How to Stop Destructive Chewing: A Real-Life Guide for Dog Owners Who Are Tired of Losing Shoes, Furniture, and Their Sanity
There are few things more frustrating than coming home to a shredded shoe, a chewed-up couch cushion, or the sad remains of what used to be your favourite throw blanket.
And the worst part? Your dog usually looks thrilled to see you.
Meanwhile, you’re standing in the doorway doing the emotional math: How much is this going to cost? Is this my fault? Are they bored? Are they anxious? Why do they have 17 toys and still choose the baseboard?
If this sounds familiar, take a deep breath. Destructive chewing is frustrating, but it is also one of the most common dog behaviour problems — and in most cases, it can be improved with the right mix of management, enrichment, training, and patience.
The key is not just asking, “How do I stop my dog from chewing?”
The better question is: “Why is my dog chewing this in the first place?”
Because once you understand the reason behind the chewing, the solution becomes a lot more realistic. Chewing is a normal dog behaviour, but when it turns into destroyed furniture, shoes, baseboards, or blankets, it usually means your dog needs a better outlet, clearer boundaries, or more support. The ASPCA has a helpful overview of destructive chewing in dogs, but the short version is this: your dog is not trying to ruin your life. They are trying to meet a need.
The trick is figuring out what that need is.
Why Dogs Chew in the First Place
Before we talk about how to stop destructive chewing, it helps to remember one very important thing: chewing itself is not bad behaviour.
Dogs are supposed to chew.
Puppies chew because they are exploring the world and because teething can make their gums uncomfortable. Adult dogs chew because it helps keep their jaws busy, gives them something satisfying to do, and can relieve boredom, stress, or frustration.
The problem is not that your dog wants to chew. The problem is that your dog is choosing your shoes, couch, drywall, remote control, or dining room chair instead of something you actually want them to chew.
That means the goal is not to eliminate chewing completely. The goal is to redirect it.
You are not trying to convince your dog to become a non-chewer. You are teaching them, “This is yours. That is mine.”
And yes, that lesson usually takes a lot more repetition than we wish it did.
First, Figure Out What Kind of Chewing You’re Dealing With
Not all destructive chewing comes from the same place. A puppy chewing chair legs is not always the same situation as an adult dog ripping apart a doorframe when left alone.
If you skip this step, you can end up throwing solutions at the wrong problem. A bored dog may need more mental stimulation. A teething puppy may need safer chew options. An anxious dog may need a much more careful plan.
These are the most common reasons dogs chew destructively.
1. Puppy Teething
If your dog is still young, chewing may be partly about teething. Puppies explore with their mouths, and when their adult teeth are coming in, chewing can help relieve discomfort. VCA Canada has a good overview of teeth, teething and chewing in puppies if you want a more detailed explanation of what is happening during this stage.
This stage can feel endless when you are living through it. You may remove one forbidden item from their mouth only to watch them immediately trot over to something worse. A sock becomes a treasure. A table leg becomes a project. Your sleeve becomes an interactive toy.
The good news is that puppy chewing usually improves with age, consistency, and better management. The bad news is that puppies do not magically know what is allowed unless we make it very clear and very easy for them to succeed.
If your puppy is teething, a few puppy-safe chew toys can make this stage easier. Look for softer rubber options designed for young dogs, and supervise closely while you learn how your puppy chews.
Kong Puppy toys are a popular and excellent puppy toy that can help keep your pup busy. We love Kongs in our house and have used the well into doggo adulthood.
2. Boredom or Under-Stimulation
A bored dog will often find their own entertainment, and unfortunately their hobbies may include furniture removal, shoe redesign, or cardboard demolition (Ember is a big fan of this one).
This is especially common with intelligent, energetic, or high-drive dogs who need more than a short walk around the block. A physically tired dog may still be mentally restless. A mentally tired dog is often much more settled.
If your dog tends to chew when the house is quiet, when you are busy, or after a low-activity day, boredom may be part of the problem.
This does not mean you need to spend three hours a day entertaining your dog like a cruise director. It means you may need to build more purposeful enrichment into their routine.
Think sniff walks, food puzzles, training games, stuffed toys, safe chews, scatter feeding, or short problem-solving sessions. If you need simple ideas for rainy days, busy workdays, or times when you just cannot get out as much as usual, these activities to tire out your dog indoors are a good place to start.
3. Anxiety or Stress
Some dogs chew because they are worried, frustrated, or overwhelmed. This can happen when they are left alone, when there are loud noises, when their routine changes, or when they are confined somewhere they do not feel comfortable.
Anxiety-related chewing can look different from boredom chewing. Instead of casually destroying a toy or shoe, a stressed dog may chew doorframes, window trim, crates, blinds, walls, or exit points. They may also bark, pace, drool, pant, have accidents, or seem frantic when you leave.
