD notes that puppies commonly swallow baby teeth while eating or chewing, which is generally harmless.
• Swallowing non-food items. Cornell’s Riney Canine Health Center advises against giving dogs items that can be easily swallowed. If your puppy swallows something it should not, call your veterinarian rather than waiting.
• Chewing that never settles. If an adult dog still destroys toys and household items, the cause may be boredom, stress or a chewing style that outpaces the toys you have. Our guide on dog toys for aggressive chewers covers that case, and a veterinarian or qualified trainer can help with behavior.

What we cannot tell you

• When chewing will taper off for your individual puppy: sources give ranges, and they differ.
• Which chew toy your puppy will accept and use safely: this varies by dog.
• Whether chewing is behavior or a medical issue: a veterinarian can assess that.

How we evaluated this guide

Bottom line

Treat chewing as a need to meet, not a problem to stop: manage what the puppy can reach, redirect early, offer safe options in several textures, and contact your veterinarian about swallowed objects or tooth problems. Related: dog toy rotation, chew toy size guide and enrichment toys.