8 week old mini dacshund

[gloriajean]

had this puppy for three days and settled fine but we have a problem in that when we sit down he starts chewing our slippers or shoes and he just wont stop till we divert his attention - Why is this - is it normal puppy play - but how can we stop this - we dont want him to grow up thinking this is normal to chew everyones feet as such - thanks

[Bambi_1]

All puppies chew, especially shoes and things that smell of their owners. Give him toys and dog chews and keep your shoes out of his way as much as possible. No doubt he will progress to other things - my 11-month old German Shepherd X demolished my in-car phone charger the other day. The trick is to keep absolutely anything of any value, or which will harm him, out of his way until he matures. This takes time (my old terrier, who sadly died last year, took two years to stop chewing things. Pencils were a favourite). And as you have noticed, diverting his attention is the key. Puppies play. If you aren't available to play with, then they find something else.

[gloriajean]

thanks - actually i realised i didnt say he chews the shoes/slippers whilst we are weraning them which results sometimes in his sharp teeth puncturing our skin ! Is he too young to have an actual meat bone from the butchers - the toys we have dont hold his attention for long.

[jules77]

I would never ever tap a puppy on the nose, you could end up with a head shy dog and it is the fastest way to create a snappy dog as the natural reaction could be to bite.

As someone has already said, you should remove anything of any value, and divert his attention. You are lucky, at 8 weeks they mostly sleep and eat, in a few months he will be awake for longer periods and need more attention.

[lankeela]

Chewing is the most natural thing a puppy does so you must provide him with things to chew on or else he will find his own. Give him cooked knuckle bownes, marrow bones, pigs ears, hide chews and lots of toys to play with, ideally rope raggers that will all help to loosen his puppy teeth and strengthen his gums to help his adult teeth grow strong. Definitely do not hit him in any way shape or form. No poultry or chop bones as they can splinter. You could also give him an old sock, knotted, which he can chew on or carry round, or even an old slipper. Provided you keep your good ones out of his way, he will be happy to chew on these things.

You could get a raw bone from a butchers but I find puppies prefer the taste of a cooked one better.

[tamborine]

Teething....give him a drift wood (hard & non-splinter) from pet shop; good for his sore gums.

[gloriajean]

many thanks to you all - dare say it will just have to be pure persaverence with as suggested him getting to know the boundaries - like a £1 for everytime i will be saying no !

[madmaggot]

A dog soon learns what 'no' means. If he chews your footwear just say no and gve him one of his own chewy toys instead; he'll learn that he can chew his things and that he is not to chew yours.
As has been said above, never, ever, hit, tap, or otherwise hurt your puppy. The aim is to TEACH him what words mean not to make him afraid of you.
Many people don't realise how much work is involved when they decide to get a pup but early effort pays dividends and you will soon find that you are glad you did put in the work when you have a happy, obedient dog that is welcomed instead of shunned.

[fredpuli47]

They soon know what not and what not to chew. if you tell them LOL No, but they do if you make it simple and clear. You'll be doing this: says [ name] NO ! (pauses, for pup to register attention) Here! (shows toy, distracts away from chewed object, quietly removes same from reach of puppy] about a thousand times a day, but it's worth it !
[Pauses in post to say 'Tommy, NO !' to own wolfhound pup and detach rear of sofa from pup's mouth, pup looks resigned, takes toy, goes in garden. See what I mean? LOL ! ] Yes, your pup will probably progress to socks .They are particularly attracted to feet and anyway that's the closest part of you to their level..

[zzxxee]

you can buy an essential oil called citronella dogs hate the smell spray near where you keep shoes ect that you dont want him to chew and it may help stop the chewing x

[pirateLiz]

i also have a 12 week old mini dachshund. shes does exactly the same, she loves slippers. we're training using positive reinforcement, so i take the slipper say no and give her something she can chew, then when she does we praise her for it.
dachshunds are very intelligent and apparently as a result can be quite head strong and hard to train.
keep at it! our is getting there, they learn fast..