Affiliate disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
If you want to know how to stop destructive chewing in dogs, start with one idea: chewing itself is normal, healthy behavior, and your job is to point it at the right objects rather than stamp it out. Dogs chew to relieve teething pain, to explore, to calm themselves, and to burn off energy. The trouble starts when that need lands on your shoes, skirting boards, and sofa cushions. The fixes below work for puppies and adult dogs alike.
Why Dogs Chew Destructively
The right fix depends on the reason, so watch when and where the chewing happens before you change anything.
- Teething. Puppies chew constantly while their adult teeth come in, usually until around six months of age.
- Boredom. A dog with too little physical and mental work will invent its own entertainment, and furniture is always available.
- Stress or separation distress. Chewing that happens only when you are out, especially around doors and windows, often signals anxiety about being alone.
- Exploration. Young dogs investigate the world with their mouths.
- Hunger or medical issues. Dental pain, digestive upset, or a restricted diet can all increase chewing.
How to Stop Destructive Chewing in Dogs: 10 Proven Fixes
1. Rule out a medical cause
If an adult dog suddenly starts chewing, or begins swallowing non-food items such as socks, stones, or plastic, see your vet first. Swallowed objects can cause dangerous blockages, and pain or illness can drive the behavior. Training will not solve a medical problem.
2. Dog-proof your home
Management prevents your dog from rehearsing the habit while you train. Put shoes in a closed cupboard, keep laundry off the floor, tuck cables behind furniture, and close doors to rooms your dog does not need. Every successful chew on a forbidden item makes the next one more likely, so removing temptation is half the battle.
3. Offer the right chew toys
Give your dog a choice of textures: firm rubber toys, stuffable food toys, and appropriate edible chews. Pick sizes your dog cannot swallow, and avoid cooked bones, which can splinter. Rotate the toys every few days so they stay interesting. A pile of the same five toys in a basket quickly becomes background furniture.
4. Redirect instead of scolding
When you catch your dog chewing something it should not, calmly interrupt with a cheerful sound, then hand over an approved chew and praise the moment it starts chewing that instead. Our guide on how to train a calm and obedient dog explains why redirection works so much better than punishment: punishment teaches a dog to hide the behavior from you, while redirection teaches it what to do instead.
5. Teach “drop it” with a trade
Hold a high-value treat near your dog’s nose while it has a toy in its mouth. The moment it lets go, say “drop it,” give the treat, then hand the toy back. Practice with low-value items first. A dog that knows giving things up pays off is far less likely to run off with your phone charger or guard it under the table.
6. Increase daily exercise
Many destructive chewers are simply under-exercised. Add a longer walk, a game of fetch, or a sniff-heavy outing where your dog can explore at its own pace. Time it before the periods when chewing usually happens, such as before you leave for work.
7. Add mental work every day
Physical exercise alone often is not enough. Problem solving tires a dog out in a way a walk does not, and it builds the impulse control that stops a dog from grabbing whatever is nearby. Puzzle feeders, scatter feeding, and short training games all count.
If you want a structured plan, Brain Training for Dogs is built around exactly this idea. It was created by Adrienne Farricelli, a CPDT-KA certified trainer, and uses force-free games arranged in progressive levels, with impulse control and settling covered early on. You can read the full breakdown in our Brain Training for Dogs review.
8. Use safe confinement when you cannot supervise
A crate your dog has been gradually trained to enjoy, or a puppy pen in a dog-proofed area, stops damage while you are busy or out. Always add a safe chew or a stuffed food toy, and never use confinement as punishment or for longer than your dog can comfortably manage. Confinement is a management tool, not a substitute for exercise and attention.
9. Look closely at alone-time chewing
If the damage happens only when you leave, and especially if it focuses on doors, window frames, or your belongings, and comes with drooling, howling, or toilet accidents, your dog may be struggling with separation distress. Film your dog while you are out to see what is really happening. Separation problems need a gradual, structured plan, and moderate to severe cases deserve help from your vet or a certified behaviorist.
10. Be consistent and reward calm
Make sure everyone in your home follows the same rules. If one person lets the puppy chew old slippers and another scolds it for chewing new ones, the dog cannot tell the difference. Also notice and praise your dog when it lies quietly with its own chew. Calm behavior you reward is calm behavior you will see more of.
What Not to Do
- Do not punish after the fact. Your dog cannot connect a scolding to something it chewed an hour ago. It only learns that your return is unpredictable.
- Do not give old shoes or socks as toys. Dogs cannot tell old items from new ones.
- Do not chase your dog when it grabs something. It turns stealing into a fun game. Trade instead.
- Do not rely on management alone. Hiding everything without meeting your dog’s needs just moves the chewing to something else.
Puppies vs Adult Dogs
For puppies, focus on management, plenty of chew options, and frozen chew toys to soothe sore gums. Most teething chewing fades once the adult teeth are in, provided good habits have been built in the meantime. For adult dogs, destructive chewing is usually a sign that something is missing, whether that is exercise, mental work, routine, or comfort when alone. Fix the underlying need and the chewing tends to fade.
When to Get Professional Help
Contact your vet if your dog swallows non-food items, chews itself, or starts chewing suddenly in adulthood. Contact a certified trainer or behaviorist if chewing comes with panic when you leave, if your dog guards stolen items and growls or snaps when you approach, or if nothing has improved after a few weeks of consistent effort.
Tools That Can Help
Two resources I recommend for owners who want a clearer plan:
- A games-based program: Brain Training for Dogs includes a bonus Behavior Training for Dogs course that covers chewing specifically, along with digging, barking, whining, and jumping. The program states it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
- A personalized starting point: the free 2-minute My Dog Plan Quiz asks about your dog’s age, breed group, size, and the behaviors you are struggling with. According to My Dog Plan, it then matches your dog to one of five behavioral archetypes and builds a 21-day plan with one short task per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age do puppies stop chewing everything?
Teething chewing usually eases once the adult teeth are in, at around six months. Many dogs keep a strong urge to chew into early adulthood, so keep offering safe chews and managing the environment until good habits are solid.
Do bitter sprays stop chewing?
A bitter spray on furniture legs or skirting boards can discourage some dogs, but it works best as a short-term helper alongside redirection, exercise, and proper chew toys. Some dogs ignore the taste completely.
Why does my dog only chew when I leave?
That pattern often points to boredom or separation distress. Try a longer walk and a stuffed food toy before you go. If your dog seems panicked, drools, or damages exits, speak to your vet or a certified behaviorist.
How long does it take to stop destructive chewing?
If you apply these fixes for how to stop destructive chewing in dogs consistently, many owners see improvement within a couple of weeks. Long-standing habits and anxiety-driven chewing take longer.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to stop destructive chewing in dogs comes down to three things: protect your belongings while your dog learns, give it better things to chew, and meet the needs that drive the behavior. Stay patient, stay consistent, and reward every good choice. Your shoes, and your dog, will be better for it.
