Because chewing is a normal part of being a dog. The PDSA put it plainly: chewing is a natural part of being a dog, and it’s a myth that dogs chew to annoy you or out of spite. Your dog did not take the corner off the skirting board to make a point.
When a dog chews the wrong things, a perfectly normal need has nowhere better to go. So the answer isn’t to stop your dog chewing — it’s to give the chewing somewhere to land, and to work out which of a handful of causes is behind it.
We get asked about this most weeks, usually by someone holding what’s left of a trainer. Here’s how we’d go about it.
Start here
If the chewing is new, or has changed suddenly, book a vet check before anything else. The PDSA are clear that illness and pain can easily change a dog’s behaviour, and Dogs Trust say a check helps identify hard-to-spot medical causes. Everything below assumes a healthy dog.
So why is my dog doing it?
The PDSA list six common reasons. Most dogs are somewhere in this list, and each one gives itself away differently.
Teething. Young puppies chew a lot while they’re teething, to ease sore gums. Dogs Trust say baby teeth come through at around four weeks old and start falling out at around twelve weeks, with the adult teeth usually all through by seven months — though that varies with size. Dogs Trust also describe a second chewing phase around the first birthday, which catches owners out just as they thought they were through it. You’d know it’s this if your dog is under about seven months, or coming up to a year.
Boredom, and not enough to do. If your dog is bored, or isn’t getting enough exercise and playtime, the PDSA say they’re more likely to chew things they shouldn’t. Dogs Trust put it the other way round: dogs become destructive when their physical and mental needs haven’t been met. You’d know it’s this if it follows the quiet days — bad weather, a short walk, a long afternoon on their own.
Stress, and being left alone. The PDSA describe chewing as a self-soothing behaviour for dogs who are stressed. Dogs Trust say destruction that happens only while you’re out typically points to a separation-related problem. You’d know it’s this if it never happens while you’re in the room. Worth knowing, though: the PDSA caution it doesn’t always mean a dog is unhappy — they could be having fun. A pet camera settles it, and a veterinary behaviourist can tell which from the footage.
Attention-seeking. This one is learned. If picking up your shoe reliably starts a lap of the living room, your dog has found an excellent game and will play it again tomorrow. You’d know it’s this if it happens in front of you, with your things, and with a certain look on their face.
An unbalanced diet. The PDSA note that some dogs will chew if they’re eating an unbalanced diet. If you’re unsure whether what you’re feeding is complete and balanced, that’s a conversation for your vet — and one we’re happy to help with in store.
Pain or illness. Dogs Trust are clear that pain, injuries or allergies can all sit behind destructive behaviour. This is the one people skip, and it’s the one that matters most. You’d know it’s this if it’s new, or arrived alongside any other change in them.
Whatever the answer, don’t tell them off. The PDSA are firm that punishment just makes a dog frightened of you, and Dogs Trust warn that raised voices increase frustration and fear, make the behaviour worse in the long run, and damage your relationship. Reward-based training works. This doesn’t. 🐾
What we’d reach for
Whatever the cause, the practical answer is the same: give the chewing somewhere to go. These are the four we hand over most often in the shop.
- XL Beef Bark — for dogs who get through everything in ten minutes
- Antos Split Antler — softer inside, so it suits puppies and gentler chewers
- Anco Lamb Horn Marrows — fat free, for dogs watching their weight
- KONG Classic — stuff it, freeze it, and it outlasts any chew
Not sure which suits your dog? Pop into the shop in Garforth and we’ll work it out with you.
What actually helps
Dogs Trust say it directly: if there’s nothing appropriate available to fulfil the need, dogs may resort to chewing household items. That’s the whole reason we keep a wall of long-lasting chews.
Match the chew to the chewer
The mistake we see most often is buying the wrong hardness, then concluding chews "don’t work".
For determined chewers, the XL Beef Bark is 100% air-dried cow skin and a single source protein. The Ostrich Dino Bone is a serious piece of chew, and ostrich is a novel protein and low in fat.
For gentler jaws, small dogs and puppies, the Antos Split Antler is split to expose the softer marrow inside, which is why it suits puppies and dogs who’ve never had a full antler before. The Yak Snack is made from yak and cow’s milk and is rich in calcium — it’s the one we hand new puppy owners most often.
For dogs on unusual proteins, Anco Camel Rolls are a single-source protein and, like the ostrich, camel is a novel protein.
If you’re watching their weight, Anco Lamb Horn Marrows are lamb, fat free, and among the cheapest things on the shelf.
For everyday, the Anco Bully Roll is rolled beef skin and the Anco Beef Collagen Roll is a rolled beef collagen chew — we’ve written more about collagen chews here.
A straight word about the hard ones
We’d rather tell you this than have you find out at the vet’s. The Royal Veterinary College do not recommend bones and antlers, because they are a very common cause of fractured teeth — and a fracture reaching the pulp cavity is painful and usually needs an extraction or a root canal. The RSPCA add that dogs who eat energetically are most at risk, and advise asking your vet before giving bones at all.
