Chewing Chronicles: Understanding Why Dogs Chew and How to Redirect It

As a photographer who captures the beauty of life with pets and as a dog lover who has experienced the chaos that sometimes comes in a household with one or more dogs, I’ve seen all sorts of canine behavior, including the sometimes frustrating habit of chewing. Whether it’s a favorite shoe (like the time I was in a trip and our nearly year old puppy destroyed the only pair of casual shoes I had with me) or a piece of furniture (followed by learning some wood repair skills), inappropriate chewing can be a challenging issue for dog owners. There are different reasons why this chewing happens, and figuring out why dogs chew and how you can redirect this behavior into something positive is essential for successful life with dogs.

Why Do Dogs Chew?

1. Teething: Just like human babies, puppies chew to relieve the pain of teething. Chewing helps soothe their gums when new teeth are coming in. typically the chewing starts in earnest at around four months old and may last through the first year or longer. To make it worse, those maybe death are sharp as daggers and quite effective in destroying things.

2. Exploration: Dogs experience the world through their mouths. Chewing is a natural exploratory behavior, especially in puppies. Just like babies out things in their mouths as a way to learn and experience the world around them, so also do dogs.

3. Boredom or Excess Energy: Chewing can be a dog’s way to occupy themselves and burn off energy. If they’re not getting enough physical or mental stimulation, they might turn to chew.

4. Anxiety: Chewing can also be a stress-relief mechanism. Dogs might chew more during times of anxiety, such as during thunderstorms or when they’re alone.

5. Habit: Sometimes, chewing becomes a habit, especially if dogs have learned that it gets them attention (even if it’s negative).

So our first step is to figure out which of those things is happening with our dog(s). we will not be able to make the right choices to stop it if we do not figure out their motivation.

How to Stop Inappropriate Chewing

Redirecting your dog’s chewing habits requires understanding, patience, and consistency. Here are some strategies to help manage and redirect your dog’s chewing behavior:

1. Provide Appropriate Chew Toys: Ensure your dog has access to plenty of chew toys. Invest in various types, such as hard rubber toys, durable ropes, and chew treats that are designed to be long-lasting. Encourage your dog to use these by playing interactive games like fetch or tug-of-war. Be careful what you choose though. things that easily break, tear apart, or disintegrate can end up in your dog’s stomach leading to expensive vet bills or worse. paying a bit more for better quality is well worth it. I have found that the King brand products stand up well to stubborn chewing.

2. Puppy Proof Your Home: Keep personal items like shoes, clothes, and children’s toys out of your dog’s reach. Use baby gates or close doors to restrict access to certain rooms if necessary. This is essential for your sanity and for good relations with your dog. Do not let a young g dog roam around unsupervised until you are sure they understand the behaviors you desire. When a puppy chews up something valuable to humans, it is the humans fault for allowing the pup access to that thing. We used corral type fencing that we could move around to keep our dogs contained when they were pups and we had things to do. These gave our dogs some room to play with acceptable toys or to stretch out and sleep, and by slipping a waterproof tarp underneath, we didn’t have to worry about accidents when the dogs were still being potty trained.

3. Increase Physical Activity: A tired dog is less likely to engage in destructive chewing. Increase your dog’s daily physical activity with longer walks, runs, or play sessions. Bonus: the physical activity is good for you too, and the time together cements the bond between you and your dog, so this is a win-win.

4. Mental Stimulation: Engage your dog’s brain with training sessions, puzzle toys, and new tricks. Mental fatigue can be just as tiring as physical exercise and can greatly reduce chewing. Also realize that certain breeds of dogs were bred to work and will need more to do. Border Collies, for example, are brilliant dogs, but their minds and their bodies need to be occupied. Agility training can meet both the physical and mental stimulation needs of dogs, so you might want to consider that if other things are not working.

5. Use Deterrents: For items you can’t move out of reach, consider using a safe, anti-chew spray. These are designed to have an unpleasant taste that discourages chewing. We have used bitter apple sprays with success, like this one: (https://a.co/d/0uBaWwN).

6. Manage Anxiety: If your dog chews out of anxiety, address the root cause of their stress. Consider techniques like creating a safe space in your home where your dog can feel secure or using anxiety aids like calming collars or diffusers. We had good luck with the thunder jacket (https://a.co/d/0uBaWwN), putting the dog in a more closed in spot, and running a fan to cut down on hearing other noises.

7. Reinforce Good Behavior: Whenever you catch your dog chewing on their toys, make sure to praise them. Positive reinforcement helps your dog learn which behaviors are rewarding.

Understanding and redirecting your dog’s chewing can protect your belongings and ensure that your pet is happy and healthy. Remember, each dog is unique, and finding the right combination of techniques might take some time. With patience and love, you can guide their chewing habits in a positive direction.

And as always, capturing these moments when your dog is happily gnawing on the right toys, rather than your favorite slipper, can be a wonderful addition to your family’s photo album—preserving the joys and trials of life with your four-legged family member.

Note: I get nothing from links I post. I am just sharing things that have worked for me.

The picture is of Maggie in her puppy days. You can see the corral fencing and the look of glee on her face for stealing my nail file to chew on.