Your shoes aren’t the problem. Boredom is.
You’ve lost shoes, remote controls, couch cushions, and maybe a wall. Your dog chews everything, and no amount of bitter spray seems to stop them. Here’s what most people miss: destructive chewing isn’t a discipline problem. It’s your dog telling you they need something — stimulation, structure, or stress relief. Fix the root cause, and the chewing stops.
“We went through three TV remotes and a pair of Birkenstocks before finding Bubbas. Turns out our dog was bored out of his mind. The daily training sessions and enrichment suggestions were exactly what he needed. No more destruction.”
Why dogs chew destructively
Chewing is normal dog behavior. Puppies chew to explore. Adults chew to relieve stress, burn energy, and maintain dental health. Destructive chewing happens when normal chewing meets inadequate outlets.
- Boredom: Understimulated dogs chew because there’s nothing better to do. This is the most common cause in young, high-energy dogs.
- Anxiety: Stress chewing is focused and frantic — often on doors, window sills, or crates. It’s more about coping than entertainment.
- Teething: Puppies between 3–6 months chew to relieve gum pain. This is temporary but needs management.
- Habit: If a dog has been chewing inappropriate items for months, it becomes a default behavior even after the original cause is addressed.
- Insufficient exercise: A tired dog is a good dog. Physical and mental exercise are both essential.
Redirect, don’t punish
Punishing a dog after the fact doesn’t work. Your dog doesn’t connect your anger to something they chewed an hour ago. Instead, focus on two things: preventing access to forbidden items, and providing better alternatives.
- Manage the environment: Keep tempting items out of reach. Use baby gates, closed doors, and crates when unsupervised.
- Provide approved chewing outlets: Frozen Kongs, bully sticks, Nylabones, and other durable chews satisfy the chewing drive.
- Rotate toys: The same toys every day become boring. Rotate them to keep things novel.
- Catch and redirect: If you catch your dog chewing something wrong, calmly redirect to an approved item and praise them for switching.
- Never chase: Chasing a dog who has stolen something turns it into a game. Trade for a treat instead.
Building settle routines
Many destructive chewers are dogs who never learned how to relax. They’re always “on,” looking for the next thing to do. Settle training teaches your dog that lying down calmly is a skill worth doing.
- Place training: Teach your dog to go to a mat or bed and stay there. Start with seconds, build to minutes.
- Capturing calm: When your dog is naturally relaxed, quietly reward them. Over time, they learn that calm behavior pays.
- Decompression activities: Snuffle mats, lick mats, and scatter feeding help shift your dog from “go” mode to “chill” mode.
- Structured day: Dogs thrive on routine. Walk, training session, settle time, enrichment, repeat.
Frequently asked questions
My dog only chews when I’m gone. Why?+
Chewing when alone is often anxiety-driven or boredom-driven. If the chewing is focused on exits (doors, windows), it’s likely separation anxiety. If it’s random items, boredom is more likely. Bubbas’ assessment helps distinguish between the two and provides the right plan.
Does bitter spray work?+
Bitter sprays can deter some dogs from specific objects, but they don’t address why your dog is chewing. They’re a management tool, not a solution. Many dogs learn to tolerate or even ignore the taste over time.
Is destructive chewing a phase?+
Puppy chewing (3–6 months) is a phase. But if your adult dog is chewing destructively, it won’t go away on its own. It’s a behavioral pattern that needs redirection, enrichment, and training to resolve.
Save your furniture. Train your dog.
Bubbas’ training plan addresses the root cause of destructive chewing with daily sessions, enrichment ideas, and settle training.
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