Is chewing a destructive behavior? The simplest answer is: only if your dog is chewing the wrong things. So give them something to chew on.

Your dog’s chewing may not only destroy your home and property. It can also be dangerous because many objects are choking hazards, can cause gastrointestinal blockages, or break into sharp pieces that can injure your puppy’s internal organs.

That said, you shouldn’t want your dog to stop chewing altogether. Puppy chewing is an important part of the teething process. As adults, dogs often chew for fun or to relieve boredom. Chewing or shredding things (such as paper) can also be a displacement behavior – a way to release pent-up energy or stress.

Making sure your dog only chews the right things will help keep them – and your property – safe. Here are some ways you can redirect your dog’s chewing and stop unwanted behaviors.

Dogs protect your house

As with any type of behavior you wish to change, one of the most important things to do is to manage your environment.

Most of us are familiar with the “puppy-proof” house. We learn to put our shoes in the closet and put the puppies in the crate when we are not actively supervising.

But we often forget that many adult dogs need the same kind of management to stay out of trouble.

Look around for unsafe items that are out of your dog’s reach. If you plan to leave your puppy alone in the house, make sure they have a safe place where they won’t find inappropriate things to chew on.

Give your dog a chew toyIf your dog tries to chew something inappropriate in front of you, simply interrupt the behavior and direct them to the appropriate chew toy.

It can be helpful to keep a stuffed toy in a zipper lock bag in the refrigerator so you can produce it quickly when you need it. Stuffing it with dog-safe peanut butter or dessert may help encourage your dog to stick with the toy rather than other items.

Many puppies are more likely to chew at specific times of the day, so if you choose this time of day to give your dog an approved chew, you can discourage this behavior at the pass.

Use of bad-tasting insect repellents and sprays

You can use non-personal correction methods to keep puppies and adult dogs away from certain objects, preferably in “environmental” correction areas.

For example, keep your pup away by spraying items with bitter apple spray or other dog repellents. These things are safe for dogs, but they do not taste or smell appealing.

If something is particularly unpleasant, the dog is likely to make a decision not to repeat the behavior.

Exercise your dog moreExercise is critical for dogs prone to inappropriate chewing or other destructive behaviors. A tired puppy is less likely to have the energy to cause problems.

Exercise also produces endorphins, which have a sedative effect. In fact, it is these endorphins that are stimulated by chewing, so if your dog is not getting enough exercise, they may unconsciously seek to replace needed endorphins by chewing to release repressed energy.

Making sure your dog gets enough exercise will greatly reduce boredom, anxiety and attention seeking behaviors.

Make a Veterinary Appointment

Occasionally, chewing or shredding things can be a symptom of a more serious problem, such as separation anxiety. This can happen when a dog feels extreme anxiety and does not want to leave his human alone.

If you suspect separation anxiety, the first thing you need to do is make an appointment with your veterinarian. They can help you figure out if it’s separation anxiety or another problem.

Treatment for separation anxiety disorder can include changes in diet and exercise, training, medication, or a combination of treatments. Treatment or cure is not always easy and often takes time to make progress. But addressing the problem should help with disruptive chewing behaviors.

There are other disorders that can make a dog feel compelled to chew. In fact, xenophagia is a condition in which a dog feels the need to eat non-food items, and xenophagia can also be a symptom of an underlying medical problem.

That’s why it’s important to talk to your veterinarian. They can diagnose your dog’s condition, prescribe treatment, and even offer advice to correct unwanted behavior.

Be gentle!There are still training books on the market that promote inhumane methods to stop destructive behavior, such as wrapping tape around a pet’s mouth or physically beating the dog. Needless to say, there is no justification for such corrections.

Not only are they extremely unfair, they are inefficient. Using proper management, such as cradling the dog when he is not under your direct supervision, along with proper exercise, can reduce the vast majority of destructive behavior problems.

Do you have a dog at home that only chews? What methods do you use to keep your dog and your belongings safe? Let us know in the comments below!