Stop Your Dog Chewing

Cure His Destructive Behavior 

Chewing is the easiest to correct when the dog is a puppy.  Whenever you catch the puppy chewing on something inappropriate deter the puppy with a toy that he is allowed to chew on.  When he gives you the item he is not supposed to be chewing, give him a toy that he can chew.  Puppies tend to chew to soothe their gums when they are teething.  It is best to give them something that they can chew on than not letting them chew at all. 

If you have a dog that chews your furniture, socks, cushions, hands and so forth, then you’re probably making critical mistakes in your dog’s obedience training and don’t even know it! If he chews and destroys furniture and household items when he is left alone, he may be experiencing separation anxiety or he may be just plain bored!

You need to be able to diagnose the problem before you attempt a solution. This is where expert advice is so important. If you don't apply the right training, you could confuse your dog and reinforce his bad behavior. And it's not his fault!  There are several excellent dog training courses available online (See our Page on selected Dog Trainers).

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If you have an older dog that chews, you will want to treat the behavior in a similar manner.  Dogs do not respond well to being punished for chewing, so you need to give them options.  If the dog is bored and begins chewing, take him on walks or play games that require a lot of energy.  The dog should also have plenty of rawhides and toys that they can chew on.  The Kong toy is great because it is made of safe, hard rubber and you can place a treat in the middle of it.  Dogs love these toys and will spend hours trying to get the treat out.  They can also chew on them safely.  You always want to have a variety of toys for your dog that chews.  You also want to change them out occasionally to keep his interest peaked.

The best thing you can do for your dog is to not give the dog the opportunity to chew anything he can’t have.  If your dog is chewing suddenly and it is not a normal behavior for him, you should visit your veterinarian and have his teeth and gums checked.  Dogs will often chew to relieve pain. 

You may also need to chew proof your home for your puppy and dog.  You can do this by sitting on the floor and looking at your house from your dog’s point of view.  Look for cords, wires, and furniture legs that may be enticing to your dog.  To deter chewing on furniture there are various sprays and coatings available that are safe for your furniture, but taste badly to a dog.  Look in all of your rooms for items that may become a chew toy to your dog.  If there is too much stuff to put up in one room, block the dog’s entrance to the room all together.

Good chew toys are vital in keeping the chewing dog satisfied.  The following toys are safe and good for your puppy or dog to chew on:

• Rawhides
• Hard rubber balls
• Puppy teething rings
• Frozen dog treats
• Nylon bones

Avoid giving your dog anything old to chew on such as shoes and socks, unless you want them chewing up all of your shoes and socks.  By giving your dog items that they would normally not be able to chew on you are only inviting them to chew on those items.  Dogs don’t know the difference between an old shoe and a new shoe, they just know that they can chew on the old shoe so why is the other shoe any different?  They don’t think in terms of cause and effect either so they will not understand why they get in trouble for chewing on the new shoe and not the old shoe.  Do your best not to put your dog in this confusing situation.