Inappropriate chewing

Prevent

• Put inappropriate items the dog likes to chew away if possible - do not allow them the opportunity to choose practicing chewing the wrong things. 

• Use a leash to keep your dog with you if needed. When active supervision isn't possible manage with a crate, exercise pen, baby gate or restrict from rooms where there are preferred items. 

• Bitter spray (your dog should make a yuck face when they taste it) can be applied to items that cannot be removed from the environment.  Do not ever apply to a person or directly to the dog. 

What to do

• Meet your dog’s needs for physical, social and mental stimulation through enrichment so they do not feel the need to seek out items to chew to get your attention, relieve boredom or self soothe.

• Consider the texture and material of items that they prefer chewing and find chews that are similar.

• Gently redirect to appropriate chews when your dog makes a choice you do not prefer.  Teach your dog cues like drop it and leave it with positive reinforcement to communicate clearly when you would like them not to engage with something.

• Offer a variety of appropriate chews and rotate them every few days to keep the options fresh. Novel items and variety make it easier for your dog to make good choices.

• Discuss the chews you like with your vet to be sure they are safe for their teeth – some dogs will fracture their teeth on very hard chews. Some chews are choking or obstruction hazards.   

• Dogs do not chew items to spite you, it is more likely they choose items that smell like their family to use as pacifiers to soothe themselves.

• Chasing a dog and removing items from their mouth will not teach them to avoid chewing those items, but it can trigger resource guarding and increase the chance they will take things and sneak away to chew.

• Not all toys are appropriate for chewing - ropes, balls and stuffed toys are not chew toys. For destructive chewers, pick up more delicate toys and only use them when your dog is closely supervised.  Trade and remove if they settle in to chew the toy instead of play. 

• Sticks and cooked bones can splinter and get caught in a dog's mouth and throat, they are not appropriate chews. 

•  Destructive chewing that happens only when confined or left alone can be a symptom of separation related behavior.  Use a camera to spy on your dog when you go out to assess what is happeneing and contact a behavior professional to intervene as quickly as possible.