Undesirable behavior exhibited by dogs between puppyhood and adolescence, such as destructive chewing, jumping on people, and play biting, is medically referred to as pediatric behavior problems. Though these behaviors may be perceived as a “normal” trait of a puppy, it is often not acceptable behavior for a pet. It is important to address this as early as possible with behavioral modification therapies while the puppy is still impressionable.
Destructive Chewing
Initially, your puppy may chew and damage furniture and/or other household items in the presence of family member, but after being caught and punished, he may continue be destructive when no family member is around.
- Poor nutrition or inadequate food provisions
- Presence of mice or other small mammals in the walls or flooring
- Spilled food on carpet or furniture
- Insufficient or uninteresting toys
- Escape behavior
Play Biting
Play fighting may be started by a family member initially, but can further escalate or become spontaneous afterward. This is a problem because the puppy teeth are still sharp and can cause injury if it bites the hands, legs, and/or clothing of family members. Growling and barking may also develop, but usually differ from the acts associated with fear or justified aggression.
- Teasing and rough play (i.e., encouraging pup to bite)
- Long confinement periods, especially in small enclosures
- Excited greetings by visitors or family members
Jumping on People
Jumping on people and placing paws on visitors and/or family members typically occurs during greetings and when he or she is excited, but may occur when the puppy wants attention or something in the person’s hand.
Getting on Counters/Furniture
Your puppy may get on the counters or furniture to grab an object to chew or eat. He or she may also jump on furniture during play, to get attention, or to rest.
- Insufficient or uninteresting toys
- Desired foods or objects left on furniture
- Uncomfortable floor surfaces or inadequate sleeping areas
While many behavior problems in puppies are species-typical, there are some causes that can worsen behavioral issues — many of which are related to inadequate supervision, control, training, exercise, and/or the puppy’s general environment.
Vigorous exercise can also be extremely helpful for puppies with these types of behavioral problems. Involving these puppies in healthy games like fetch/drop, for example, lets the pup know that the human is in control. Certain medications may also be used especially in cases not responding well to behavioral therapy. Other tips your veterinarian may recommend include:
To Discourage Destructive Chewing
- Experiment with various toys and look for those that interests your pet, especially those than have compartments for food
- Keep forbidden objects out of reach
- Close doors to deny access to forbidden areas
- Interrupt any unacceptable chewing with a sharp “no”, replace with an acceptable chew toy.
Play Biting
- Provide plenty of exercise and activity
- Use toys to distract the pet during the act of play biting
- Leash and halter can be used to provide minimal restraint
- Avoid games that encourage play biting behavior
- Put your puppy in puppy classes as early as possible
- Take control of resources and train your pup to sit before receiving toys, food, attention, and food
- Ignore any pushy social behavior like barking, whining, or pawing for attention
Jumping on People
- Teach the pet to sit on command
- Avoid games and play that may encourage it to jump on people
- Gain your dog’s attention with a loud, sharp noise when it does jump
- Head halter (gentle leader) can also be used to provide minimal restraint
Getting on Counters/Furniture
- Keep your counters and furniture free of any food or other objects that might get attention of the pup
- Move dog to a confined area when it does misbehave
- Provide interesting toys for mental stimulation, and a comfortable living space
