How to Stop a Puppy From Chewing Everything: Teething, Boredom and Better Chews

Updated November 15, 2026 · 5 min read

Chewed shoes, gnawed chair legs, shredded cushions and sharp little teeth on your hands: almost every puppy owner goes through it. Chewing is normal and necessary for puppies. They explore the world with their mouths, and teething makes their gums ache. You cannot stop a puppy from chewing, and you should not try. What you can do is teach them what to chew.

This guide explains why puppies chew, how to set up your home to prevent damage, what to give them instead, and how to handle nipping and the "zoomies."

Why puppies chew

Teething. Puppies lose their baby teeth and grow adult teeth roughly between three and six or seven months of age. During this time their gums can be sore, and chewing feels good.
Exploration. Puppies learn about objects by mouthing them, much like human babies.
Boredom and excess energy. A puppy with nothing to do will make their own entertainment.
Stress or loneliness. Some dogs chew more when left alone or when routines change.
It works. Grabbing a sock often starts a fun game of chase with you.

Adult dogs chew too, but persistent destructive chewing in an adult, especially only when alone, can be a sign of boredom or separation-related distress and is worth discussing with your vet or a behavior professional.

Step 1: Puppy-proof your home

Prevention is the fastest fix. Every time your puppy chews a shoe successfully, chewing shoes becomes more rewarding. Get down at puppy height and look around.

Put shoes, socks, kids' toys, remote controls and glasses away.
Hide or protect electrical cords with cord covers, and block access to areas with many cables.
Use baby gates to keep your puppy in puppy-safe rooms.
Move houseplants out of reach; some are toxic to dogs.
Keep trash cans closed or in a cupboard.
Use a crate or puppy pen when you cannot supervise. Our crate training guide explains how to make it a happy place.

If your puppy swallows something they should not, such as a sock, string, battery or medication, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Step 2: Provide lots of legal chews

Give your puppy several appropriate things to chew, with different textures, and rotate them every few days so they stay interesting.

Durable rubber toys that can be stuffed with food. Fill them with kibble mixed with a little wet food and freeze them for a long-lasting, soothing chew.
Puppy-safe chews sized for your dog. Ask your vet which edible chews suit your puppy, and supervise.
Frozen washcloths or carrots can soothe teething gums (check with your vet that these are appropriate).
Rope toys and soft toys for supervised play only; puppies can swallow strings and stuffing.

Avoid very hard items like cooked bones, antlers or hard nylon that can fracture teeth, and anything small enough to swallow. A useful rule many vets mention: if you cannot dent it with your fingernail, it may be too hard for a puppy.

Step 3: Swap, don't chase

When your puppy picks up something they should not have, do not chase them. Chasing turns it into the best game ever and can teach your puppy to run off with stolen items or even swallow them to keep them. Instead:

Stay calm and offer a trade: a tasty treat or a favorite toy held near their nose.
When they drop the item, mark "Yes!" and give the treat.
Pick up the forbidden item, and hand them a legal chew.

Practice "trade" or "drop it" games with toys often, when nothing is at stake. A dog who happily drops things on cue is much safer, because one day they may pick up something dangerous.

Step 4: Reward good chewing

It is easy to only notice your puppy when they are doing something wrong. Make a habit of quietly praising or giving a small treat when you see your puppy chewing their own toy. You are telling them, "Yes, that's the right thing to chew."

Step 5: Meet their need for exercise and brain work

A tired puppy is a well-behaved puppy, but "tired" does not just mean physically tired. Short training sessions, sniffing games and food puzzles use up mental energy. Try these:

Scatter feeding: toss your puppy's kibble in the grass and let them sniff it out.
Find it: hide a few treats around a room while your puppy watches, then say "Find it!"
Muffin tin game: put treats in some cups of a muffin tin and cover them all with tennis balls.
Food toys: feed meals from puzzle feeders instead of a bowl.

Puppy nipping and biting hands

Mouthing people is normal puppy play behavior; puppies play-bite their littermates all day. Your job is to teach them that human skin is very sensitive.

Keep a toy handy during play and offer it whenever your puppy starts to nip.
If teeth touch skin hard, say a calm "oops," and pause play for 10 to 20 seconds. Stand up and turn away if needed. Then resume gently.
Avoid games that encourage biting hands, such as wrestling or waving fingers in their face.
Never hit, flick their nose or hold their mouth shut. This can make puppies more mouthy, or fearful of hands.

The witching hour: overtired puppies

Many puppies get bitey and wild in the evening. Often they are not under-exercised but overtired. Young puppies typically need around 16 to 20 hours of sleep a day. If your puppy is racing around biting everything, try a calm wind-down and a nap in their crate or pen with a chew. Building in regular naps can transform puppy behavior.

Bitter sprays: do they help?

Bitter-tasting sprays can discourage chewing on furniture legs or cords for some dogs, but many dogs ignore the taste. Use them as one piece of the plan alongside management and legal chews, not as the whole solution. Test on a hidden spot first to make sure the spray does not stain.

What not to do

Don't punish your puppy after the fact. They will not connect it with chewing that happened earlier.
Don't give old shoes or socks as toys. Puppies cannot tell old from new.
Don't leave your puppy unsupervised with free run of the house.

How long does the chewing phase last?

Teething-related chewing usually eases after the adult teeth are in, around six to seven months, but many dogs keep a strong urge to chew into early adulthood. With good habits established now, chewing stays directed at toys and chews instead of your furniture.

Summary

Accept that puppies need to chew, puppy-proof your home, offer plenty of safe chews, trade instead of chasing, reward good choices, and make sure your puppy gets enough sleep, exercise and brain games. Your shoes, and your puppy, will thank you.