How Can I Stop My Dog From Chewing?

We've all seen the pet-shaming videos. You know the ones: A pet parent comes home to find a happy, tail-wagging dog waiting at the front door. Person and dog walk into the living room and — oh no! — the couch has been mysteriously ripped apart! Stuffing is everywhere! The pet parent gasps in horror. What could possibly have happened? Who could be to blame? Why do dogs chew things?

Learn what makes your dog gnaw on his surroundings and how you can convince him to leave your socks (or plants, or books, or furniture or toilet paper rolls) alone.

Chewing & Separation Anxiety?

The first thing you need to do is to figure out why your dog is engaging in destructive behavior. One common reason is separation anxiety. Most dogs will give you sad puppy eyes when you leave, but a dog with separation anxiety will go beyond a simple pout or whine when you leave him home alone.

A dog with separation anxiety may soil in the house or start destructive behaviors like tipping over the garbage can or ripping up his dog bed. He may even injure himself attempting to escape. Anxious dogs might also bark or drool excessively or refuse to eat or drink. Many pups with separation anxiety don't respond well to being crated. Consult your vet on ways to help your dog overcome separation anxiety.

Why Do Dogs Chew?

Boredom can be another culprit. Think about it: You are at work all day, and your dog is home, alone, just waiting for you to return. Think about how bored you'd be!

To combat his boredom, you can offer chew toys or toys that dispense food. Keep some out of reach so that you can surprise him with something novel, or break out his favorite chew toy just before you leave. Just like you might do for your cat, you can invest in a puzzle feeder that keeps your dog active and busy and gives you some peace of mind. Just make sure that his toys are filled with a daily portion of his healthy dog food instead of treats.

Finally, puppies who are teething frequently want to chew on something to relieve their pain. Plus, just like human babies, they want to put everything in their mouths. New textures! New tastes! New experiences! So much fun! To keep your pup from staring shamefacedly at a shredded slipper, make sure he has plenty of sturdy and age-appropriate chew toys and try not to leave him unsupervised for too long.

Advice to Chew On

How can you teach your pup not to chew? Crating your dog or designating a doggy-proof room are two options. You should start crate training when he is young if possible, and be consistent. However, make sure your energetic pup gets plenty of time to run around. You can also teach him a simple "drop it" or "leave it" command if he chews on anything other than his toys in front of you.

If you're away for long periods, consider hiring a dog walker or enrolling your pooch in doggy day care. These options keep your dog active and give him a social outlet when you're away, both of which will go a long way toward keeping you from coming home to find a new hole in your wall.

If nothing else works, you can try making an unpleasant-tasting deterrent spray to discourage your dog from chewing on specific objects (like his favorite chair leg). Cuteness suggests a mixture of white vinegar and lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. Never spray the deterrent on your dog's body, and keep up with his behavioral training to reinforce what you want him to learn.

Tucker Him Out

The most important thing you can do to prevent destructive behavior is to give your dog lots of exercise and love! Keeping your dog well-exercised and giving him lots of social stimulation when you're home can go a long way to changing his behavior when you're not home. After all, who isn't ready to settle in for a long, quiet nap after a brisk walk in the neighborhood or a session of backyard fetch?

What you shouldn't do is discipline your dog after the fact. Your dog might act ashamed on your viral video, but really he's reacting to your tone of voice and mannerisms. Correcting your dog when you catch him in the act can help him learn, but telling him "no" hours after the fact won't help him connect the discipline with the destruction.

We know destructive dogs can cause havoc on a home. Consider why your canine pal is acting out, and give him some alternative options to let out his boundless energy.