It’s completely natural for puppies and dogs to chew as they explore the world around them. Chewing serves multiple purposes for your canine companion. For young dogs, it helps relieve the discomfort of incoming teeth. For adult dogs, it’s nature’s way of maintaining strong jaws and clean teeth. Chewing also combats boredom and can provide relief from mild anxiety or frustration. Understanding why dogs chew is the first step in managing this behavior effectively.
Rule Out Underlying Issues That Cause Destructive Chewing
Before addressing destructive chewing, it’s essential to identify whether an underlying problem is driving the behavior. Some dogs chew for reasons beyond normal exploration.
Separation Anxiety
Dogs who chew due to separation anxiety typically engage in destructive behavior only when left alone, or they chew most intensely during these periods. You may also notice other signs such as whining, excessive barking, pacing, restlessness, urination, or defecation when you’re away. If you suspect separation anxiety is the cause, it’s important to address this condition specifically rather than treating it as simple destructive behavior.
Fabric Sucking
Some dogs develop a habit of licking, sucking, and chewing on fabrics. Experts believe this behavior often stems from being weaned too early, typically before seven or eight weeks of age. If your dog engages in fabric-sucking for extended periods and shows difficulty being distracted from this activity, it may have developed into a compulsive behavior requiring professional intervention.
Hunger
Dogs on calorie-restricted diets may chew and destroy objects in search of additional nutrition. This type of chewing is typically directed toward items related to food or objects that carry food scents. Ensuring your dog receives adequate nutrition while maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for preventing this form of destructive behavior.
How to Manage and Reduce Destructive Chewing
Puppy Teething Phase
The combination of natural curiosity and teething discomfort drives puppies to chew extensively. Like human infants, puppies experience pain when losing baby teeth and when adult teeth emerge. This intensified chewing phase typically subsides by six months of age. During this period, offering ice cubes, specialized frozen dog toys, or frozen wet washcloths can help numb teething pain. While puppies need to chew, gentle guidance helps them learn to restrict chewing to appropriate items like their own toys.
Managing Normal Chewing Behavior
Chewing is perfectly normal for dogs of all ages. Both wild and domestic dogs naturally spend considerable time chewing, which keeps their jaws strong and teeth clean. Dogs chew for enjoyment, stimulation, and anxiety relief. While this behavior is normal, they sometimes direct it toward inappropriate items. Providing a variety of attractive chew toys is essential, but it’s equally important to teach dogs what is acceptable to chew in a gentle, humane manner.
Effective Management Strategies
Dog-Proof Your Home
Protect your belongings by putting valuable items away until you’re confident your dog has learned appropriate chewing habits. Store shoes and clothing in closed closets, keep dirty laundry in hampers, and place books on shelves. Setting your dog up for success makes training significantly easier.
Provide Appropriate Chew Toys
Offer your dog plenty of toys and inedible chew bones. Pay attention to which items keep your dog engaged longest and continue offering those. Rotate toys every few days to maintain interest and prevent boredom. Only give your dog natural bones specifically sold for chewing. Avoid cooked bones like leftover T-bones or chicken wings, as these can splinter and cause serious injury. Be aware that aggressive chewers may chip pieces off natural bones or damage their own teeth while chewing.
Offer Edible Chews
Edible options like bully sticks, pig ears, rawhide bones, and pig skin rolls provide variety and satisfaction. However, dogs can choke on these items, especially if they bite off and swallow large pieces. If your dog tends to do this, separate him from other dogs during chewing time to allow him to relax without competition. Always supervise your dog when he’s working on edible chews.
Use Puzzle Toys
Identify times when your dog is most likely to chew and provide puzzle toys filled with appealing treats. Including some of your dog’s daily food ration in these toys provides both mental stimulation and reward.
Apply Chewing Deterrents
Spray inappropriate items with chewing deterrents to discourage unwanted chewing. When first using a deterrent, apply a small amount to tissue or cotton wool and gently place it in your dog’s mouth. Let him taste and spit it out. If he finds it unpleasant, he’ll likely avoid items with that scent. Spray deterrents on all objects you don’t want chewed, reapplying daily for two to four weeks. Remember that successful treatment requires teaching what is acceptable to chew, not just what isn’t.
Supervise Consistently
Supervise your dog during all waking hours until chewing behavior is under control. If you catch him chewing something inappropriate, say “Uh-oh,” remove the item, and immediately replace it with an acceptable chew toy, followed by happy praise. If your dog might react aggressively when items are removed, seek professional guidance.
Manage Unsupervised Time
When you cannot supervise, prevent access to inappropriate items. If you work during the day, you can confine your dog for up to six hours using a crate or small room with baby gates. Remove all items your dog shouldn’t chew from the confined area and provide plenty of appropriate toys instead. Remember that confinement requires plenty of exercise and quality time when you’re available.
Provide Physical and Mental Stimulation
Ensure your dog receives adequate physical exercise through playtime with you and other dogs, plus mental stimulation through training and social visits. If leaving your dog alone for extended periods, provide a good play session beforehand.
Maintain Consistency
To help your dog distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate items, avoid offering confusing options like old shoes or discarded cushions. It’s unreasonable to expect a dog to learn that some shoes are acceptable while others aren’t.
Address Specific Destructive Behaviors
Some puppies and young dogs develop particular habits like chewing dirty underwear or raiding garbage for sanitary items. These behaviors are best addressed by preventing access—keeping laundry in closed hampers and disposing of sanitary products in containers your dog cannot reach. Most young dogs outgrow these behaviors as they mature.
Lack of Exercise and Mental Stimulation
Dogs who don’t receive enough physical and mental activity often seek their own entertainment, and chewing becomes a natural option. Prevent destructive chewing by providing daily walks, off-leash play with other dogs, interactive games like tug and fetch, training classes, dog sports such as agility or flyball, and feeding meals through puzzle toys. These activities keep both mind and body engaged.
Stress and Frustration
Sometimes dogs chew when experiencing stress, such as being crated near an animal they don’t get along with or being teased by children while confined. Reduce this type of chewing by avoiding situations that cause anxiety. Dogs prevented from engaging in exciting activities may direct biting, shaking, and tearing at nearby objects. Anticipate frustrating situations and provide appropriate toys for these moments. In class settings, carry a tug toy for your dog to hold. At home, attach rope toys to gates where animals or objects on the other side cause frustration.
What NOT to Do When Addressing Destructive Chewing
Avoid showing your dog the damage he caused and punishing him afterward. He cannot connect punishment with behavior that occurred hours or even minutes earlier. Never use duct tape to hold your dog’s mouth closed around a chewed object—this is inhumane, ineffective, and has resulted in deaths. Do not tie damaged objects to your dog, as this teaches nothing and causes unnecessary distress. Avoid leaving your dog crated for more than six hours solely to prevent chewing, and never use a muzzle as a chewing deterrent.
Conclusion
Destructive chewing is a manageable behavior when you understand its underlying causes and implement consistent, humane training strategies. Success comes from combining prevention with positive guidance—providing appropriate outlets for natural chewing instincts while teaching clear boundaries. Address any underlying issues such as separation anxiety, lack of stimulation, or teething discomfort. With patience, consistency, and proper management, your dog can learn to direct chewing toward appropriate items, creating a harmonious living environment for both of you. If destructive chewing persists despite your best efforts, or if you suspect compulsive behavior or aggression issues, consult a certified professional behavior specialist for personalized guidance.