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Any new pet parents will know that our little pups love to explore with their mouths. Tasting and biting are the main ways in which young dogs navigate the world around them, helping them to discover new scents, strengthening their teeth as they come through, as well as chasing away boredom. While this is a very common behavior in puppies, it can cause some issues longer term if not redirected at a young age.
Not only can excessive chewing or biting be a threat to your furniture and slippers, in worse cases it can lead to someone else - animal or human - getting hurt. It is important to teach puppies that biting is an antisocial behavior, and that should be reserved purely for dinner time, treats and fetching sticks.
And what about when puppies rip up their wee wee pads? We are going to take a look at some of the ways we can keep puppies from chewing pee pads during training, why they may be exhibiting this behavior and how to redirect it.
Puppies chewing pee pads is a common issue during training. To a puppy, everything is new and in need of exploring, and pair this with a short attention span and you’ve got yourself a sharp-toothed little terror! Pups aren’t trying to be naughty, they are just learning, and so when they come across something they don’t recognize, they will try and explore it the only ways they know how - scratching and nibbling!
Here are some of the reasons puppies may be chewing pee pads:
Puppies have very short attention spans and therefore require a lot of stimulation to keep them occupied and distracted. Of course we cannot be there every hour of the day to monitor our dogs, and so naturally they will be left to their own devices at some point. However if puppies are left alone for too long they can easily get bored, and this can lead to them chewing on their pee pads.
Pads often have a soft and interesting texture so pups may be more drawn to it, particularly the edges. Not only is this a young dog’s way of exploring new things, it is also likely a natural and enjoyable feeling for them.
As well as licking or chewing, you may notice your puppy starting to scratch at their pad as if they are digging. Digging is a natural instinct in dogs, which may manifest more often as they get older; they may be looking for hidden treasures or wanting to bury some of their own.
Either way, digging is a favorite pastime of all-age pups, but it should be discouraged if it becomes excessive or becomes so frequent to the point that your home or lawn is becoming damaged.
Often when our dogs exhibit an undesirable behaviour, it is because they are trying to tell us something. They cannot use verbal communication and so have to find other ways to show us what they want or need from us.
If a puppy is chewing or scratching at their pee pad they could be trying to tell us they are in distress. These behaviors could point towards higher levels of stress or anxiety in your dog; remember that puppies and younger dogs can be particularly prone to separation anxiety. Or it could simply be that they are craving more time with you, want more socialization or stimulative play and exercise.
As we mentioned earlier, puppies have very short attention spans and need a significant amount of stimulation to keep them entertained. You may notice when you play with your pup that you need to be quite verbal and excitable in order to hold their focus for more than a few minutes.
Puppies will often wander off mid-play and if they stumble upon something soft and chewable to sink their teeth into, it is pretty likely that they will chomp down. Chewable items will hold a pup’s attention for longer, whether they are edible or not!
Just like human babies, a teething pup will chew on anything it can get its paws on. Chewing is a very common symptom of teething in puppies, and can be a very calming and pain-relieving experience for them. If you notice your pup is teething, perhaps try giving them a dog-safe chewable toy to have a munch on - as this will help to distract them and stop them from turning to things such as their pee pad or your favorite pair of socks.
Another reason why your dog may be chewing on or scratching at their pad is because it is soiled and needs changing. Puppies tend to pee more often than adult dogs as they haven’t yet learned to control their bladder, meaning that their pads may need to be changed a little more regularly.
To avoid unpleasant odor and bacteria build up, it is advised to change your puppies pee pads straight after soiling, if not after a few smaller soilings. If using disposable pads this can get pretty expensive, and so it might be worth investing in a few reusable pads, which can offer greater absorption and odor control. Why not check out our Potty Buddy Reusable Pads and see if they are the right fit for your home.
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So, want to get your puppy to stop chewing his pee pads? We’ve got you covered!
Once an unwanted behavior takes hold, it’s important to intercept it quickly to let your pup know that it can’t continue. There are lots of things that we can do as pet parents to guide our fur babies and teach them how to act and behave.
Here are some of the best ways to stop your dog from chewing their pee pads:
If something is obvious and easily chewable, you can best believe your pup will make a beeline for it. Labels, strings and tassels are easy for pups to get their little choppers around, and this is why clothes, blankets and furniture are often the chew toy of choice.
Pee pads are no different. We recommend putting pee pads down on a hard surface, better for cleaning and sticking. You can use dog-safe adhesive strips to secure the pad in place, stopping it from moving around and from the edges rucking up and getting nibbled.
A great distraction for your puppy to stop them chewing on their pee pads is to make sure they have a strong supply of chew toys to hand. Puppies will often chew things out of boredom and lack of stimulation, and so by giving them chew toys or long-lasting treats to munch on it can redirect their attention into a more positive behavior.
If puppies chew on their pee pads there is always the risk that they can ingest the pad material which of course isn’t very good for them. A tummy full of pee pad is a one way ticket to the vet’s office. This can be avoided by supplementing temptation with chew toys, which are both puppy-proof and engaging for your little one. We would suggest toys such as Kong where you can put treats inside that your pup has to search for, making for even more hours of fun and stimulation.
Dogs respond best to repetition and positive reinforcement. Not only is shouting at or hitting your dog completely unacceptable and considered abuse, it is also a totally ineffective way of getting your dog to do what you want.
Patience, kind words and lots of affection (with occasional treats thrown in here and there) are the best ways to let your puppy know what is and isn’t acceptable behavior.
Puppies have a tendency to get up to all kinds of mischief, even if we turn our heads for a few seconds, and so in the early days it is important to properly supervise your pups to keep them out of trouble.
As soon as you notice your pup chewing on something they shouldn’t, instantly redirect their attention, either with a verbal command, a toy or by picking them up and moving them away from the temptation. Once your dog is suitably distracted you can offer a reward. Doing this often enough teaches your dog to associate the desired behavior with a positive outcome.
Dog’s ears are highly sensitive, and even the simplest of verbal commands can resonate with them. Words, sounds or phrases are a particularly useful training tool for pet parents; being able to call or reprimand your dog with a simple verbal cue can be great when out and about and for recalling your dog in dangerous situations.
The most important thing to remember when implementing a verbal command is to be consistent, as changing it up can confuse your dog and be much less effective. This command could be a word of phrase, such as ‘no’, ‘leave it’, ‘hey’, or even just a sound - short and sharp vowel sounds seem to work best.
By making the pee pad taste bad, your puppy is less likely to want to chew on it. Imagine putting something in your mouth that tastes disgusting…you definitely wouldn’t try it again in a hurry!
There are many dog-safe taste deterrent sprays on the market which can be used to help with this issue, and while you will get the odd resilient pooch who powers on regardless, for the most part these are very effective.
Prefer the natural route? Why not try lemon juice or apple cider vinegar as a taste deterrent, the bitter flavor being particularly unpleasant for dogs.
Whether we like it or not, our puppies are going to chew on things; it is in their nature. They are not trying to be naughty, they are simply exploring and navigating the world around them through the senses they know best, and taste is one of the most prevalent in dogs.
Often a puppy will chew their pad out of boredom and lack of stimulation, or as a way of trying to tell us something. Keeping them entertained with toys and playtime will help keep them away from temptation and stop their attention wandering to the yummy chewy pad that their humans so kindly laid out for them!
Disposable pads tend to be flimsy, made with cheap mass-produced materials, and therefore are easier for puppies to rip up. Potty Buddy Reusable Pads are a pup and wallet-friendly option for little ones with particularly active chompers. Made from durable, super absorbent material with odor neutralizing technology, our pads are a sturdy choice to keep around the home.
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