Dogs and Destructive Chewing

Is chewing normal dog behavior?

Chewing is a normal and needed behavior for puppies and adult dogs. Puppies and dogs chew for a variety of reasons. Here are some examples of normal motivation for chewing:

• play
• investigating new objects and possible foods
• exploratory behavior
• searching for food
• natural urge to gnaw and chew
• teething
• boredom
• attention seeking

There can also be some concerning reasons for chewing, which include:

• physical illnesses or pain
• anxiety and fear
• overstimulation or frustration
• panic disorders

Your veterinary team can help determine if the chewing behavior you see is normal. Chewing on or ingesting non-food items can be unsafe and lead to broken teeth, mouth injuries, intestinal obstruction, toxicities, and more. Preventing unwanted and dangerous chewing, and promoting healthful chewing, are important aspects of dog ownership.

How can I prevent unwanted chewing?

To prevent unwanted chewing, it is important to anticipate some common causes.

Teething. Puppies lose all their baby teeth and grow 42 adult teeth between 12 and 24 weeks of age. During this time, puppies have an increased desire to chew. Preventing unwanted chewing during teething is a matter of management and setting puppies up for success.

• Puppies need constant supervision in areas where they might chew on inappropriate items.
• Supervise puppies to make sure they do not swallow or choke on items.
• Provide a secure area, such as a pen or crate, with appropriate chew items when pups are unsupervised.
• Provide appropriate chews. The chew should be firm enough that the puppy finds it satisfying to chew, but soft enough it will not result in broken teeth or other injuries. You should be able to hold the chew between two fists and slightly flex it or press firmly with a thumbnail on the surface and leave a small dent. 
• Some examples of appropriate chews:
  • stuffed Kongs®, Topls®, or similar rubber-type toys stuffed with food, treats, or frozen canned food
  • edible, fully digestible chews (check the label and confirm safety with your veterinarian)
• Some potentially harmful chews that can result in injuries:
  • antlers, wood chews, cooked or smoked animal bones, yak milk chews, synthetic extra-hard bones or chews
  • non-digestible edible chews
  • anything small enough to gulp or swallow

Food seeking. Prevention is key if chewing is associated with food-seeking. Keep trash bins locked or secured behind a closed door. Keep food pushed back from the edges of counters or off the counters completely. Reward your dog for chewing appropriate items and for staying out of the kitchen.

Investigation. It is normal for dogs to learn about their environment by sniffing, picking up items, and chewing on them. Careful supervision is needed to prevent unwanted investigative chewing. Keep valuable or dangerous items picked up and out of your dog’s reach. If your dog begins to eye something inappropriate, distract him and give him an appropriate chewable item. When you are not able to supervise your dog, provide a safe area with safe, chewable items. For some dogs, a gated room works well, while others do best when confined to a crate.

Attention seeking. Most dogs love attention. When dogs chew on something inappropriate, such as the leg of a chair or a shoe, it is tempting to hurry toward the dog to minimize damage. Though rushing over could be appropriate if your dog were in danger, over the long term, many dogs purposely begin to chew things to gain attention from their caregivers. Even when the attention is a reprimand, it is still an interaction, and it may feel better than being ignored.

If your dog chews a contraband item for attention, interrupt them as calmly as possible and replace the item with an appropriate chew. Wait several seconds, then quietly praise the appropriate chewing. Observe your dog throughout the day and offer calm, happy praise whenever you see them chewing an appropriate item. Giving attention for wanted behaviors is a good way to encourage these good behaviors to continue. Be sure to proactively provide plenty of social interactions such as reward-based training and play.

Inadequate enrichment. Dogs need social and environmental enrichment every day. They also benefit from mental stimulation and physical exercise. When these basic needs are not met, dogs may chew inappropriately. Be sure to provide your dog with opportunities to play, explore, sniff, and solve problems. Exercise should be tailored to your dog’s physical health. Consider your dog’s roots when creating enrichment. A retriever may enjoy a great game of fetch, while a hound may find sniffing and searching games more engaging. Herding breeds often excel at dog sports such as agility.

