🦴 Vet Guide 2025: Destructive Chewing in Puppies and Dogs — Causes, Training & Solutions

Chewing is normal dog behavior—but destructive chewing can lead to ruined shoes, shredded furniture, and even dangerous health risks. I’m Dr Duncan Houston BVSc, and in this in-depth 2025 guide, I’ll explain why dogs chew, what’s normal vs. problematic, and how you can prevent damage through proactive training, safe toys, and smart environment control. Let’s turn chewers into calm companions. 🐾

1. Why Dogs Chew

1.1 Puppies: Teething, Curiosity, Learning

• 🍼 Teething pain: Puppies teethe until 6–8 months old and chew to relieve discomfort.
• 🧠 Exploration: Puppies learn through their mouths—chewing is a primary way they experience the world.
• 🎮 Play and energy outlet: Chewing helps release pent-up energy.

1.2 Adult Dogs: Anxiety, Boredom, Untrained Habits

• 💔 Separation anxiety: Dogs left alone may chew as a stress release.
• 🥱 Under-stimulation: Chewing relieves boredom and frustration.
• 🧩 Habitual behavior: Lack of early training leads to adult dogs who don’t know what’s appropriate to chew.

2. Damage Control: First Steps

Before training can succeed, manage the environment:

• 🔐 Dog-proof your home: Keep shoes, remotes, cords, and valuables out of reach. Close off rooms. Use baby gates.
• 🧼 Contain the chaos: Crate training, pens, or confining dogs to chew-safe zones when unsupervised is essential.
• 🎾 Safe chew toys: Provide plenty of acceptable chew items and rotate them to maintain novelty.

3. What NOT to Do

• ❌ Don’t punish your dog after the fact: Dogs won’t connect your anger to past behavior—they may fear you.
• ❌ Don’t give old shoes or socks to chew: Dogs can’t distinguish between your expensive sneakers and an old slipper.
• ❌ Don’t ignore aggressive chewing: It may signal anxiety or medical issues needing veterinary input.

4. Smart Chewing Strategies

4.1 Keep Your Dog Mentally and Physically Engaged

• 🏃‍♀️ Exercise daily: Walks, fetch, scent work, or dog parks reduce boredom-related chewing.
• 🧠 Training games: Obedience sessions, hide-and-seek, or nosework help stimulate the brain.
• 🧸 Food puzzles: Feed meals from toys like Kongs, LickiMats, or slow feeders instead of bowls.

4.2 Swap and Trade Method

If you catch your dog chewing the wrong item:

• 🎁 Offer a high-value treat or toy.
• 📦 When they drop the “wrong” item, reward generously and remove it.
• 🔁 Do this consistently to teach that giving up items earns rewards.

5. Crate Training & Confinement

• 🏠 Introduce crates positively—never use as punishment.
• ⏳ Leave interactive toys inside for short alone periods.
• 📈 Gradually build up crate time while rewarding calm behavior.

6. Deterrents: Use Wisely

• ⚠️ Apply bitter apple spray or citrus sprays to objects you can’t remove from reach.
• 🚫 Consider rug runners (spiky side up), motion sensors, or double-sided tape for stubborn areas.

7. Choosing Safe Chew Toys

Talk to your vet before introducing chew toys, especially for strong chewers. 🦷

• ✅ Vet-approved chew options: Kong rubber toys, Nylabone durable chews, dental chews
• ⚠️ Avoid: hard bones, hooves, plastic chews—these can break teeth or cause blockages
• 👁️ Always supervise until you know how your dog interacts with a new chew

8. Chewing & Aggression or Guarding

If your dog growls when approached with a chew item:

• 🚫 Do not attempt to forcibly remove the item.
• 📞 Schedule a behavioral consultation—this may indicate resource guarding or fear aggression.

9. When to Seek Help

Consult your veterinarian or a certified trainer if:

• 🩺 Your dog damages teeth, ingests non-food items, or shows signs of distress
• 🐶 Destruction worsens despite training
• 😰 Chewing appears linked to separation anxiety or fear

Ask A Vet can help you assess the issue and guide your training plan remotely, 24/7. 📱

10. Preventing Future Issues

• 🧼 Rotate toys weekly to keep things fresh
• 🕓 Schedule daily exercise and mental work
• 🧸 Use chew toys as a reward and boredom-buster
• 📖 Educate family members so rules are consistent

11. Summary Table

12. Final Thoughts

Destructive chewing doesn’t mean you have a “bad” dog—it’s a communication issue. Your dog is telling you they’re bored, teething, anxious, or curious. With consistency, patience, and plenty of chew-safe options, your pup will learn what’s fair game—and your shoes will thank you. 🐶🧦

— Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Need tailored advice? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app to get support for your dog’s training and chewing behavior. 💙