Why it happens
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Teething
While a puppy's teeth are changing, its gums itch and ache, so it chews table legs, shoes and cables. Even once the teeth have changed, a young dog goes on chewing a great deal for a while, until it is about a year old.
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A built-in need to chew
Chewing feels good to a dog and calms it: it is a natural way to relax and to keep the teeth clean. A dog without chews of its own finds something to chew by itself.
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Boredom
A young, lively dog that gets few walks and spends long hours with nothing to do finds its own entertainment. A cushion or the corner of the sofa then becomes a toy.
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Exploring, and your smell
Dogs get to know things with their mouths. Your shoes, your handbag or the TV remote are especially tempting to a young dog, because they smell of you.
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Stress when left alone
If your dog chews only when it is alone, especially doors, door frames or windowsills, and also barks, howls or wees, it may be anxiety at being separated from you. There is a separate page about that.
What helps
- Chews it is allowed Offer several kinds of chews and chew toys: harder ones, softer ones, rubber ones with a hollow for a treat. Rotate them so they stay interesting, and praise your dog when it chews its own things.
- A puppy-proof home Put away cables, shoes, children's toys, household chemicals and anything that could be poisonous. Close the doors to rooms where you cannot watch the puppy, and when you are not around, leave it in a pen or a room that is safe for a dog.
- Swap, do not snatch If you find your dog with something it should not have, do not scold it – offer a treat or a chew in exchange and calmly take the item. If you chase it, it learns that this is a fun game, or starts guarding things.
- More exercise and puzzles Walks with time to sniff, scent games and food puzzles tire a dog out. A tired dog would rather rest than wreck the furniture.
- A chew before you leave Before you leave your dog alone, give it a long-lasting chew or a toy stuffed with food. That makes the first minutes without you pleasant rather than worrying.
Related product categories
The links lead to product categories, not to a particular product or brand. They are not a recommendation.
When it is a question for a vet
See a vet straight away if your dog has swallowed a piece of something and is vomiting, choking, coughing, drooling or will not eat, if its belly is swollen or painful, or if it has chewed a cable, a household chemical container or anything poisonous. The same goes for an adult dog that suddenly starts chewing far more than before – this can be a sign of a sore mouth or of anxiety.