So: supervise every chew, pick a size they can’t get their back teeth around, and take it away once it’s small enough to swallow. If your dog is a wrecker, start at the softer end of the shelf.
And while nearly every chew on the market is sold as good for teeth, brushing is what actually does that job. The RVC and Dogs Trust are both unambiguous — daily brushing is the effective way to control plaque, and chews are a distant second.
Slow their food down
Dogs Trust recommend food-based enrichment, including a rubber toy you pre-fill and chill so it lasts longer. A KONG Classic stuffed and left in the freezer overnight will occupy most dogs far longer than the same food in a bowl, and lick mats do a similar job — they’re all in our puzzle toys and enrichment range.
Battersea’s advice applies throughout: stay in the room, so your dog can’t chew off and swallow a piece of something. Dogs Trust also suggest taking enrichment food out of the day’s meals, so it doesn’t quietly become a weight problem.
Keep it interesting, and take the edge off first
Dogs Trust recommend rotating your dog’s toys weekly — three chews on rotation genuinely beats three chews at once.
A chew also lands better after a proper walk than instead of one. If you need somewhere new, we rounded up our favourite walks around Garforth and Leeds.
The PDSA also suggest teaching a solid "leave" and "drop", and moving tempting things out of reach while you work on it. Unglamorous, and it works.
Got a puppy going through it now? Our puppy essentials shelf is where we’d start you.
Common questions
How do I stop my dog chewing the furniture?
You don’t stop the chewing, you move it. Quietly swap the chair leg for something they’re allowed to have, without making a fuss, and reward them for taking it. The PDSA also advise removing temptation where you can and teaching "leave" and "drop".
Do dogs grow out of chewing?
They grow out of the teething part — Dogs Trust say adult teeth are usually all through by around seven months, with a second phase around the first birthday. Chewing itself is lifelong normal behaviour, so an adult dog still needs somewhere to direct it.
What can I give my dog to chew instead?
Something matched to their size and how hard they chew. Our long-lasting chews cover both ends of that, and a stuffed, frozen rubber toy is the other half of the answer — Dogs Trust recommend pre-filling and chilling one to make it last longer.
Why does my dog only chew things when I leave the house?
Dogs Trust say destruction that only happens when a dog is alone typically points to a separation-related problem, and the PDSA list it among the signs of separation anxiety. They also caution it doesn’t always mean a dog is unhappy — some are simply having fun. Film them, and if it looks like distress, contact your vet.
Are antlers and bones safe for dogs to chew?
The Royal Veterinary College don’t recommend them, because they’re a very common cause of fractured teeth, and the RSPCA advise asking your vet first. We stock antlers because plenty of dogs get on fine with them — but know the risk, supervise every session, and pick something softer if your dog is a determined chewer.
Should I tell my dog off for chewing?
No. The PDSA say punishment mainly makes a dog frightened of you, and Dogs Trust warn it increases frustration and fear and makes things worse over time. Redirect onto something they’re allowed to have, and reward that instead.
When to see your vet
Please book an appointment if:
- The chewing is new, or has changed suddenly. Illness and pain can easily change a dog’s behaviour.
- You think your dog may have swallowed something. The PDSA are emphatic — contact your vet immediately, and never wait to see if a problem develops. Gut blockages are very serious and can kill a dog if they aren’t treated quickly.
- Your dog is vomiting, has diarrhoea, has gone off their food, is unusually flat, is straining to poo, or is holding a bowing or "praying" position — the PDSA list all of these after a dog eats something they shouldn’t, and they can take a couple of days to appear.
- You suspect a damaged tooth. The RSPCA name whimpering while chewing, pawing at the mouth, blood in the saliva and refusing food as needing immediate attention.
- You think it might be separation anxiety, or you notice a sudden change in behaviour.
Once a medical cause is ruled out, the PDSA recommend an accredited behaviourist. Dogs Trust also run a free Behaviour Support Line on 0303 003 6666.
We’re a pet shop, not a veterinary practice. We can help you pick a chew; we can’t tell you what’s wrong with your dog.
Sources and further reading
- PDSA — How to train my dog not to chew my things
- PDSA — ’Bad’ behaviour: dealing with your dog’s behaviour problems
- PDSA — Separation anxiety in dogs
- PDSA — My dog has eaten something harmful
- Dogs Trust — Destructive behaviour in dogs
- Dogs Trust — Stop your puppy biting, mouthing and chewing
- Dogs Trust — Enrichment activities to keep your dog entertained
- Dogs Trust — Dog dental hygiene
- RSPCA — Cleaning your dog’s teeth
- Royal Veterinary College — Dog dental and dentistry services
- Battersea — Brain games for dogs
Photos by Martin Ondřich, Sean Brannon and Tanya Gorelova on Pexels.