Puppy Chewing

**GraciesMommy** · 09-21-2004, 05:58 AM

Ok...I need help! Gracie will be 4 months Friday. She wants to chew my fingers all the time. She has more than a dozen chew toys! She just can't stop chewing on my fingers when I am holding/petting her. Last night I started gently holding her mouth closed and telling her no and it seemed to help. I have never had a puppy before. My last dog, Mercedes, which I had for 16 years, was 10 mos old when I got her and evidently passed that stage! Gracie hurts tho and when I take her to see my grands in Nov I dont want her doing this or when people come over. How long does this usually last? I know she is just cutting teeth...but she hurts!! lol...and my husband can't stand it. I have tried holding one of her toys when I hold her for her to chew on but she rather chew on my fingers..any suggestions? Or will she simply grow out of this?

**LorraineO** · 09-21-2004, 06:34 AM

holding her mouth closed and a firm no is good,,, also,, dont allow your fingers into her mouth,, and that includes licking,,,, give her a toy instead,,,, just keep doing that,,, be consistant,, it will work,,,, baby pups are sweet,, but like the furless babies in our lives,, they are WORK!!! It shall pass.....

**lovingisliving76** · 09-22-2004, 05:36 AM

One thing good to do is socialize her with other dogs and puppies. They tend to be the best at letting one another know just how hard of a bite is acceptable. Also you should say "Ouch!" Everytime she does it and also put her down so she knows that biting leads to no affection from you. I had the same problem with my Black Lab and this worked well for her. I also bought many many different chew toys of different textures etc. Some stuffed toys, squeakers, nylon bones etc. They use their mouths the way we use our hands. Hope this helps!

**Chica** · 09-23-2004, 10:24 AM

Hi,
ALL SHALL PASS!! I will think of this saying. I have a pup chewer! I give her toys to chew also. But she seems to like my hands and fingers alot more. I hold her mouth shut and say NO!!! It might be working a little, because she doesn't hurt me as much when she wants to play with my hands. She also looks for her toys and starts chewing on them.

**GraciesMommy** · 09-23-2004, 02:34 PM

Well guess what? 2 days of saying no and closing her mouth has done the trick. My husband is home with her today and he said she is doing great. She is so smart..she learned to sit and lay down in just hours..so should have known she would be easy with this one too. She will open her mouth on your fingers as if to see if she can get away with it and look at you with those sweet innocent eyes and stop as soon as she hears no..

toys??omgoodness...she gets AT LEAST one every time we go to Petsmart and walmart...which is couple times a week..she has a basket full of chew toys..mommies fingers are just better tasting, I guess..lol..

**LorraineO** · 09-23-2004, 02:56 PM

Wooohooooo..... Good to hear!!!!

**GraciesMommy** · 10-02-2004, 07:48 PM

UPDATE....she has stopped! All we say now is "No bite" if she even looks like she is going to and she will "act" like she is going to but never bites down any more...now she is licking instead..LOL
but that is better!