What can I do about problem chewing?

If your dog shows any of the following signs, especially if the onset of chewing is sudden, consult your veterinarian:

• frequent chewing and/or ingestion of non-food items (e.g., wood, drywall, fabric)
• chewing when confined by a gate, crate, pen or other barrier
• chewing around doors, windows, or other entrance/exit points
• chewing only when home alone
• chewing when dogs or people pass by, or in response to certain sounds (e.g., thunder)
• chewing their own body, particularly when the chewing causes damage to fur or skin 

How can I promote appropriate chewing?

Dogs repeat behaviors that are rewarding. Chewing can be self-rewarding, even if the object being chewed is not appropriate from the person’s point of view. Supervise your dog to prevent him from self-rewarding by chewing inappropriate items and provide him with plenty of access to appropriate chewable items, such as food-filled toys. Incorporating canned food, special soft treats (e.g., broth, nut butters, liver paste, squeeze cheese) can help boost interest in commercially available rubber-type chews. Ask your veterinarian what types of chew products are safe for your dog.

"Ask your veterinarian what types of chew products are safe for your dog."

Some dogs lose interest when the same chew item is provided repeatedly. Instead of giving the same item every day or leaving long-lasting chews around all the time, rotate a few items your dog enjoys so there is some variety.

Be proactive. Note the times and contexts in which your dog is likely to chew. Is it a certain time of day, or when the family is engaged in a specific activity? Is it when the dog is over-excited, right before bedtime, or when you are working on the computer? Provide your dog with an irresistible, appropriate, chewable item ahead of time. Be prepared to supervise and interrupt any attempt to chew on something inappropriate. If supervision is not possible, bring your dog to their safe area and provide the irresistible chew toy in that location – before they chew an inappropriate item. 

Is there anything else I need to know about chewing?

Since it is natural for dogs to pick up items and chew on them, it is also likely dogs will pick up contraband items from time to time. Teaching dogs to “give” or spit out an item is a very useful skill that allows you to retrieve objects from your dog without inadvertently giving your dog attention.

First, practice with a low-value item such as a toy that is not your dog’s favorite. Gradually work up to higher value items when practicing – even contraband items like shoes or socks.

Seeking Method

1. Choose a quiet space, free from distractions, where your dog is free to move around. Walk around the room, say “give,” then drop several treats on the floor. Once your dog has finished eating, move to a new spot and repeat.
2. Repeat this many times, in a variety of different situations. Point out the treats, scatter them, and move around your dog as you would if you were taking an item from them (preparing for later contraband). When your dog starts looking around for treats when they hear the word “give,” it is time to move to the next step.
3. Offer your dog a low-value item. Once they have it in their mouth, say “give” and drop several treats on to the floor. If your dog does not let go, excitedly point to the scattered treats and encourage them to seek. If this is difficult, go back to step 2 for a little while.
4. Gradually repeat step 3 with higher value items until your dog can “give” a stuffed Kong or other high-value item.

Tugging Method

This method may be too exciting for very enthusiastic tuggers, at first. If your dog is an enthusiastic tugger, teach the seeking method first.

1. Play a game of gentle tug with your dog. While playing, pause tugging, become “boring,” and present a small treat right at your dog’s nose. 
2. Toss the treat onto the floor or ground, saying “give.”
3. Watch your dog’s mouth. When you see their mouth start to open to find the food, praise them and toss a few additional treats onto the ground for the dog to chase.
4. If your dog does not let go of the toy, be patient and do not tug back. Just let go of the toy, increase the value of your food reward, or pick up another equally valued toy and play with it by yourself. Watch your dog’s mouth, and when it starts to open, complete steps 2 and 3.
5. Offer the tugging item again and repeat several times. Very gradually, increase the level of excitement during tugging.
6. Gradually begin asking your dog to “give” before dropping or presenting the treat.
7. Once your dog is proficient, give the treat or second toy only after your dog has released the first toy, on cue.

Note: Some dogs have food sensitivities and will require special care in selecting edible items. If your dog develops stomach upset after chewing, consult your veterinarian for guidance.