How to Train a Puppy to Chew a Bone

Chewing a bone should be one of the most enjoyable and relaxing activities that your dog does. We compare people who have just received something they wanted as being like a dog with a bone. Chewing bones is healthy for your dog's teeth and gums, relieves stress, and prevents destructive chewing on other things. If your puppy is more interested in chewing on your shoes or sofa than on a bone, there are some things you can do to teach your puppy to enjoy chewing on bones instead of on your things.

Variety is the spice of life for everyone, and puppies especially are driven to seek out new experiences. If your puppy seems to get bored of her bones quickly, it may be that she is seeking out more diverse chewing materials. Provide a wide range of chew toys and cycle them out frequently to maintain your puppy's interest. You can also spice up the boring chew toy by stuffing it with treats and freezing it, as allowable by the toy's manufacturer. 

If your puppy is consistently more interested in chewing your things than her bones, you may have a job ahead of you in redirecting chewing behavior. Be patient and persistent and you will find that she is able to learn what is appropriate for chewing, even though she would rather be chewing your things. 

The first and most important tools in teaching your puppy to chew a bone are, of course, the bones themselves. The more variety you can provide in chew toys the more motivated your dog will be to chew her bones, and the better able the bones will be to provide teething relief, as well as healthy stimulation for developing teeth and gums. 

Nylon teething bones are on obvious first choice for teething puppies, as the ridges and bumps provide pleasant stimulation to irritated gums. Nylon chews should not be too hard, nor should they break away in clumps. Rather, tiny chips and slivers of nylon, small enough to pass through your dog's digestive system in small quantities, should slowly and gradually be chewed off.

Natural chews of all types are great, but avoid weight-bearing bones of large animals, which can be too hard and can chip your dog's teeth. Also be careful of antlers or horns, which can become sharp and injure clumsy puppies.