Pup Sussed

Pup Sussed 🐾 Veterinary Nurse | 14 years experience
Puppyhood feeling harder than expected?
(1)

Helping puppy owners understand their puppy from the beginning
👇 Puppy Parent Confidence Call & Understanding Your Puppy Guide

30/08/2026

Chewing isn’t just a teething thing

Yes, when those little puppy teeth are changing, chewing can help soothe uncomfortable gums.

But puppies don’t suddenly lose the need to chew once teething is over.

Chewing is a completely natural behaviour for dogs.

Puppies use their mouths to explore and learn about the world around them.

But chewing is also a way for them to regulate themselves.

You might notice your puppy wants to chew when they’re:

🐾 settling down after something exciting
🐾 feeling a little overwhelmed
🐾 bored and looking for something to do
🐾 trying to switch off and relax
🐾 exploring something new
🐾 experiencing the discomfort of teething

That rhythmic chewing is calming as it releases calm chemicals from their brain and gives them an appropriate outlet for a behaviour they’re naturally motivated to do.

So when your puppy grabs the table leg, skirting board or your favourite shoe…

Rather than thinking:

“How do I stop my puppy chewing?”

Try:

“What CAN I give my puppy to chew?”

Have appropriate chewing options available and rotate them so they stay interesting.

And think about when your puppy is chewing too.

A puppy who’s suddenly chewing everything in sight might not simply be “naughty”.

What happened beforehand?

Are they tired?

Overstimulated?

Do they need something appropriate to occupy themselves with?

Could chewing actually be helping them cope?

Because so much of puppyhood becomes easier when we stop looking only at the behaviour we want to stop…

…and start understanding WHY our puppy is doing it.

Want to understand the WHY behind your puppy’s behaviour and feel more confident about what they need? Understand Your Puppy is available through the link in my bio or comment GUIDE and I’ll send you the link

21/08/2026

“But if I cuddle them, won’t I create a bad habit?”

I see this question SO often from new puppy owners.

Their puppy is crying on the first few nights. Their instinct is telling them to comfort them… but they’ve read that they should ignore the crying or they’ll “ruin” the crate training.

Here’s what I want you to remember:

It’s your puppy. You are allowed to comfort them. 💛

Think about what they’ve just experienced.

They’ve left their mum, their littermates, the place they’ve slept every night and everything that smells familiar.

Now they’re in a completely new home, with new people, new smells and new sounds.

And then nighttime comes and they’re expected to sleep alone.

That’s a LOT for a baby animal.

Puppies need to feel safe enough to sleep.

So sit beside them.

Move their bed closer to you.

Put your hand near them.

Comfort them when they’re frightened.

And if your instinct is screaming at you to pick your puppy up and give them a cuddle?

Give them the cuddle.

You can work on independent sleep gradually.

You can introduce a crate positively if you want to use one.

You can eventually move their sleeping space to wherever you’d like it to be.

It doesn’t all have to happen on night one.

And your puppy doesn’t have to sleep in a crate at all.

Crates can be a useful tool — they’re not a requirement for raising a happy, well-adjusted dog.

There are lots of ways to raise a puppy.

Learn about your puppy. Understand what they’re communicating. Get good advice.

Then do what feels right for the puppy in front of you and your family.

Comfort isn’t the opposite of training.

Sometimes meeting the need is the most important thing you can do. 🐾 💛

Want to understand your puppy better and finally know the WHY behind their behaviour? My Understand Your Puppy guide is there to help. 🐾 Comment UNDERSTAND for the link.

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