Free printable checklist

Puppy Chewing & Stealing Survival Checklist

Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and grabbing a sock and running is often just a fun game to them. This checklist helps you set up your home, teach a calm trade, and give your puppy plenty of good things to chew. Print it, stick it on the fridge, and tick things off as you go.

Print this checklist

1. Puppy-proofing room checklist

Walk through each room your puppy uses, at puppy height if you can.

• Shoes, socks, and laundry put away or behind a closed door
• Electrical cords and chargers lifted, covered, or blocked
• Medicines, vitamins, and cleaning products out of reach
• Children's toys, remotes, and small objects in closed bins
• Trash and food waste in a lidded or cupboard bin
• Houseplants checked for safety and moved up high
• Gate, pen, or crate ready for times you can't supervise
• Two or three approved chews set out in each room

2. The trade (“drop it”) game

1. Start with a low-value toy, not a real stolen item.
2. While your puppy holds the toy, hold a tasty treat near their nose and say “trade.”
3. When the toy drops, mark it (“yes”) and give the treat.
4. Give the toy back often, so letting go doesn't mean losing the fun.
5. Practice five quick trades a day, then try slightly more exciting items.
6. If your puppy grabs something forbidden, stay calm, don't chase, and offer a trade. Then quietly put the item away.

3. Chew rotation schedule

Rotating chews keeps them interesting. Fill in what you have and swap every few days.

• New chews supervised the first few times
• Damaged or too-small chews thrown away
• Edible chews approved by your vet
• Legal chewing praised or rewarded when you spot it

4. Pre-alone-time routine

• Potty break just before you leave
• A sniff walk or short play session
• A few minutes of easy training games
• Puppy settled in a safe, puppy-proofed space
• A stuffed or frozen food toy to work on
• Calm, low-key goodbye
• Alone time kept short and built up gradually

5. When to see a vet or behaviorist

• Your puppy may have swallowed fabric, plastic, batteries, medicine, or anything sharp (call your vet right away)
• Drooling, pawing at the mouth, bad breath, or broken teeth
• A sudden jump in chewing, or chewing paired with vomiting or low appetite
• Panic, pacing, or chewing focused on doors and windows when alone
• Growling, stiffening, or snapping when you approach stolen items or chews

A veterinarian or a certified, reward-based trainer or behaviorist can help you build a plan for your puppy. Every puppy is different, and progress takes time.