VCA Canada explains that dogs and destructive chewing can be connected to normal chewing needs, but also to stress, anxiety, or lack of appropriate outlets.
If the chewing mostly happens when your dog is alone, separation anxiety may be worth considering. You can also read more about how to help your dog feel more comfortable being alone if the chewing seems tied to alone time.
This is important because anxiety chewing should not be treated as your dog “being bad.” If your dog is panicking when you leave, simply giving them a tougher chew toy may not solve the deeper issue.
4. Too Much Freedom Too Soon
This is a big one, and it is also one of the easiest to overlook.
Sometimes destructive chewing happens because a dog has been given more freedom than they are ready for.
That does not mean they are a bad dog. It just means they are not yet reliable with full access to the house. If a dog has access to shoes, laundry, kids’ toys, garbage, pillows, blankets, cords, and furniture while unsupervised, they are being asked to make a lot of good decisions without much guidance.
Many dogs need a smaller, safer space while they are learning.
That might mean a crate, an exercise pen, a baby-gated room, or a dog-proofed area with appropriate chew options. It is not about punishment. It is about preventing mistakes while your dog builds better habits.
5. The Chew Toy Problem: They Have Toys, But Not the Right Ones
A lot of dog owners say some version of this:
“My dog has so many toys. Why are they still chewing my stuff?”
Usually, the answer is that the toys are either too boring, too available, too soft, too easy to destroy, or not satisfying enough for that particular dog.
If the same toys are scattered around the floor every day, they can become background noise. Your dog may walk past them because they are no longer interesting. Meanwhile, your slipper smells like you, has a great texture, and gets a big reaction when they grab it.
That is basically a jackpot.
Toy rotation can help. Instead of leaving every toy out all the time, keep most of them put away and rotate a few options every couple of days. This makes old toys feel new again and helps you notice which ones actually keep your dog engaged.
If your dog is a serious chewer, it can also help to compare options designed for stronger jaws. Our guide to the best dog chews for aggressive chewers is a good next step if your dog destroys most basic toys quickly.
Step One: Stop Giving Your Dog Access to Things You Don’t Want Chewed
This is not the most exciting advice, but it is probably the most important.
If your dog keeps chewing shoes, the shoes need to be put away. If they chew laundry, laundry needs to be behind a closed door. If they chew the remote, the remote needs to live somewhere higher. If they chew garbage, the garbage needs a lid or needs to be tucked away.
This can feel annoying because it sounds like you are changing your life around your dog.
And honestly? For a while, you are.
But management is not forever. It is how you prevent your dog from practicing the wrong behaviour while you teach the right one. The AKC also emphasizes management, redirection, and appropriate chew options in its guide on how to stop a dog from chewing.
Every time your dog chews something they should not, they learn that chewing that item is fun, soothing, exciting, or rewarding. Every time you prevent that rehearsal and offer a better option, you make the good habit easier to build.
A dog-proofed space is not a failure. It is a training tool.
For many dogs, this means using baby gates, closing bedroom doors, picking up tempting items, keeping counters clear, moving cords out of reach, and limiting access when you cannot supervise.
It might not feel glamorous, but it works.
Step Two: Give Your Dog Something Better to Chew
Once you remove the forbidden items, you need to replace them with something your dog actually wants.
This is where many people get stuck. They buy a cute toy, the dog ignores it, and then they assume toys do not work.
But dogs have preferences, just like people do. Some dogs want to shred. Some want to gnaw. Some want rubber toys. Some want food-stuffed toys. Some want soft toys they can carry around. Some want chews that take effort.
The best chew option depends on your dog’s size, chewing style, age, and safety needs.
A gentle senior dog and a determined power chewer should not necessarily be given the same thing. A puppy with baby teeth needs different options than an adult dog with a serious chewing habit.
As a general rule, choose chews and toys that are appropriately sized, durable enough for your dog, and not so hard that they risk damaging teeth. Always supervise new chews until you know how your dog handles them.
If your dog is chewing out of boredom, food-stuffed toys and longer-lasting chews can be helpful tools. They are not magic fixes, but they can give your dog an appropriate outlet while you work on the bigger routine and training pieces.
Some of our favourite toys and chews are Kongs, Lick Mats, Yak Chews and Snuffle Mats.
Step Three: Make the “Right” Chew More Interesting Than Your Stuff
A plain toy sitting on the floor may not compete with your shoe, especially if your shoe smells like you and has already become forbidden treasure.
To make appropriate chewing more appealing, add value.
Stuff a rubber toy with part of your dog’s meal. Freeze it to make it last longer. Smear a small amount of dog-safe wet food, pumpkin, plain yogurt, or peanut butter inside, as long as the ingredients are safe for dogs and do not contain xylitol.
You can also make chew time part of a predictable routine. For example, your dog gets a special chew when you sit down to work, when you make dinner, or when you leave for a short period.
