Why Does My Puppy Bite His Paw?

Your puppy has limited means of communication with you, its human companion. It can bark, whine and growl, or it can use non-verbal communication, like wagging its tail, chewing your shoes out of boredom or scratching the door when it needs to go outside. Sometimes, however, a puppy will exhibit behaviors like paw-chewing that are not as easily to decipher. The behavior may seem detrimental to the puppy itself and cause the pet owner great anxiety. Understanding what is going on with your puppy is the first step toward relieving it of this undesirable behavior.

  1. Veterinarian

    • Dogs who can't control their chewing sometimes require extra restraint.

      Visit the veterinarian to rule out illness or external causes of paw-biting, such as fleas and ticks, foreign objects stuck in paws and insect bites. Have your veterinarian check for allergies, mange, hot spots caused by heat, yeast infections or other conditions that may cause the itching or discomfort and lead to paw-chewing. Follow your veterinarian's directions for any medications, salves or ointments recommended.

    Teething

    • Teach your puppy early what items are appropriate for it to chew.

      Your puppy may be cutting new teeth and chewing on its paws is its only option. Provide the puppy with one or two chew toys at a time so that it becomes familiar with its toys. Offering too many chew toys at once can confuse the puppy and create in it the bad habit of chewing on furniture, shoes or other non-toy items. Freeze the chew toys for a couple of hours to add to the relief and enjoyment your puppy experiences.

    Boredom

    • Monitor your puppy. Puppies chew for various reasons, including when they are bored or nervous. If your pet only chews its paws at night or when it is alone, it may be bored, and giving it chew toys can resolve the issue. If your puppy only bites its paws when it is caged, chained or otherwise restrained, it is probably because it dislikes the constraints on its freedom. Provide your puppy with an alternative to caging when possible and, if possible, spend plenty of time with it. Dogs that are properly socialized and walked are less likely to chew their paws.

    Retrain

    • Dogs sometimes chew on their paws simply because they have developed the habit. A past trauma or condition may have created the habit, and the puppy simply has not learned another way to express itself. Gently but firmly stop your puppy whenever you notice it chewing on its paws. Distract the puppy with chew toys and lots of attention. Heap on the praise when it successfully ceases the chewing for another acceptable activity. Positively reinforce the behavior you want -- a happy puppy that chews its toys, not its paws.