Chewing, jumping, digging: if your puppy does all three in the same week, you are not doing anything wrong, you have a completely normal puppy. These are some of the most common things new owners run into, and none of them mean your puppy is badly behaved. This is general, enthusiast-level guidance — for anything that looks like fear, aggression, or a real behavior concern, please loop in a professional trainer or your vet. Here is a calm, general approach to all three, with a few real sources along the way, and a note on when something is worth a trainer’s eyes instead of a blog post.
Chewing: Redirect, Don’t Just Stop It
Puppies chew because they’re teething, bored, curious, or just working through normal puppy energy. The goal isn’t to stop chewing, since that’s not realistic or fair to ask of a young dog. The goal is giving them something better to chew than your shoes. Keep a few different chew toys around and swap them out so they stay interesting. When you catch your puppy on something they shouldn’t have, calmly swap it for an approved toy rather than making a big scene about it, and praise them once they’re chewing the right thing.
Most puppies go through a real teething phase during their first several months, and that general stretch tends to line up with the heaviest chewing for a lot of puppies. The exact timeline varies from puppy to puppy, so the AKC’s expert advice library is a reasonable place to read more general background on what to expect rather than relying on a single hard rule.
Puppy-proofing your space, moving shoes, cords, and anything valuable out of reach, saves everyone a lot of frustration while this phase passes. A frozen stuffed chew toy can also buy you some quiet, productive time if your puppy tends to chew more when bored or left alone briefly. Rotating which toys are out at any given time, rather than leaving the whole basket available all at once, tends to keep a puppy more interested in the approved options, since novelty matters almost as much as the toy itself.
Jumping: The Most Boring Response Works Best
Puppies jump because it gets them closer to your face, which is honestly a very reasonable goal for a small dog. The trick is that attention, even the “no, down!” kind, can still function as a reward. A calmer approach: turn away, fold your arms, and give them nothing interesting until all four paws are on the floor, then immediately praise and reward that calm moment. It is okay to say no to a greeting if your puppy is too revved up; waiting them out is not mean, it is just consistent. Many trainers describe this kind of calm, low-stress redirection as a gentler way to manage an excited greeting, and it echoes the general handling philosophy that organizations like Fear Free Pets build their approach around.
This only works if everyone in the house, and ideally visitors too, responds the same way. One person rewarding jumps while everyone else ignores it will confuse your puppy and slow things down. A leash during greetings at the door can help you manage the moment while this habit is still forming. A quick heads-up to visitors before they come in, something as simple as asking them to ignore jumping and only greet once your puppy has settled, tends to speed up this process considerably.
Digging: Give It Somewhere to Go
Digging is often instinct, especially in certain breeds, or it is a sign of boredom, extra energy, or just trying to find cooler ground on a hot day. Rather than fighting it outright, some owners set up a designated digging spot, a sandbox or a soft patch of dirt, and bury a toy or two there to redirect the behavior. When digging happens somewhere else, a calm redirect to the approved spot works better than a big reaction. If you want more detail on why dogs dig and how to manage it, the ASPCA’s behavior resources cover it specifically, alongside chewing and jumping.
If digging seems tied to boredom, more physical exercise and a bit more mental stimulation, a puzzle feeder, a short training session, tends to help more than correction alone. Some owners also find that a puppy digs more right before or after a nap, which can simply be a sign of needing an outlet for a short burst of restless energy rather than anything more concerning.
Breed Tendencies Worth Knowing
Some of this comes down to genetics rather than anything you did or didn’t do. Terriers were historically developed with digging as part of their job, scent hounds tend to be wired to follow their nose into the ground, and some working breeds chew and mouth more simply because they were bred to use their mouths for a living. None of this means you can’t manage the behavior day to day, it just means a terrier who loves to dig is generally being a terrier, not a badly raised puppy. The AKC’s breed library is a reasonable place to read general background on what your specific breed or mix tends to be wired for, which can help set realistic expectations rather than assuming something is wrong with how you’re raising your puppy.
A Few Things That Help With All Three
A tired, engaged puppy generally gets into less trouble across the board. Regular walks, a little training time, and some kind of mental puzzle each day go a long way toward reducing chewing, jumping, and digging all at once, simply because there’s less pent-up energy looking for an outlet. None of this needs to be elaborate; even ten or fifteen minutes of focused engagement can shift a restless afternoon. If you want structured ideas for enrichment beyond what’s listed here, or you’d simply rather have a second set of eyes on your routine, APDT’s trainer search can connect you with a certified professional near you who can tailor a plan to your specific puppy.
Building a Simple Weekly Routine Around These Habits
Rather than trying to fix all three behaviors at once, many owners find it easier to give extra attention to one at a time for a week or so. One week might focus on consistent chew-toy redirection, making sure every family member reaches for the same toy and says the same calm phrase. The next week could shift focus to jumping, with everyone in the house agreeing to the same ignore-and-reward approach at the door. This kind of staged, consistent focus tends to produce steadier progress than trying to correct everything simultaneously, and it keeps the whole household on the same page about what response to use when.
When This Looks Like More Than Normal Puppy Stuff
These three behaviors are a normal part of puppyhood, not a sign of a deeper problem, in the vast majority of cases. That said, if digging, chewing, or jumping comes with real aggression, persistent anxiety, or anything that feels like fear rather than ordinary puppy exuberance, that’s worth a conversation with a local trainer or your vet rather than something to puzzle out alone. That’s not a failure on your part, it’s just the right next step. The ASPCA’s resources on common dog behavior issues are a reasonable starting point if you want general further reading alongside a professional’s assessment.
Conclusion
Chewing, jumping, and digging are some of the most common things new puppy owners deal with, and all three usually respond well to patient redirection rather than punishment. Give your puppy better outlets, stay consistent across everyone in the household, watch their body language for signs of stress versus ordinary exuberance, and expect some off days along the way. Every puppy is different, and progress, not perfection, is the realistic goal here.
FAQ
How can I stop my puppy from chewing on furniture?
Redirect to an approved chew toy every time, and puppy-proof the areas your puppy has access to so valuable items simply aren’t an option while this phase passes.
What’s the best way to handle a puppy who constantly jumps on people?
Ignore the jump itself, turn away, and reward calm, four-on-the-floor moments instead. Consistency from everyone in the house matters more than any single technique.
Why does my puppy dig in the yard, and how can I stop it?
Often it’s instinct, boredom, or extra energy. A designated digging spot with buried toys, plus more exercise and mental stimulation, tends to help redirect the habit.
When should I start training my puppy to prevent behavioral issues?
As soon as you bring them home. Gentle, general positive reinforcement from the start helps, though puppies learn at their own pace and there’s no strict deadline to worry about.
Is it normal for my puppy to have these behavior challenges?
Yes, completely. Chewing, jumping, and digging are some of the most common puppy behaviors there are, and with patience they generally improve with age and consistent redirection.
Is it normal for certain breeds to dig or chew more than others?
Yes. Breed background plays a real role, some breeds are simply more wired for digging or mouthing than others, which is worth keeping in mind so you’re not comparing your puppy to a very different kind of dog.
