Coming home to find your favorite pair of shoes mangled or the corner of your sofa gnawed to shreds is a uniquely frustrating experience for any dog owner. Destructive chewing is one of the most common canine behaviors, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. If you’re wondering How To Train A Dog Not To Chew on your belongings, the first step is to understand that your dog isn’t doing it to spite you. Chewing is a natural, necessary, and healthy activity for dogs, but it’s our job to teach them what’s appropriate to chew on and what’s off-limits.
This guide will walk you through the reasons behind your dog’s chewing habits and provide a clear, step-by-step plan to redirect this behavior, creating a happier and more harmonious home for both you and your furry companion. With patience and consistency, you can protect your furniture and teach your dog better habits.
Understanding the “Why” Behind the Chew
Before you can effectively address the behavior, you need to understand the root cause. Dogs chew for a variety of reasons, and identifying the “why” is the first step toward finding the right solution.
Puppy Teething: A Natural Urge
Just like human babies, puppies explore the world with their mouths. Between three and six months of age, puppies go through an intense teething period. As their adult teeth come in, their gums can become sore and inflamed. Chewing helps to alleviate this discomfort. During this phase, they aren’t being intentionally destructive; they’re simply trying to soothe their aching gums. Providing them with safe, puppy-specific chew toys, especially those that can be frozen, can offer significant relief.
Boredom and Excess Energy
A bored dog is a mischievous dog. If a dog doesn’t receive enough physical exercise or mental stimulation, they will find their own ways to stay entertained, and chewing is often their go-to activity. It provides a physical outlet for pent-up energy and a mental challenge as they work on a particular object. A dog that is tired from a long walk, a game of fetch, or a stimulating training session is much more likely to settle down and rest than to go searching for a table leg to chew.
Separation Anxiety and Stress
For some dogs, chewing is a self-soothing mechanism to cope with stress and anxiety, particularly separation anxiety. When left alone, an anxious dog might chew on door frames, window sills, or personal items that smell like their owner (such as shoes or clothing) in an attempt to relieve their distress. This type of chewing is often accompanied by other signs of anxiety, like excessive barking, whining, or having accidents in the house. Addressing this requires a focus on building their confidence when alone, a topic often explored in advanced training such as dog training lawrenceville ga.
Natural Instinct and Exploration
Chewing is deeply ingrained in a dog’s DNA. In the wild, it’s how canids keep their jaws strong and teeth clean. For domestic dogs, it remains a primary way they explore and understand new objects, textures, and tastes. They use their mouths in the same way we use our hands to investigate something new. This is normal behavior, and our goal is not to eliminate it but to channel it toward appropriate items.
A happy black labrador contentedly chewing on a durable rubber toy, which helps illustrate how to train a dog not to chew on inappropriate items.
Your Step-by-Step Training Plan
Now that you understand the motivations, you can implement a consistent strategy. Training a dog not to chew involves a combination of management, redirection, and enrichment.
Step 1: Dog-Proof Your Home
The easiest way to prevent destructive chewing is to remove the temptation. This management step is crucial, especially in the beginning.
- Secure Personal Items: Keep shoes, clothes, books, and remote controls out of reach. Use closed closets, laundry hampers, and high shelves.
- Manage Cords and Wires: Tuck away or cover electrical cords to prevent a dangerous accident.
- Create a “Safe Zone”: When you cannot supervise your dog, confine them to a dog-proofed area. This could be a single room with the door closed, an area sectioned off with baby gates, or a comfortable crate. Ensure this space is free of forbidden items and filled with fresh water and safe toys.
Step 2: Provide Plenty of Appropriate Chew Toys
You can’t expect your dog to stop chewing forbidden items if they don’t have an alternative. Invest in a variety of high-quality, safe chew toys.
- Variety is Key: Offer different textures and materials. Rubber toys (like Kongs), nylon bones, and durable dental chews are excellent choices. Rotate the toys every few days to maintain your dog’s interest.
- Make Toys Exciting: Stuff puzzle toys with kibble, a bit of peanut butter, or special treats. Freezing them can make the challenge last longer and is especially soothing for teething puppies.
- Avoid Confusion: Never give your dog old shoes, socks, or clothes as toys. They cannot distinguish between your old running shoe and your brand-new leather one. Providing clear rules is essential, just as you would when teaching how to train a bernese mountain dog.
Step 3: The Art of Redirection
This is where the active training comes in. When you catch your dog in the act of chewing something they shouldn’t, your reaction is critical.