The goal is to teach your dog that calm chewing on approved items is rewarding.
One small trick that can help: do not leave the highest-value chew items out all day. If your dog gets a special stuffed toy only during quiet time, it becomes more exciting.
This is especially helpful for dogs who seem to have “a million toys” but still go after household items.
Step Four: Interrupt Calmly and Redirect
If you catch your dog chewing something they should not, try not to panic-yell across the room.
I know. Easier said than done when the thing in their mouth is expensive.
But big reactions can accidentally turn the whole thing into a game. Suddenly your dog has learned that grabbing a sock makes you leap off the couch and chase them. That is not a correction. That is entertainment.
Instead, calmly interrupt. Use a cue like “leave it” or “drop it” if your dog knows one. Then trade for something better.
The trade matters because it teaches your dog what to do instead. You are not just saying, “Don’t chew that.” You are saying, “Chew this instead.”
If your dog runs away with stolen items, avoid chasing. Make the trade more valuable and practice “drop it” when the stakes are low, not just when your dog has something you desperately want back.
A calm redirect might look like this:
Your dog grabs a shoe. You calmly get a treat or toy, encourage them to drop the shoe, praise them when they do, then offer an appropriate chew. After that, the shoes go behind a closed door.
That last part is important. If the shoe stays available, your dog will probably try again.
Step Five: Add More Mental Exercise to the Day
If your dog is chewing because they are bored, a better chew toy may help — but it may not be enough on its own.
Many dogs need more brain work.
The nice thing is that mental exercise does not have to be complicated. You do not need a huge backyard, expensive equipment, or a perfect schedule. A few short sessions throughout the day can make a real difference.
Try turning mealtime into enrichment. Scatter kibble in a safe area and let your dog sniff it out. Use a puzzle feeder. Roll kibble in a towel. Practice basic cues for five minutes. Hide treats around a room and let your dog search.
Sniffing is especially underrated. A slow walk where your dog gets to sniff can be more satisfying than a rushed march around the block.
If your dog is constantly looking for trouble, they may be asking for a job. That job does not have to be fancy. It just has to give their brain something to do.
For more simple enrichment ideas, try adding a few easy indoor games that can help tire out your dog into your week.
Puzzle feeders and food-based enrichment toys can be an easy way to add more mental stimulation without adding a huge amount of extra work to your day.
Step Six: Look at Your Dog’s Daily Routine
Sometimes destructive chewing is not about one missing toy. It is about the whole rhythm of the day.
Ask yourself:
Does my dog get a chance to move their body before long periods of rest? Do they get to sniff and explore? Do they have something appropriate to chew when I am busy? Are they getting enough sleep? Are they being left alone longer than they can currently handle? Are they overstimulated and unable to settle?
Dogs can chew from too little stimulation, but they can also get destructive when they are overtired and wired. Puppies, especially, can become tiny chaos machines when they need a nap.
A balanced routine usually includes physical exercise, mental enrichment, rest, predictable alone-time practice, and safe chew outlets.
For some dogs, adding more movement and sniffing time can help reduce the urge to create their own chaos at home. If you are local to Vancouver, exploring some of the best dog parks in Vancouver can be a nice way to add variety to your dog’s routine.
It does not have to be perfect. It just has to be consistent enough that your dog knows what to expect.
What If Your Dog Only Chews When Left Alone?
If the chewing only happens when your dog is alone, pay close attention to the pattern.
A dog who casually chews a pillow after being left for several hours may be bored or under-stimulated. A dog who immediately panics, chews doorframes, damages crates, drools heavily, barks nonstop, or tries to escape may be dealing with separation anxiety or confinement distress.
Those situations need a gentler approach.
For mild alone-time chewing, you may be able to help by exercising your dog before you leave, giving them a safe food-stuffed toy, limiting access to tempting items, and keeping departures calm.
For more serious anxiety, it may be worth working with a qualified positive-reinforcement trainer, veterinary behaviourist, or your vet. In some cases, dogs need a structured separation anxiety plan rather than a tougher chew toy.
You can also check out our guide on the signs that your dog has separation anxiety.
What If Your Dog Is an Aggressive Chewer?
Some dogs do not just chew. They commit. This is Ember in a nutshell.
They can peel apart plush toys in minutes, crack cheap rubber, shred rope, and turn “long-lasting” chews into a ten-minute project. If you have a strong chewer, you already know that not all dog toys are built the same.
For aggressive chewers, safety matters as much as durability. You want something strong enough to last, but not so hard that it risks tooth damage. You also want to avoid toys that break into sharp pieces or chews that become choking hazards.
This is where supervision is important. Any new chew or toy should be tested while you are watching. If pieces start coming off, take it away.
You may also need to separate “chew toys” from “interactive toys.” A toy that works well for fetch or tug may not be safe for unsupervised gnawing. A plush toy may be fine for a gentle dog but completely wrong for a dog who likes to remove squeakers surgically.
