Teething puppies: How to puppy proof your home

Dogs have 28 puppy teeth and 42 permanent teeth. Teeth begin to appear when a puppy is about four weeks of age, and are lost gradually between 14 and 30 weeks of age. During this time, puppies may eat slightly less and chew more. Hard rubber or rawhide toys made especially for dogs are a good investment to help prevent household damage during this time.

Puppy proofing your home

Toy puppies might not be able to chew their way through a whole lot of surfaces, but they can bite enough to do a fair amount of damage on your home and furniture. Puppy-proofing your home before the puppy arrives is a must.

Electrical cords and wires are especially hazardous and need to be out of reach (You can purchase cord runners at a home improvement store) or taped to walls, as a teething puppy could electrocute himself while chewing on an electrical cord.

Keep small objects out of your puppy’s reach. Puppies like to chew and can easily swallow things like coins and jewelry, and keep your books, shoes and clothing out of harm’s way.

Replace potentially toxic plants with fake plants or non-toxic ones. Some plants which may be a danger are carnations, daffodils, eucalyptus, and azalea.

Place baby gates in front of stairs. Puppies can be clumsy and fall.

Bitter-tasting liquids can be helpful to apply to your furniture.

Provide plenty of chew toys

Provide your pup with appropriate chew toys, something that is not going to be swallowed and cause intestinal blockages. Choose an assortment of toys of all textures, including plenty of chew toys and bones that are soft and hard. Excellent chew toys and wonderful for the teething period are Kongs. Kongs come in a variety of sizes and designs. They are made of tough rubber and can be filled with goodies. You can purchase ready-made fillings for your dog’s Kong or you can create your own tasty recipes that your dog is sure to love.

Remember that dogs need to chew throughout their lives, dogs instinctively chew on things. But, it’s probably safe to assume that you would rather have your dog chew on designated dog toys rather than on your valuable household items or cherished possessions, so provide even your adult dog with an assortment of chew toys. Providing irresistible treat-filled Kong chew toys will engage your dog for hours.