How to Keep a Puppy From Chewing on Stuffed Animals

Stuffed animals are not made to withstand puppy teeth, and they may contain parts that could choke your puppy. Sometimes, the best solution is to store stuffed animals behind closed doors until the puppy gets older and understands what is off limits. If you have stuffed animals that are valuable or have sentimental meaning to you, don't take any chances. Keep them where the puppy can't get at them. However, through a combination of proper training and good supervision, you can teach your puppy to stop chewing on toys that aren't his.

Things You'll Need

  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Spray bottle
  • Old stuffed animal
  • Puppy chew toys that aren't soft or fuzzy
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Instructions

    • 1
      It takes time for a puppy to learn what's off limits.

      Don't allow your puppy to have fuzzy, plush dog toys. A puppy can't tell the difference between what is yours and what is his. If you have any soft, fuzzy dog toys, give them away or save them for when your dog is older and better trained.

    • 2
      A mixture of alcohol and water tastes bad to puppies.

      Spray an old stuffed animal with something that is harmless but tastes awful. Most commercial sprays that are made for this purpose are mostly isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol. You can make your own spray by mixing one part alcohol to one part water and putting it in a spray bottle.

    • 3
      Use an old stuffed toy to train your puppy to leave them alone.

      Place the old stuffed animal near your puppy, or have it sitting out in a room where your puppy can get it.

    • 4

      Wait for your puppy to go near the stuffed animal. Don't try to attract your puppy to it.

    • 5

      As soon as the puppy bites the stuffed animal, say "No" and remove it from the puppy's mouth. It is important to do this as soon as the puppy touches the stuffed toy so it knows what it did wrong. If the puppy won't release the toy, gently place your finger in the corner of its mouth or press its gums against its teeth.

    • 6

      Give the puppy one of its own chew toys. Praise the puppy when it begins chewing on its chew toy. Praising good behavior is as important -- if not more important -- than correcting bad behavior.

    • 7

      Repeat Steps 5 and 6 whenever the puppy attempts to chew on the old stuffed animal. Once the puppy starts ignoring the stuffed animal, repeat the training using other old stuffed animals.

    • 8

      Reinforce the lesson by hiding where you are out of the puppy's site but can still observe him. If the puppy goes after the stuffed animal, step in and repeat Steps 5 and 6. This will help avoid "stealth" chewing, or waiting for the owner to disappear before chewing on a stuffed animal.