Why your puppy needs a TOY BOX

RedyreRottweilers

If you have a new puppy, you know already that they like to chew. Not only do puppies LIKE to chew, they really NEED to chew. Chewing is more than entertainment for puppies. It helps them teeth, and it relaxes them. They are able to relieve themselves of frustration and anxiety by chewing.

Destructive chewing usually begins quite innocently for the puppy, but it can rapidly escalate into a serious problem if the puppy is not supervised and directed properly.

Here is a typical scenario:

Owner has new puppy. Owner leaves new puppy unsupervised. Puppy gets anxious, and looks for something to soothe itself with. It comes across a shoe. (or anything else that smells like the owner) Immediately the puppy is comforted by the scent of the owner. Then it will begin to chew the object that smells like the owner to relieve it's frustration and anxiety. As the puppy chews, he feels much better. The amount of reinforcement a puppy gets from this activity cannot be over emphasized. The liklihood of a puppy expressly seeking out your personal items goes up exponentially after even only ONE incident where he's allowed to relieve his anxiety in this manner. This is why careful confinement and supervision is SO IMPORTANT. You can never remove that reinforcement the puppy got while he was chewing the object that smells like you.

So what do we do? We confine and supervise the puppy very carefully, and we make sure she has a GREAT toybox with a variety of very interesting chew items. You can use a box or basket of any type as long as the puppy can easily get to it to take out chew items. Some things that can go in the box are kong toys, nyla bones, real bones.....use your imagination and keep it interesting and varied. For the first week or so, put a tiny smear of peanut butter or cheez whiz on each toy once a day.

So now you have your toy box set up, and your pup is out playing. Of course the pup will choose a toy from the box to start. But eventually the pup will decide to investigate something that's not his business. This is why you MUST watch a puppy EVERY SECOND he is loose in your house in the beginning. You don't want to miss an opportunity to TEACH. So, when the puppy focuses on something he should not have (this means LOOKING AT, SNIFFING, or PUTTING HIS MOUTH on any object you don't want him to chew) immediately interrupt him. I usually say AH AH, as I move towards the puppy. Once you have his attention, rush him happily and cheerfully to the toy box, and help him find a cool toy to play with and chew. Encourage him with a little tug game, or a few tosses.

Do this each time your puppy focuses on something he should not have. I also interrupt and redirect in this manner each time the puppy looks up at tabletops, countertops, stovetops, trash can, etc.

If you are consistent, and if you supervise CAREFULLY, in several weeks you will have a puppy who will consistently choose articles from the toy box to play with and chew.

Keep the box in one place, and never miss an opportunity to encourage the puppy towards the toy box when he wants something to play with.

RedyreRottweilers

Stop destructive or inappropriate chewing before it ever starts.

DogAdvocat

Good information !!! I'd like to add that following this information can also save a lot of money. So frequently, people whose puppies are allowed to investigate taboo items, find themselves making emergency visits to veterinary clinics to have such items removed from their pup's stomachs, and sometimes they are too late by the time they figure out what has happened. A few of the worst items are nylon stockings, children's socks, shoelaces, any kind of string or yarn, and a pet peeve of mine - wicker beds. I once knew a dog that loved to chew on the corners of her wicker bed, and no one realized that it was a problem, until a few years later when scar tissue in her stomach blocked her intestines. There was nothing that could be done, and she had to be euthanized.

Thank you for posting the toybox info.

RedyreRottweilers

PREVENTION is always preferable to re training.

This is good information for any new dog owner. PREVENT behaviors from happening.

Once they happen they are always harder to prevent and/or retrain.

mistyinca

What is a good thing to use as a toy box for a yorkie? She's pretty small, so things need to be low to the ground. Currently, I pile all her toys in her little dog bed. Note, this is not where she sleeps. She sleeps in her crate. Sometimes she'll take a cat nap in the dog bed but she prefers the couch!

Puppy & Dog Forums

 

RedyreRottweilers

Really, any sort of container at all is suitable as long as it can contain the toys, and remain in a spot that is familiar to the dog.

Curbside Prophet

Excellent post! Now, I have a two-part follow up question that I commonly see. (Scenario 1) What if the pup doesn't show any interest in chewing on stuff they are not suppose to chew on to begin with?...How do you correct a problem that develops at an older age if it couldn't be properly developed at a younger age? (Scenario 2) Do the same rules apply for an older dog?

RedyreRottweilers

I would then direct the puppy to the baited toy box each time he comes out from his crate time, or when it seems like a good time to play with him. Encourage him to find toys in the box that have goodies attached. Some puppies are definitely easier to train than others, but most, if they are carefully observed as they should be will show at least an occasional interest in something you would rather they did not.
Yes and yes to these. It works the same way. Some older dogs may have less interest in toys, or chewing. If it's not a problem, isn't that nice?

but yes, I would treat an older dog the same way, with supervision when you are at home, confinement/prevention when you are NOT at home, and encouragement to the box for pleasant things that are approved to chew and play with.

Puppy & Dog Forums