If you've come home to a shredded cushion, a chewed skirting board or the sad remains of a favourite shoe, you're not alone, and your dog isn't being naughty. Chewing is a completely normal, healthy, self-soothing behaviour for dogs, as Dogs Trust explains in its guide to destructive behaviour. So when owners ask me how to stop dog chewing, my first answer is that you don't want to stop it entirely; you want to redirect it onto the right things and remove the reasons behind the destructive kind.
Get that balance right (plenty of appropriate outlets, a bit of management, and a look at whether boredom or anxiety is behind it) and the destruction fades fast. Here's how.
Normal chewing vs destructive chewing
All dogs chew. It keeps teeth and gums healthy, relieves stress and simply feels good. The problem isn't the chewing itself: it's what they're chewing. Destructive chewing (furniture, walls, doors, your belongings) is usually a sign that your dog either doesn't have enough acceptable things to chew, or that something else is going on: boredom, anxiety or, in puppies, teething.
Puppies and teething
If you've got a puppy, brace yourself: the chewing phase peaks during teething, roughly from three to six months, and can rumble on to around a year as the adult teeth settle. Their gums genuinely ache, and chewing brings relief.
- Offer plenty of safe, puppy-appropriate chew toys.
- Try popping a damp, clean flannel in the freezer, as the cold soothes sore gums.
- Rotate toys so they stay novel and interesting.
This phase passes. Your job is to survive it with your possessions intact by giving them better options than the table leg.
Boredom and anxiety in adult dogs
When an adult dog chews destructively, boredom and anxiety are the usual culprits. A dog with too little physical exercise and, just as important, too little mental stimulation will find their own entertainment, and it's rarely the entertainment you'd choose.
Separation-related chewing is different: if the damage only happens when your dog is left alone, and especially if it's focused around doors and windows, that points to anxiety rather than boredom, and it's worth addressing the underlying distress (a qualified behaviourist, such as one accredited through the ABTC, can help here).
Give them the right things to chew
The kindest, most effective fix is to make sure there's always something legal and satisfying to chew:
- Sturdy rubber chew toys (the kind you can stuff with food and freeze).
- Snuffle mats and lick mats to occupy the brain.
- Appropriately sized, good-quality dog chews suited to your dog's size and chewing strength.
- Rotate them so novelty keeps things interesting.
Worth knowing: Skip cooked bones entirely: they splinter and can cause serious internal damage or blockages. Avoid anything small enough to swallow or so hard it could crack a tooth, and always supervise new chews. If in doubt about whether a chew is safe for your dog, ask your vet.
Manage the environment and redirect, don't punish
While you're building good habits, set your dog up to succeed:
- Puppy-proof: move shoes, remotes, cables and anything precious out of reach.
- Restrict space: a baby gate or a comfy crate (used positively) limits opportunities when you can't supervise.
- Redirect, don't scold: if you catch your dog chewing the wrong thing, calmly swap it for an approved chew and praise them for taking it (the PDSA's guide to training a dog not to chew takes the same swap-and-reward approach). Punishment after the fact does nothing: your dog won't link it to the chewing, and it can make anxious chewers worse.
Exercise and enrichment: the real secret
Honestly, the single biggest difference for most dogs is more of the right kind of tiredness. A good walk plus mental work (training games, sniffy walks, puzzle feeders, scatter feeding) leaves a dog content and far less inclined to redecorate. A tired brain chews less than a bored one, which is exactly why the same enrichment also helps with boredom-driven barking.
When chewing is about the coat, not the furniture
Here's my groomer's angle. Some dogs don't chew the sofa; they chew, bite, lick or nibble at themselves, usually their paws, legs or flanks. That's a different story. Persistent self-chewing often means the skin is irritated or itchy, which can be down to:
- Allergies or a skin condition (our guide to why your dog is so itchy runs through the common causes).
- Matted, tangled coat pulling on the skin (uncomfortable and itchy).
- Something caught in the fur, or overgrown hair between the paw pads.
- Fleas, mites or another parasite.
If your dog is gnawing at themselves, it's worth a vet check for the skin and a professional groom to get the coat comfortable, mat-free and properly checked over. We spot skin and coat problems all the time on the table before owners have noticed them.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop my dog chewing everything in the house?
Provide plenty of safe chew toys, manage the environment so precious items are out of reach, and boost exercise and mental enrichment. Redirect your dog onto an approved chew rather than punishing them.
How to stop a puppy chewing during teething?
Offer safe puppy chews and cold, soothing toys (a frozen damp flannel works well), rotate them to keep them interesting, and puppy-proof the room. The teething phase eases as the adult teeth come through.
Why does my dog chew when left alone?
Chewing only when alone, often around doors and windows, usually points to separation-related anxiety rather than boredom. Addressing the underlying distress, ideally with a qualified behaviourist, is more effective than management alone.
My dog keeps chewing his own paws, what does it mean?
Self-chewing usually signals itchy or irritated skin, allergies, matting or a parasite. It's worth a vet check and a professional groom to get the coat comfortable and rule out a skin problem.
Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. If your dog is nibbling at their own coat or paws, a thorough groom can uncover matting or skin trouble early. Book a coat and skin check groom.