If your dog destroys most toys quickly, it may be worth comparing chews that may work better for aggressive chewers. No toy is truly indestructible for every dog, but the right match can make a big difference.
It is also worth being realistic about “tough” toy claims. Some toys marketed as durable do not hold up to determined chewers, which is exactly what we found in our Mammoth Tire Biter dog toy review.
What Not to Do When Your Dog Chews Something
When your dog destroys something valuable, it is completely normal to feel angry. But a few common reactions can make the problem worse.
Avoid punishing your dog after the fact. If you come home and find a chewed shoe, your dog will not connect your anger with the chewing that happened earlier. They may look guilty, but that “guilty” look is usually a response to your tone and body language, not proof that they understand what they did wrong.
Avoid chasing your dog when they steal something. This can turn the behaviour into a game.
Avoid giving unsafe items as “chews” just because your dog likes them. Old shoes, socks, towels, sticks, and random household items can confuse your dog or create safety risks.
Avoid assuming your dog is being spiteful. Dogs do not chew your stuff because they are mad at you. They chew because it is satisfying, soothing, fun, or because they are struggling with boredom or stress.
That does not mean the behaviour is okay. It just means the solution should focus on prevention and teaching, not blame.
When to Be Concerned About Destructive Chewing
Most chewing issues can be improved with better management and enrichment, but there are times when you should take the behaviour more seriously.
Talk to your vet or a qualified behaviour professional if your dog is chewing to the point of injuring themselves, breaking teeth, swallowing dangerous objects, destroying exit points, panicking when left alone, or suddenly starting destructive chewing when they have not done it before.
A sudden change in behaviour can sometimes be linked to pain, stress, anxiety, diet changes, routine changes, or medical issues. It is always better to check than to assume your dog has randomly decided to become a home renovation specialist.
If your dog swallows part of a toy, sock, plastic item, cooked bone, or anything sharp or potentially toxic, contact your vet right away.
A Simple Destructive Chewing Plan You Can Start Today
If you are overwhelmed and just want a starting point, begin here.
First, remove the easiest temptations. Shoes, laundry, garbage, kids’ toys, remotes, and cords should be out of reach.
Next, choose a safe confinement area for times when you cannot supervise. This might be a crate, pen, or dog-proofed room.
Then, give your dog two or three appropriate chew options and rotate them so they stay interesting.
Add one mental enrichment activity each day, even if it is simple. A sniffy walk, a food puzzle, a short training session, or a stuffed toy can help.
Finally, watch for patterns. Does the chewing happen when your dog is alone? At night? After low-exercise days? When they are overtired? When you are busy? The pattern will tell you what to adjust.
You do not need to fix everything overnight. You just need to make the unwanted chewing harder and the right chewing easier.
That is where progress starts.
FAQ: How to Stop Destructive Chewing in Dogs
Why is my dog chewing everything all of a sudden?
Sudden destructive chewing can happen because of boredom, anxiety, stress, a change in routine, lack of exercise, or access to tempting items. If the behaviour is new or intense, it is worth checking with your vet to rule out pain or medical issues.
How do I stop my dog from chewing furniture?
Start by blocking access to the furniture when you cannot supervise. Give your dog appropriate chew options, reward them for using those items, and add more mental and physical enrichment to their day. If the chewing happens when your dog is alone, anxiety may also be part of the problem.
Do dogs grow out of destructive chewing?
Puppies often chew less as they mature, but chewing is a normal dog behaviour that continues into adulthood. Dogs do not always grow out of destructive chewing unless they are taught what to chew and are given appropriate outlets.
What can I give my dog instead of shoes or furniture?
Choose safe, appropriately sized chew toys, food-stuffed rubber toys, puzzle feeders, or supervised long-lasting chews. The best option depends on your dog’s size, age, chewing strength, and preferences.
Is destructive chewing a sign of separation anxiety?
It can be. If your dog mostly chews when left alone, especially around doors, windows, crates, or exit points, separation anxiety or confinement distress may be involved. Other signs can include barking, pacing, drooling, accidents, or escape attempts.
Final Thoughts: Your Dog Is Not Trying to Ruin Your Life
It can feel personal when your dog destroys your things.
It feels personal when they ignore the toy basket and chew your shoe. It feels personal when they shred the couch you still have payments on. It feels personal when you are already tired and now there is fluff, fabric, or wood splinters all over the floor.
But your dog is not trying to ruin your life.
They are trying to meet a need in the only way they currently know how.
Your job is to make the wrong choices harder, the right choices easier, and your dog’s day a little more satisfying.
With better management, safer chew outlets, more enrichment, and a bit of detective work, destructive chewing can improve. And someday, hopefully, you will be able to leave the room without wondering what household item is about to be sacrificed next.
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