Stopping Destructive Chewing
Puppies use their teeth to explore their world. Given the opportunity, they will rip and shred just about anything they can get their paws on. Punishment for such behavior is totally unacceptable and will only hurt your relationship in the long run. From about seven to twenty weeks, puppies chew with mostly immature baby teeth. Their destructiveness is minimal because their chewing equipment hasn't fully developed yet. A puppy's baby teeth are sharp and pointy, but they are not yet set deeply in the jaw. Puppy teeth typically fall out starting around fourteen weeks, and they are almost completely replaced by adult teeth by six months of age. The chewing a Golden does at this stage is minimal compared to what he will be capable of later.
Using a gate or some other kind of barrier is an excellent way to ensure that your puppy will not destroy something valuable or limit access to a child's bedroom, toys, or other valuables. Puppies are inquisitive and need barriers to help them figure out where they belong in your household.
Yes, a Golden can eat a whole couch. It is not a pretty sight and should be considered an expensive lesson for the person who goofed in the management of a young dog. Once your Golden puppy's baby teeth fall out and he gets his adult teeth, his need to chew increases greatly. This is also right around the time your puppy becomes an adolescent dog (five to six months of age).
Without a routine and careful management, the adolescent Golden Retriever will get into a lot of very expensive trouble. This is a great time to keep your dog crated when you are out or when you will be unable to watch him. You probably won't have to be as vigilant as when he was a young puppy, but you will have to be careful not to allow too much freedom too soon.
