Identify the reason for the biting: Check to see if there are any underlying medical issues or nutritional deficiencies that may be causing your puppy to bite the wall. If there are no medical issues, observe the situations in which your puppy is most likely to bite the wall. Is it when they are teething, anxious, bored, or feeling frustrated? Identifying the reason will help you develop a targeted approach to stop the behaviour.
Redirect the behaviour: When you catch your puppy biting the wall, immediately redirect their attention to an appropriate chew toy or interactive toy. Praise them when they chew on the toy instead of the wall. This positive reinforcement encourages them to choose the desired behaviour.
Provide adequate mental stimulation: Boredom can be a significant factor in destructive behaviours like wall biting. Ensure your puppy has plenty of age-appropriate toys and interactive puzzles to keep them engaged. Regular playtime and training sessions will also help tire them out mentally, reducing the likelihood of destructive behaviours.
Establish boundaries and consequences: Set clear boundaries and let your puppy know that biting the wall is unacceptable behaviour. Use a firm voice to discourage them from biting and implement a consistent punishment, such as a brief time-out, whenever they engage in the unwanted behaviour.
Use chew deterrents: Some people find that using bitter apple spray or other commercial chew deterrents on walls can help discourage puppies from biting. However, this method may not be effective for all puppies.
Puppy-proof your home: Take steps to make your home less appealing for biting. Cover exposed wires and cables, and use gates to block off areas where your puppy may be more prone to biting.
Be patient and consistent: Training a puppy to stop biting the wall takes time and consistency. Be patient, and continue to redirect, reinforce, and discourage unwanted behaviours. Eventually, your puppy will learn what is acceptable and what is not.
If you are finding it challenging to manage your puppy's biting behaviour on your own, consider consulting with a professional dog trainer or behaviourist, especially if the biting is persistent or aggressive.