What is destructive chewing?
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
Destructive chewing is when a dog chews things it should not, such as shoes, furniture, door frames, wires or cushions. Chewing itself is normal: puppies chew to ease teething and all dogs chew to explore. It becomes a problem through boredom, too little exercise, hunger, frustration or separation anxiety, and is fixed by redirection, not punishment.
Also called dog chewing furniture, puppy chewing, dog chews everything, inappropriate chewing.
Key facts
- Puppies chew to relieve teething discomfort, and chewing is also a normal way for dogs to explore, keep their jaws strong and clean their teeth. ASPCA
- Boredom, hunger on a calorie-restricted diet, frustration and separation anxiety are common causes of problem chewing. ASPCA
- Chewing, stealing, raiding bins and digging are normal exploratory behaviour in unsupervised dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Punishing a dog after the fact, by showing it the damage and scolding, does not work. ASPCA
- Sanitary items a dog swallows can expand in its gut, so keep them in a closed container. ASPCA
Why is my dog chewing things?
Match the pattern to the cause. When and where the chewing happens tells you most.
| Typical pattern | What helps | |
|---|---|---|
| Teething puppy ASPCA | Chews anything while baby teeth are being lost | Safe chew toys, supervision, puppy-proofing |
| Boredom ASPCA | Chews when under-exercised or left with nothing to do | More walks, play, training and puzzle feeders |
| Separation anxiety ASPCA | Chews mainly when alone, often at doors and windows, with howling or drooling | Treat the anxiety; see separation anxiety |
| Hunger ASPCA | Targets food packets, bins and food-scented items, often on a diet | Ask your vet about filling, lower-calorie food and food toys |
| Frustration ASPCA | Chews near a window, gate or fence after seeing something it cannot reach | Block the view and give an outlet |
A dog that swallows non-food items regularly may have pica and needs a vet.
How do you stop destructive chewing?
Make the right things easy to chew and the wrong things hard to reach, then reward good choices.
- Give a selection of chew toys and safe chews, and rotate them so they stay interesting. ASPCA
- Dog-proof the home: shoes, clothes, children's toys, wires and valuables out of reach. ASPCA
- Supervise. If the dog picks up something it should not, calmly take it, offer a chew toy and praise the dog for chewing that. ASPCA
- Give plenty of exercise and mental work: walks, play, short training sessions and food puzzles. ASPCA
- Use a taste deterrent on furniture legs while you teach what is allowed, reapplied daily for two to four weeks. ASPCA
- When you cannot supervise, confine the dog safely with chew toys in a dog-proofed room or crate, for no more than a few hours. ASPCA
What should you never do about chewing?
Do
- Use reward-based training only; it is effective and protects your relationship with your dog. American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
- See your vet if chewing starts suddenly in an adult dog, or the dog swallows what it chews. Merck Veterinary Manual
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Questions owners ask
At what age do puppies stop chewing everything?
- Teething chewing usually eases once adult teeth are in, but most dogs keep a healthy urge to chew all their lives. Give safe chew toys from the start, puppy-proof the home and supervise, so the habit settles on the right things. A sudden rise in chewing in an adult dog needs a look at boredom, anxiety or health.
Why does my dog only chew when I am out?
- Chewing that happens only when the dog is alone, especially at doors and windows and with howling, drooling or toileting, points to separation anxiety rather than naughtiness. Film the dog while you are out and talk to your vet or a qualified reward-based behaviourist. Punishment will make it worse.
Should I punish my dog for chewing?
- No. Punishing after the event does not work, because the dog cannot connect it with chewing earlier, and it adds fear. Instead, prevent access, give suitable chews, interrupt calmly if you catch it in the act, redirect to a toy and praise. AVSAB recommends only reward-based methods.
What are safe things for a dog to chew?
- Choose sturdy chew toys sized so the dog cannot swallow them, and ask your vet about edible chews. Hard bones can fracture teeth and cause blockages. Avoid anything small enough to swallow whole, and supervise new chews at first.
Keep reading
Related terms
More in behaviour
- Calming signalsCalming signals, also called appeasement or displacement behaviours, are small body-language cues such as lip or nose licking, yawning, turning the head away, blinking, sniffing the ground or lifting a paw. Dogs often show them when they feel uneasy or in conflict. Noticing them lets you give a dog space before fear escalates to growling or snapping.
- Cat scratchingCat scratching is the normal habit of dragging the claws down a surface. Cats scratch to keep their claws healthy, stretch the legs and spine, and leave scent and visible marks from glands in their paws. It should not be stopped, but it can be moved from the sofa to a well-placed, sturdy scratching post with patience and rewards.
- KneadingKneading, often called making biscuits, is when a cat rhythmically pushes its front paws into a soft surface such as a blanket, cushion or a person's lap, often purring. It starts in kittenhood, when kittens knead their mother to keep milk flowing, and many adult cats keep the habit when relaxed. It is normal and needs no treatment.
- Litter box aversionLitter box aversion is when a cat stops using its litter tray and pees or poos elsewhere in the home, because something about the tray, its place or its use has become unpleasant or frightening. Illness is a common cause, so a vet check comes first. Then fix the trays: enough of them, clean, quiet, with litter the cat likes.
- Noise phobiaNoise phobia is an intense, lasting fear of loud or sudden sounds such as fireworks, thunder or gunshots. Affected dogs tremble, pant, hide, pace, try to escape or soil indoors, and some take days to recover. It is common: about a third of dogs in one large survey were noise-sensitive. A safe den, preparation and gradual training help.
- PicaPica is eating things that are not food, such as fabric, wool, plastic, paper, rubber, stones or soil. In cats it often starts as wool or fabric sucking, especially in Oriental breeds; in dogs it can be a habit, a compulsive disorder or a sign of illness. Swallowed objects can block the gut, so a vet check comes first.
- Reactive dogA reactive dog overreacts to everyday triggers such as other dogs, strangers, bikes or autos, usually by barking, lunging, growling or pulling, most often on the lead. Fear is the most common driver, with frustration and pain also playing a part. It is managed by keeping distance from triggers and changing the dog's feelings with reward-based training, never by punishment.
- Resource guardingResource guarding is a dog protecting something it values, such as food, a chew, a toy, a bed or even a person, from people or other animals. It is normal, often fear-based behaviour, ranging from eating faster or freezing to growling and biting. It improves with management and reward-based training that teaches the dog an approaching person brings good things.
- Separation anxietySeparation anxiety is a fear response in which a dog panics when left alone or apart from the person it is attached to. Signs include howling, destruction near doors, toileting indoors, drooling and escape attempts, usually worst in the first 30 minutes. It is treated with gradual, reward-based training, sometimes alongside medicine from a vet, never with punishment.
- Urine markingUrine marking is using small amounts of urine as a scent message rather than to empty the bladder. Cats usually spray backwards onto upright surfaces with the tail raised and quivering; dogs lift a leg against furniture or doorways. It is commoner in unneutered animals and stressed or crowded homes. Rule out illness first, then reduce the stress behind it.
Keep exploring
Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- ASPCA: Destructive chewing (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Behavior problems in dogs (opens in a new tab)
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior: Position statement on humane dog training (2021) (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Behavior problems of dogs (opens in a new tab)
- WSAVA: Frequently asked questions and myths (Global Nutrition Committee) (opens in a new tab)