Ask Dr. Caryn: Chewing Dog Problem

Dear Dr. Caryn,

Isis chewing on Heather's pillow.

How do I stop destructive chewing? Isis has chewed the buttons off my jeans, the edge off my pillow-case, the eyes off my daughter's stuffed animals!?!?!? I love this dog, but she is driving me crazy...Dr. Heather (Turtle Biologist)

Dear Dr. Heather,

Dogs chew. It's a natural, normal, necessary canine behavior, especially in puppies and young dogs. At 18 months, Isis is probably chewing to relieve anxiety. During the first 6 months of her life, Isis's first owner was in and out of the hospital every month. Isis was left with various roommates and friends who did not realize the importance of early training, socialization, and confidence building. When they caught her getting into things, they scolded her and locked her in her crate, which lead to mild anxiety. Many dogs that suffer from mild separation or isolation anxiety find relief in chewing on things - especially things that smell like their beloved owner. Below are 5 steps to successfully resolving your problem...Caryn

5 Steps to Resolve the Chewing Dog Problem:

1. If you catch your dog chewing something inappropriate, redirect her to something acceptable. Train "trade." NEVER forcefully take items away from her. This can lead to a game of keep-away in the best case scenario and resource guarding in the worse case scenario. Be consistent and persistent. Avoid scolding her for chewing the wrong thing - scolding will only increase her anxiety.

2. Provide lots of acceptable alternatives to chew on: figure out what she likes to chew on, and make sure those items are abundant. Leave 5-6 items laying around in every room that she has access to. Give her attention when she's chewing on an acceptable item instead of when she's chewing on an unacceptable item! Try DIY items made out of your old t-shirts, pigs hooves, marrow bones, bully sticks, stuffed Kongs, a tennis ball tied into an old sock, an empty water bottle tied into a tube sock, an old shirt or t-towel tied into knots, squeaky stuffed toys that you have played with.  

3. If you find something that's been chewed on, AVOID scolding her. There is nothing you can do after the fact. Isis will NOT associate your anger with her chewing. It will only increase her anxiety. Put her in another room while you clean up the mess without drawing undue attention to it.

4. Dog-proof your house. Pick up anything that might be chewed. Do your best to make sure there's nothing inappropriate available. Put those nice pillows away for a few months.

5. Supervise Isis all the time. Use doors and baby gates to keep her in the room with your nice things. She cannot sneak away and chew on something if she's always under your watchful eye. When you cannot watch her: put her in her crate with a stuffed Nylabone or Kong. We are fortunate that Isis perceives her crate as a safe retreat where she gets to chew on appropriate stuff!

Posted 31 March 2025

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