New Puppy Tips

from KONG Company

Puppies can be a handful, these tips should help!

Congratulations! The addition of a new furry family member can add so much joy to your life, but it comes with some learning and training for both you and your pup.

Natural KONG Puppy Rubber was created especially for your puppy’s baby teeth. KONG Puppy Rubber toys can help you raise a healthy, happy puppy in lots of ways. Every interaction with you and your puppy and a KONG helps grow the bond between you and your new family member.

KONG soothes teething pain

In the first six months, 28 baby teeth grow through a puppy’s gums—ouch! Puppies learn quickly that chewing on things helps ease the pain. KONG Puppy Rubber is formulated to do just that, to help promote the entry of growing teeth and soothe the pain. Softer than red KONG Classic Rubber, pink and blue KONG Puppy Rubber is a durable, safe option for young chewers.

Learn more here: Puppy Teething Video

A tasty beginning

Stuff a KONG with KONG Puppy Snacks, KONG Puppy Ziggies or canned soft puppy food and seal it with a small amount of KONG Puppy Easy Treat paste to invite your pup to start chewing. To extend playtime and alleviate sore puppy gums, freeze a stuffed KONG. Keep a supply of stuffed KONGS in the freezer and you’ll always be prepared.

Puppies First Chicken Soup

1/4 cup shredded chicken
1/4 cup white rice
1/4 cup chicken broth
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Split mixture between KONGs.
Bonus: Seal with KONG Puppy Easy Treat and freeze

Chew right from the start

Along with puppy kisses and a gaze that can melt your heart, most puppies also come with the uncanny ability to instantly find the most hazardous (or expensive) item they can reach. Why do puppies chew on everything? In addition to easing teething pain, puppies—and adult dogs—chew because of deeply set instincts that stretch back to their ancestors’ days in the wild. Then, dogs needed to chew to keep teeth clean and sharp and jaws strong for survival. Because those instincts still drive them today, it’s critical to provide an outlet for appropriate chewing satisfaction. That’s exactly what KONG does.

Give your puppy acceptable chew toys and you’ll help prevent destructive chewing. Prevention is key—teaching puppies appropriate chewing behavior right from the beginning helps build a life time of safe chewing behavior. Every time they grab a shoe, a remote control or your sunglasses, trade them for an irresistible KONG toy and reward them with lots of cheers and encouragement.

KONG helps with crate training

Once your puppy knows how fun, tasty and soothing KONG can be, the toy is a great tool for crate training, which provides a safe resting place and can help with housetraining. Giving your puppy a stuffed KONG to enjoy inside their crate helps them build a positive association with their new safe place. Begin with the crate door open, then, as your puppy grows more comfortable, begin to close the door. As your puppy gets used to spending time inside, you can begin to leave their sight for a few moments at a time, gradually building up the time they spend alone.

Keep them busy, keep them happy

A busy puppy is a happy puppy. Puppies have tons of energy. Keeping them occupied helps distract them from getting into mischief. The erratic bounce of a KONG toy engages puppies for hours of exercise. A dog’s physical and mental development are influenced by a healthy, instinctual need to play. Find Puppy Toys Now

When your puppy’s adult teeth come in, at about nine months, graduate to KONG Classic or KONG Extreme based on their chewing style. Playing with these toys will strengthen the bond between you and your dog.