Chewing is a natural and essential behavior for dogs, serving multiple purposes from puppy teething relief to maintaining jaw strength and dental hygiene in adult dogs. It also acts as a vital outlet for boredom, anxiety, and frustration. As a dog owner, understanding why your dog chews and how to manage this behavior is crucial for a harmonious household. This guide will delve into the reasons behind destructive chewing and provide practical strategies for owners.
Ruling Out Underlying Problems
Before addressing chewing behavior, it’s important to rule out potential underlying issues that might be contributing to it.
Separation Anxiety
Dogs suffering from separation anxiety often exhibit destructive chewing, but typically only when left alone. This behavior is usually accompanied by other signs like whining, barking, pacing, restlessness, and inappropriate urination or defecation. If you suspect your dog has separation anxiety, seeking professional guidance is recommended. Learn more about separation anxiety and its treatment.
Fabric Sucking
Some dogs engage in licking, sucking, and chewing on fabrics. This behavior might stem from early weaning before seven to eight weeks of age. If fabric sucking becomes compulsive and difficult to distract from, it may indicate a more serious issue. In such cases, consulting with a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB), or a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) with specialized experience is advised.
Hunger
When a dog is on a calorie-restricted diet, they might chew on objects in an attempt to find additional sources of nutrition. This type of chewing is often directed towards items that smell or are related to food.
Managing and Reducing Destructive Chewing
Puppy Teething
Puppies chew to explore their environment and to alleviate the discomfort of incoming teeth. This intensified chewing phase, often accompanied by pain as baby teeth fall out and adult teeth emerge, typically subsides by six months of age. Offering puppies ice cubes, frozen toys, or damp, frozen washcloths can provide relief. Gentle guidance is essential to teach puppies to restrict their chewing to appropriate items, such as their own toys.
Normal Chewing Behavior
Chewing is a normal, healthy behavior for dogs of all ages. Wild and domestic dogs alike spend considerable time chewing bones, which strengthens their jaws and cleans their teeth. Dogs chew for enjoyment, stimulation, and to relieve anxiety. While normal, chewing can sometimes be misdirected towards inappropriate items. Providing a variety of appealing chew toys is essential for both puppies and adult dogs. However, simply offering toys is not enough; dogs need to be taught, in a humane and gentle manner, which items are acceptable to chew and which are not.
Useful Tips for Managing Chewing
- “Dog-proof” your home: Secure valuables and keep items like shoes, clothing, and books out of reach until your dog’s chewing is reliably focused on appropriate objects. This sets your dog up for success.
- Provide plenty of appropriate chew toys: Offer a diverse range of toys that engage your dog for extended periods. Rotating toys every few days can prevent boredom. Be cautious with bones; only offer natural bones specifically sold for chewing, as cooked bones can splinter and cause serious injury. If your dog is an aggressive chewer, consult your veterinarian about potential risks like chipped teeth.
- Offer edible chews: Items like bully sticks, pig ears, and rawhide bones can satisfy a dog’s urge to chew. However, monitor your dog closely to prevent choking, especially if they tend to swallow large pieces. Supervise edible chew sessions and ensure your dog is relaxed, perhaps separated from other dogs to avoid competition.
- Utilize puzzle toys: Identify times when your dog is most likely to chew and provide a puzzle toy filled with a delicious treat or a portion of their daily food ration.
- Use chewing deterrents: Spraying deterrents on inappropriate items can discourage chewing. Introduce the deterrent by allowing your dog to taste a small amount, so they associate the unpleasant taste and odor with forbidden items. Reapply daily for two to four weeks. Remember, deterrents are only one part of the solution; teaching your dog what to chew is equally important.
- Supervise closely: Whenever possible, supervise your dog during waking hours. If you catch them chewing an inappropriate item, calmly remove it and immediately offer an appropriate chew toy, praising them enthusiastically. If your dog shows signs of aggression when an item is removed from their mouth, seek professional help. Finding professional behavior help can provide guidance for dealing with such situations.
- Confinement when unsupervised: When you cannot supervise your dog, use a crate or a small, dog-proofed room for a maximum of six hours. Remove all inappropriate items and provide a variety of safe chew toys and bones. Ensure your dog receives ample exercise and quality time when not confined.
- Adequate exercise and mental stimulation: Provide sufficient physical activity, such as walks and play, and mental engagement through training and social interactions. A pre-departure play session can be beneficial if you need to leave your dog alone for an extended period.
- Avoid confusing your dog: Do not offer household items, even old ones, as chew toys. This can confuse your dog about what is acceptable to chew.
- Address specific behaviors: Issues like chewing dirty underwear or raiding the garbage (especially with sanitary items) are often resolved by securing hampers and trash cans. Many young dogs outgrow these behaviors as they mature.
Lack of Exercise or Mental Stimulation
Boredom is a significant driver of destructive chewing. Dogs lacking sufficient physical and mental stimulation will seek ways to entertain themselves, often through chewing. Ensuring daily walks, off-leash play, interactive games like fetch and tug, training classes, dog sports, and puzzle toys can combat this.
Stress and Frustration
Stressful situations can also trigger chewing. This might include being crated near an animal they dislike or being teased by children while confined. Avoiding these triggers can help reduce stress-related chewing. Dogs that are prevented from engaging in exciting activities may also redirect their energy into destructive chewing. Providing an appropriate toy for shaking and tearing can help redirect this energy. For dogs frustrated by stimuli outside a fence or gate, a sturdy rope toy can be a useful distraction. Teaching shelter dogs to solicit attention appropriately can also help manage frustration-based behaviors.
What NOT to Do
- Do not punish after the fact: Punishing your dog for damage done hours or even minutes ago is ineffective, as they cannot connect the punishment to the past behavior.
- Avoid inhumane methods: Using duct tape to bind a dog’s mouth or tying a damaged object to your dog is cruel and teaches them nothing.
- Limit crate time: Extended periods in a crate (over six hours) solely to prevent chewing can be detrimental.
- Do not muzzle to prevent chewing: Muzzling is not a solution for destructive chewing.
By understanding the root causes of chewing and implementing consistent, positive management strategies, you can help your dog develop appropriate chewing habits and lead a happier, more balanced life.
