🐾 Nip It in the Bud: Dealing with Puppy Teething, Nipping and Chewing

When we brought Luna home at 8 weeks old, we were ready for puppy cuddles, cute zoomies, and all the adorable chaos a Malshi can bring. What we weren’t ready for? The tiny teeth that turned our fingers, molding and furniture into chew toys. There were honestly moments we worried Luna might be aggressive—her nipping was constant and intense. Even when we pushed her away or firmly told her “no,” she’d come right back with more determination (and sharper little teeth!).

What we didn’t realize at the time was that this behavior is actually completely normal for puppy teething issues. With a lot of patience, consistency, and a few tips we learned from our trainer, Luna gradually started to understand what was okay to chew (and what wasn’t). And thankfully, as her razor-sharp baby teeth started to fall out, the biting eased up too.

🦴 Our Trainer’s Tips for Puppy Teething

Our trainer gave us two pieces of advice that made a huge difference:

1. Offer Safer Chew Alternatives

She recommended giving Luna a high-quality chew to keep her occupied and protect our furniture. That’s when we found the Elk Split Antler:

👉 Elk Split Antler on Amazon – Safe, long-lasting, and perfect for small breeds like Malshis! (make sure it's split)

It was a lifesaver. Not only did it satisfy Luna’s urge to chew, but it also kept her focused for long stretches of time (which meant fewer casualties around the house).

2. Use Bitter Apple Spray on Off-Limits Surfaces

When Luna started obsessively chewing the molding and furniture legs, our trainer told us to try bitter apple spray.

👉 Bitter Apple Spray on Amazon – A safe and effective deterrent for problem areas.

We sprayed the corners and legs of the furniture she kept targeting, and within a few days, she completely lost interest. The taste was enough to make her back off without causing harm—and it helped us reclaim our base molding (somewhat…we’ll be adding a photo of the damage below for proof 🫠).

Luna's handy work (our kitchen molding)

💨 Burn Off the Boredom = Less Chewing

We also learned that a tired puppy is a well-behaved puppy. Luna is a ball of energy, and boredom made her nipping worse. Now we make sure she gets:

• Daily walks (even short ones)

• Indoor play sessions with tug toys

• A rotation of puzzle toys to keep her mind busy

  
  

🧠 Other Approved Enrichment Ideas

Here are a few other tools that helped us manage Luna's behavior and kept her happy and entertained:

🧩 1. Interactive Smart Toys

• Squeaky Carrot Farm- Fill the toy carrots treat pockets and watch them go nuts. Luna loves this toy and it keeps her engaged.

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• PetDroid Interactive Dog Ball - Motion activated rechargable ball keeps Luna busy for hours! Since she is still pretty small (14 lbs), we use the tennis ball cover that comes with the ball. Luna is able to drag it around easier as it spins and vibrates.

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🏃‍♀️ 2. Dog Treadmill for Rainy Days

• MiniPacer Small/Medium Dog Treadmill – Perfect for indoor exercise when the weather isn’t cooperating or for city and apartment life. Full disclosure: We don't own this but I wanted to include it anyway since I think i'ts a great idea for some pet owners.

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🐾 3. Pet Camera with Treat Dispenser

• Furbo Dog Camera – Watch your pup while you’re away and toss treats to reward calm behavior. I'ts great for monitoring Luna's behavior when we're not home.

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❤️ Final Thoughts

Luna still has her wild puppy moments (don’t we all?), but thanks to consistent training, lots of love, and the right chew tools, we’re finally getting our fingers back!

If you’re raising a little land shark like Luna, know that it does get easier—and the right products make a world of difference.

Got a chew-happy pup too? Comment below or tag us on Instagram @malshimania and show us your puppy’s favorite way to nip it in the bud! 🐶✨