Your rescue dog isn’t being destructive — they’re scared

Why rescue dogs chew when left alone

When a rescue dog destroys things while you’re away, it’s almost always stress. They’ve experienced upheaval — being surrendered, living in a kennel, adjusting to strangers. Their nervous system is on high alert. Chewing releases cortisol and gives them something to do with all that anxious energy.

This is different from boredom chewing, which tends to be more casual and spread around. Stress chewing is frantic. You’ll see it focused on exit points — doors, windows, crates — or on items that smell like you. The distinction matters because the fix is different.

The decompression period most people skip

Trainers call the first few weeks the "decompression period." Your rescue dog is not showing you who they really are yet. They’re overwhelmed, shut down, or running on adrenaline. Expecting them to handle being alone right away is setting everyone up to fail.

During decompression, your job is simple: reduce pressure. Keep the environment calm. Don’t leave them alone for long stretches yet. Let them learn the rhythms of your home before you start asking for independence.

• Keep a consistent daily routine — same feeding times, same walk schedule, same bedtime
• Avoid overwhelming them with visitors, new environments, or too much freedom
• Give them a designated safe space: a crate left open, a gated room, a cozy corner
• Let them come to you — don’t force affection or interaction

Management while you train: keeping your home intact

Training takes time. In the meantime, you need a management strategy so your dog isn’t practicing destructive behavior every time you step out.

• Set up a safe space with nothing they can destroy — a pen, a dog-proofed room, or an open crate
• Leave long-lasting enrichment: frozen Kongs, lick mats, snuffle mats, safe chews
• Use a camera to monitor their behavior and identify stress patterns
• Start with very short absences — even stepping outside for 30 seconds counts as training
• Remove high-value chew targets (shoes, remotes, pillows) from accessible areas

How Bubbas builds alone-time confidence

Bubbas gives you a day-by-day plan designed for dogs who struggle with being alone. It starts where your dog is — not where you wish they were — and builds gradually.

• Graduated departure training: start at seconds, build to minutes, then hours
• Calm arrival and departure routines that lower your dog’s arousal around your comings and goings
• Settle exercises that teach your dog to relax in their safe space
• Independence-building games that reduce velcro-dog behavior
• AI coach guidance when you’re not sure whether your dog’s behavior is normal adjustment or a sign to slow down

What your first two weeks look like

The plan starts slow on purpose. Rescue dogs need to learn that you always come back before they can handle you being gone.

• Week 1: Focus on decompression. Establish routine, introduce safe space, practice very short (under 1 minute) absences. No real departures yet.
• Week 2: Build duration. Absences extend to 5–15 minutes. Enrichment protocol begins. You start tracking calm vs. stressed behavior in the app.

Bubbas adjusts the pace based on your dog’s response. If they’re still stressed at 2 minutes, the plan won’t push you to 10.