You come home, drop your keys, and there it is. A literal massacre of leather and foam in the middle of the hallway. Your favorite loafers—the ones that actually fit—are now just a collection of expensive scraps. You look at your dog. They look at you, tail thumping tentatively, seemingly proud of the destruction. It’s infuriating. But honestly, if we’re going to get to the bottom of why do dogs like to chew, we have to stop looking at it as "bad behavior" and start looking at it as a biological necessity.
Dogs don’t have hands. They experience the world through their mouths in a way humans can’t quite grasp. Imagine navigating a museum where you aren't allowed to touch anything with your fingers, but you’re encouraged to taste the statues. That’s a dog’s life.
The Puppy Phase: It’s All About the Gums
Puppies are basically tiny sharks with fur. Between the ages of four months and six months, their permanent teeth are pushing through the jawbone, and it hurts. Think about a human infant crying over a teething ring. Now, give that infant a set of predatory instincts and the jaw strength to snap a pencil.
Chewing provides a counter-pressure that numbs the discomfort of those erupting adult teeth. Dr. Mary Burch, a certified applied animal behaviorist with the American Kennel Club (AKC), often points out that during this stage, the "chewing" isn't an act of rebellion. It’s a medical requirement. They need to chew to facilitate the loss of baby teeth. If you don't provide a soft rubber toy or a cold washcloth, your couch leg becomes the next best thing.
It’s a tactile exploration. A puppy bites a rock; it’s hard. They bite a slipper; it’s squishy and smells like their favorite person. They bite the cat; the cat hits back. This is how they learn the boundaries of their physical environment.
The Mental Game: Boredom and the "Dopamine Hit"
Adult dogs aren't teething, yet they still devour the TV remote. Why?
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Usually, it's because they're bored out of their minds. Most domestic dogs were bred for a specific job. Border Collies were meant to stare down sheep for twelve hours a day. Beagles were meant to track scents across miles of rugged terrain. Now, we ask them to sit in a quiet suburban living room while we scroll through TikTok. That energy has to go somewhere.
Chewing is self-soothing. When a dog gnaws on something, their brain releases endorphins—those feel-good chemicals that lower heart rates and reduce cortisol. It’s the canine equivalent of knitting or stress-eating a bag of chips. If a dog is left alone for eight hours without mental stimulation, chewing isn't just a hobby. It’s a coping mechanism for the crushing weight of boredom.
Separation Anxiety vs. Standard Boredom
There is a massive difference between a dog who chews because they’re bored and a dog who chews because they are panicking. True separation anxiety is a psychological disorder. If you notice your dog only destroys things near the "exit points" of the house—like chewing through the door frame or tearing up the carpet by the front door—you aren't looking at a chewing problem. You're looking at a panic attack.
Dr. Nicholas Dodman of Tufts University has written extensively about this. In these cases, the dog isn't "acting out" to get back at you for leaving. They are literally trying to dig their way out of the house to find you. Using a standard "no chew" spray on the door won't work here because the motivation is fear, not a desire to gnaw.
The Health Benefits You Might Not See
We talk a lot about the destruction, but we rarely talk about the hygiene. Wild canids—wolves, coyotes, foxes—don't have toothbrushes. They maintain dental health by shearing meat off bones and crunching through cartilage. This mechanical action scrapes plaque from the teeth.
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Domestic dogs still have this instinct. Chewing encourages saliva production, which contains enzymes that help fight off bacteria. While a nylon bone isn't a replacement for a professional veterinary cleaning, it definitely helps keep the "dog breath" at bay.
However, there’s a catch.
Not all things dogs want to chew are safe. Take "bully sticks" or rawhide. While popular, they can be polarizing in the vet community. Rawhide, in particular, is notorious for causing intestinal blockages because it doesn't break down easily. It swells in the stomach. On the flip side, real bones can splinter and pierce the digestive tract. It's a weird balancing act between satisfying an instinct and avoiding an emergency surgery bill.
Hunger and Nutrient Deficiencies
Sometimes, why do dogs like to chew comes down to a literal rumbling in the tummy.
If a dog is on a calorie-restricted diet, they might start chewing on random objects to trick their stomach into feeling full. There’s also a condition called "pica." This is where a dog compulsively eats non-food items like rocks, dirt, or socks. While sometimes behavioral, pica can indicate a nutritional deficiency or an underlying medical issue like anemia or parasites. If your dog is suddenly obsessed with eating the drywall, it’s time for blood work, not a training session.
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How to Actually Stop the Destruction
You can't "train away" the urge to chew. It’s like trying to train a human to stop blinking. You can, however, redirect it.
First, dog-proof the environment. This sounds obvious, but if you leave a $200 pair of sneakers on the floor, you are essentially offering them as a tribute. Put them in a closet. Put the remote in a drawer.
Second, provide "high-value" alternatives. A plain rubber bone is boring. A rubber bone stuffed with frozen peanut butter and kibble is a project. It challenges their brain and tires them out.
- Rotate the toys. If the same three toys are on the floor every day, they become "furniture." Put two away and leave one out. Swap them every few days to keep the novelty alive.
- The "Trade Up" Rule. Never just snatch a forbidden item out of a dog's mouth. This can trigger resource guarding. Instead, offer a piece of high-quality jerky or a favorite toy. When they drop the shoe to get the treat, praise them.
- Physical Exercise. A tired dog is a well-behaved dog. A 30-minute walk where they get to sniff everything is worth more than a 10-minute sprint. Sniffing lowers their pulse and tires their brain.
What to Do Next
If you’re currently staring at a ruined rug, take a breath. Your dog isn't a jerk; they’re just a dog. Start by identifying the "trigger times." Does the chewing happen right after you leave? Does it happen at 7:00 PM when they usually get a walk?
Actionable Steps:
- Audit the "Toy Box": Toss anything that is small enough to be swallowed or is shredded to the point of being a choking hazard.
- Increase Enrichment: Instead of a bowl, put their dinner in a puzzle toy. Make them work for it.
- Consult the Vet: if the chewing is obsessive or involves eating non-food items, rule out pica or GI distress immediately.
- Scent Work: Hide treats around the living room. Let them use their nose. It’s the most taxing mental exercise they can do, and a mentally exhausted dog has no interest in chewing your baseboards.
The goal isn't to stop the chewing entirely. That's impossible. The goal is to make sure that when they do chew, it's on something you've approved, and they're doing it because they're happy and healthy—not because they're stressed.