How to Stop Your Dog Chewing

Chewing is a natural behaviour for dogs. It helps puppies with teething, relieves boredom, and even provides stress relief. But when your dog starts chewing furniture, shoes, or anything they shouldn’t, it can quickly become a problem. The good news is that with the right approach, you can redirect their chewing to appropriate outlets.

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Understand Why Your Dog Chews

Dogs chew for different reasons, and understanding the cause is key to solving the problem. Some common reasons include:

  • Teething (puppies): Puppies chew to soothe sore gums when their baby teeth are coming in.
  • Boredom or excess energy: Dogs left alone without mental or physical stimulation often turn to chewing for entertainment.
  • Anxiety or stress: Some dogs chew when they’re anxious, particularly if they suffer from separation anxiety.
  • Lack of proper chew toys: If a dog doesn’t have appropriate chew items, they’ll find their own.

Tip: Identifying the root cause helps determine the best way to stop destructive chewing.

Provide Plenty of Chew Toys

If your dog is chewing household items, they likely need better alternatives. Offer a variety of safe and durable chew toys suited to their size and chewing strength.

  • Rubber toys which can be stuffed with treats.
  • Rope toys for gentle chewing and tugging.
  • Edible chews such as bully sticks or dental chews to satisfy urges.

Tip: Rotate toys regularly to keep them interesting.

Supervise and Redirect

If you catch your dog chewing something they shouldn’t, avoid scolding them harshly. Instead, redirect them to an appropriate chew toy. Immediately reward them for chewing the correct item.

If they’re chewing furniture or shoes, calmly take the item away and replace it with a toy. Praise and reward them when they chew the toy instead.

Tip: Supervise young dogs closely to prevent bad habits from forming.

Use Deterrent Sprays

If your dog has a favourite chewing spot, a bitter-tasting spray can discourage them. These sprays are safe but make furniture, shoes, or other off-limits items unappealing.

Tip: Always pair deterrents with training–just spraying won’t stop the behaviour if your dog doesn’t have other options to chew on.

Increase Exercise and Mental Stimulation

A tired dog is far less likely to chew out of boredom. Ensure that your dog gets plenty of physical and mental exercise each day.

  • Take them for regular walks or runs.
  • Play interactive games like fetch or tug-of-war.
  • Provide puzzle toys to keep their mind engaged.

Tip: Training sessions also burn energy and keep dogs mentally stimulated.

Manage Their Environment

If your dog tends to chew when left alone, try managing their environment a little.

  • Keep tempting objects like shoes or remote controls out of reach.
  • Use gates or crates to limit access to certain areas.
  • Leave them with a safe chew toy when unattended.

Tip: A well-exercised dog with the right toys is less likely to get into trouble.

Final Thoughts

Chewing is normal, but when it becomes destructive, training and management can make a big difference. By providing appropriate chew toys, redirecting behaviour, increasing exercise, and ensuring they are not chewing out of stress, you can help your dog develop good habits. Need extra support with training? Allbreeds Dog Training can help guide your dog towards better behaviour.