In your household, nothing is safe from your dog anymore? He chews on everything, destroys pillows, gnaws on the sofa, or raids trash bags. That’s annoying and can also harm your dog’s health or even put him in danger. It’s crucial now that you stay calm and investigate the reason for the chewing. Chewing on each other is a natural form of affection for dogs. Even the mother dog does it with her puppies, and some dogs start to nibble on their owners. Read in this article how to approach the situation and how to discourage the destruction of objects without punishment.

Why is my dog chewing?

The first step is to find out why your dog is messing with your things. Because once you know the cause, you can take the appropriate action. Fighting the symptoms and scolding your dog will never lead to the desired success. Below, you can read reasons for your dog’s noticeable behavior and which measures should be considered.

Causes of Chewing in Dogs

Mostly, the reasons for chewing in dogs are either lack of attention or boredom. Your dog gets attention from you precisely when he takes something away from you or destroys it. Or is your furry friend just bored? How can you physically and mentally engage him? Your dog is an extremely intelligent animal and wants to be challenged and stimulated.

Nibbling on things is part of normal dog behavior. When it comes to puppies and young dogs, a change of teeth is often the cause of chewing. During this time, the little puppies often gnaw on anything that gets between their growing teeth. Many also chew because their gums itch due to the change of teeth and they thus relieve themselves. On the other hand, your puppy must learn what he is allowed to nibble on and what not.

In adult dogs, however, “destructive behavior” is often accompanied by other existing problems. The symptom “chewing” can have psychological causes such as stress, anger, or fear. The chewing then serves as processing. In some cases, it can also be an indication of an organic illness in your dog, also accompanied by a change in character.

Hunger pangs can also be responsible for frequent chewing. Your puppy should receive a maximum of five meals a day. Since your dog’s stomach is still very small in puppyhood, the food must be digested first. However, your puppy is still hungry. Therefore, ensure that your dog gets enough to eat throughout the day. Is your dog rather fearful and very person-oriented? Then it’s possible that your four-legged friend chews on everything out of separation anxiety or stress.

Stress as a reason for noticeable behavior is often not recognized or underestimated. Your dog can also develop stress symptoms, for example, if he is overwhelmed by environmental stimuli or physically overburdened. Last but not least, your dog can also feel grief or be bullied by other conspecifics, which he then processes by chewing on objects.

However, if nothing helps and you can’t figure out why your dog is destroying and chewing on things, you can also turn to a professional dog trainer who will assess your beloved from a animal psychological perspective.

The list of possible causes is long. Just as long are the possibilities to react to the destruction and chewing. Every problem has a different solution, even though all dogs show similar behavior. Suppressing the chewing won’t help you if you don’t know the reason for it. In the worst case, your dog will find another way to cope.

How do I train my dog to stop chewing?

Once you have determined the cause, you can start training your dog to stop chewing or offering alternatives. Since there is an individual solution for each cause, this article presents the possible steps to take one by one.

Teething in Puppies:

If your dog is about four or seven months old, this is usually the time when teething occurs. If your puppy is smaller, the change may happen later; if he is larger, it may happen earlier.

During this phase, you can offer your puppy various chew items tailored to him to help him get rid of his milk teeth and relieve excessive gum itching. With these products, such as a chew bone or a rope, the gums can also be massaged at the same time.

Chewing in Adolescence:

If your dog is in adolescence, just like teenagers, he wants to test his boundaries. Then he starts chewing on all sorts of objects. Patience is required here. The first thing you can do is make the apartment “puppy-proof.”

This means removing houseplants that can be poisonous from his field of view, hiding electrical cables well, and not leaving them lying on the floor, and storing cleaning agents safely in the cupboard.

Clothing items, especially shoes, should also be stored higher. You can also achieve success with a special natural spray that prevents your dog from “liking” to chew on textiles or furniture because of its bitter substances.

If you still catch your dog chewing, previously trained commands such as “Out!” and removing the object can help train your puppy to stop chewing. It is also helpful to offer alternatives, such as a dog toy. But be careful! Do not praise your dog for this behavior, as he should not perceive it as a reward.

Boredom in Dogs:

All dogs need appropriate tasks in addition to cuddles. This includes daily exercise combined with playful training that challenges your dog both physically and mentally. This could be a search game, such as “Find the Treat!”

Here, you take a treat in your hand and close it into a fist. Your dog will now try to get to this food by sniffing and nibbling. Although chewing can be somewhat painful, stand firm until your furry friend gives up and releases you.

Now you can open your hand and leave the “treat” to him as a reward. Repeat this game a few times until your dog realizes when he gets the treat.

Dog Chews Due to Stress:

If your dog is under stress, he needs one thing above all: relaxation and calm! But first, you should find out what is causing the stress. The best thing to do is to offer him something to chew on for relaxation, like a Kong toy.

For example, a Kong can also be used for anxious dogs, as your dog can lick it and calm down. Some dogs also find it relaxing to suckle on an old towel or particularly soft dog toy. Try out what calms your dog the most.

Chewing on People:

Since your dog has known since puppyhood that mutual nibbling is a way of showing affection, it may well happen that he affectionately nibbles on you as his caregiver.

This nibbling can be wonderfully integrated as a cuddle session by taking your dog, if he is not too big yet, onto your lap and mimicking the nibbling with your hands. However, you should ensure that you are the one determining the duration of the cuddle session.

Conclusion and Training Tips if My Dog Chews

Your dog’s chewing is a normal behavior. However, what he is allowed to chew on and what not must be trained first. If he destroys things while chewing or if it occurs excessively, you can assume that something is wrong. Here, only patience and an exploration of the cause with an appropriate solution help.

A dog school can also help you train your dog to stop chewing. Here, your dog is not only physically challenged but also playfully encouraged in his intelligence. In addition, your dog will educate you by making you remove anything he can chew on even slightly.

However, you should not punish your dog. Alternatives and rewarding gestures when he has done something right on his own are always better. If you are consistent, you can provide your dog with positive experiences by teaching him something and rewarding him for it.

You should refrain from punishment tools such as spray collars or things that make very loud noises, as your dog may develop a trauma. In contrast, a “Chew-Be-Gone” spray can be helpful, which keeps your furry friend away from your belongings with bitter substances and citrus.

A promising, appreciative dog training also prevents your dog from becoming a so-called “snapper” or fearful dog.