Puppies explore with their mouths, practise natural chewing behaviour and may seek relief during teething. RSPCA guidance notes teething may begin around 12 weeks. The behaviour is not spiteful, but electrical cords, paint, plaster, timber splinters and swallowed pieces can make it dangerous.
The three-part plan
1. Prevent access
Use baby gates or a puppy pen when you cannot actively watch. Move chairs away from favourite corners, cover or enclose cables and place shoes, remotes and children’s toys in closed storage. A tether attached to you can help during short supervised periods; never leave a tethered puppy alone.
2. Provide better things to chew
Offer several textures and rotate them: durable rubber food toys, veterinarian-approved puppy chews and sturdy toys sized so they cannot be swallowed. Avoid very hard items that could fracture teeth. Discard anything breaking into pieces.
3. Reward the right choice
When your puppy chooses their toy, quietly add praise, a treat or play. If they approach furniture, interrupt gently, guide them to a legal chew and reward engagement. Repeatedly chasing or shouting can turn stolen items into a game.
A realistic daily routine
- Toilet break immediately after waking.
- Short sniffing, play or training session appropriate for age.
- Meal delivered partly through a safe food toy.
- Calm chew time in the puppy zone.
- Plenty of undisturbed sleep—overtired puppies can become frantic and mouthy.
- Supervised access to a larger area only after needs are met.
Walls and skirting boards need special management
Block the exact location with a pen panel, furniture arrangement or temporary physical barrier. Check for damp, peeling paint, protruding nails and splinters. Taste deterrents are unreliable and should never contain irritants; they do not replace supervision or training. Ask a veterinarian before applying any product to household surfaces.
Teach “drop” as a trade
- Start with a low-value toy.
- Present a treat at your puppy’s nose.
- When the toy is released, say “drop”, give the treat and return the toy when safe.
- Practise before you need it. Never prise the mouth open or chase.
When chewing may need veterinary help
Arrange a check if chewing is sudden or extreme, your puppy eats non-food material, has bleeding gums beyond normal minor teething changes, seems painful, vomits, stops eating or strains to pass stool. Repetitive ingestion can cause an intestinal obstruction.