The wet sock vortex has a sibling, and its name is the chewed sock vortex.
Somewhere between the first week home and the teenager stage, every Bernese puppy discovers that the world holds an astonishing number of things to taste. Socks, shoes, wooden chair legs, remote controls and the occasional human hand all make the list. Mary, if you are reading this with one sock missing, we have been there.
Why puppies chew
Puppies experience the world through their mouths. It is the equivalent of our hands. On top of that, adult teeth begin developing at roughly 3 months and finish around 6 months of age, so there is a lot going on in those little jaws. This is normal, and it is not a personal attack.
What helps
- Prevention is your friend. Put socks and shoes away, and block access to the rooms where the temptation lives. The fewer chances a puppy has to get away with it, the less there is to correct.
- Offer something better. We choose strong toys that are hard to pull apart, such as Kong chew toys. We stay away from squeaky toys, rope toys and toys with unknown stuffing.
- Keep crate bedding simple. Any bedding is likely to get chewed. We start with a blanket and one or two sturdy toys.
- Cover the basics first. Puppies have three basic needs: food and water, potty, and enrichment. When those are met and the puppy is still chewing everything in sight, it is usually just being a puppy.
- Reward the right choice. When a puppy picks its toy over your shoe, tell it so, with a small treat. Positive reinforcement works here, as it does everywhere else.
Repetition, again
As with potty training, the secret is repetition and patience. Redirect, reward, and put the socks away one more time. It is a stage, and it passes.
Next in the series: The Naughtiness behind a Berner Pup, where we meet the land shark, the sock thief and the emotional pupperteer.