Some dogs just need to chew. It is good for their teeth and it helps them to vent out some of their energy or frustrations. You have a puppy that just naturally needs to chew.
When my Gracie was a puppy she was also a chew monster. I knew that raw hide was a dangerous item for dogs so I was not sure what to do with her. When I found YT I found people talking about bully sticks. There are a variety of opinions about them but they were a real life saver for us. Gracie was much like your little guy in that she would search for things to chew. She would steal things from end tables and closets as well as out of purses and anything else she could get into. I was afraid she would kill herself by finding something dangerous and choking on it.
The bully sticks have done the trick for us. When she got her first one she chewed it for an hour. You do have to be careful about where you buy them. Some companies do not process them right and they are too soft. I buy them from Best Bully and have had no issues with them. I get her the 12" long regular thickness. They are bigger than she is but they last a long time. I throw them away when they get to be 3" to 4" so I don't have to worry about them being a choking hazard. Of course you should always be near by when your pet chews anything.
Rawhide can be a choking hazard and it has also caused some terrible stomach problems because it sits undigested in the stomach.
Gracie stopped chewing things she was not supposed to have once she had her bully sticks. I make sure we never run out. She is 2 years old now and does not chew as much as she did when she was a youngster but she still needs to chew now and then.
It sounds like you are doing pretty well for having such a young one. Exercise is one of the best ways to deal with an energetic dog. They may be small but they need to run off that energy. A tired dog is not much of a problem around the house. |