- Interrupt Calmly: Make a calm but firm sound, like “Ah-ah!” or “Oops!” to interrupt the behavior. Avoid yelling or scolding, as this can create fear or turn it into an attention-seeking game.
- Remove the Item: Take away the forbidden object.
- Redirect to a Toy: Immediately replace it with an appropriate chew toy.
- Praise Enthusiastically: When your dog starts chewing the toy, praise them lavishly. Say “Good dog!” and give them a gentle pat. This positive reinforcement teaches them, “When I chew this, I get praise and attention.”
The Power of Proactive Solutions
Training isn’t just about reacting to bad behavior; it’s about proactively setting your dog up for success. A well-exercised and mentally stimulated dog is far less likely to engage in destructive habits.
Physical Exercise: A Tired Dog is a Good Dog
Ensure your dog gets enough physical activity every single day. The required amount varies by breed, age, and health, but generally includes:
- Daily walks with plenty of opportunities to sniff and explore.
- Active playtime, such as games of fetch or tug-of-war. Using a durable leather dog training leash can make walks and training sessions safer and more effective.
- Off-leash running in a safe, fenced area if possible.
Mental Stimulation: Challenge Their Brain
Mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise. A mentally tired dog is a content dog.
- Training Sessions: Short, positive training sessions work their brain. Practice basic commands or teach them new tricks.
- Puzzle Feeders: Ditch the food bowl and feed your dog their meals using puzzle toys or snuffle mats. This forces them to think and problem-solve.
- Nose Work Games: Hide treats around the room and encourage your dog to “find it.”
What Not to Do: Common Training Mistakes
How you react to chewing is crucial. Some common owner mistakes can actually make the problem worse.
Avoid Punishment
Never punish, scold, or spank your dog after the fact. They cannot connect the punishment to an action that happened even minutes earlier. This will only create fear and anxiety, potentially leading to more behavioral issues. The so-called “guilty look” is actually a submissive posture in response to your anger, not an admission of guilt.
Don’t Play Chase
If your dog grabs something and runs, resist the urge to chase them. This often turns into a fun game for the dog, reinforcing the behavior. Instead, calmly approach them or, even better, call them to you and offer a high-value trade, like a tasty treat for the forbidden item.
When to Seek Professional Help
While most chewing issues can be resolved with consistent training and management, some cases require professional intervention. If you believe your dog’s chewing is caused by severe separation anxiety, compulsive behavior, or if they become aggressive when you try to take an item away, it’s time to consult a professional. A certified applied animal behaviorist, a veterinary behaviorist, or an experienced trainer from a place like dog training glenwood landing can provide a tailored plan to help you and your dog.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. At what age do puppies typically stop destructive chewing?
The most intense chewing phase is related to teething and usually subsides by about six to eight months of age. However, chewing is a lifelong natural behavior, so providing appropriate outlets is always important.
2. Is it safe to give my dog bones to chew on?
Cooked bones are never safe as they can splinter and cause serious internal injury. While some raw bones can be given under supervision, it’s generally safer to stick to durable, commercially made chew toys and dental chews recommended by veterinarians.
3. Do anti-chew sprays like Bitter Apple actually work?
Taste deterrents can be effective for some dogs. You spray them on items you don’t want your dog to chew, and the unpleasant taste discourages them. However, some dogs don’t mind the taste, and it should always be used in conjunction with redirection and positive reinforcement, not as a standalone solution.
4. Why does my dog only chew things when I’m not home?
This is a classic sign that the chewing may be linked to boredom or separation anxiety. Increasing their exercise and mental stimulation before you leave and providing engaging puzzle toys for them to focus on in your absence can help significantly.
5. My dog swallowed a piece of a toy, what should I do?
Contact your veterinarian immediately. Depending on the size and material of the piece, it could cause an intestinal blockage, which is a medical emergency. Always supervise your dog with new toys to see how they interact with them. In some cases, you may need replacement parts for toys or equipment, like looking for bousnic dog training collar replacement parts for specific gear.
Conclusion: Patience, Praise, and the Right Toys
Teaching your dog what is and isn’t acceptable to chew on is a process that requires patience, consistency, and a positive approach. By understanding the reasons behind the behavior, managing their environment, and providing plenty of physical and mental enrichment, you can successfully guide them. Remember that the goal is not to stop the chewing entirely but to redirect this natural instinct onto appropriate items. Embrace the journey of learning how to train a dog not to chew, and you will strengthen your bond while saving your belongings from destruction.
