When chewing becomes destructive

Dogs use their mouths in much the same way we use our hands - as tools for exploring. This means they examine anything they find interesting by chewing and gnawing it. Unfortunately, with some dogs this chewing becomes destructive and a problem.

Why do they chew?

Most puppies will chew when they are teething. As they become older they may chew on something they're playing with, out of boredom or from an instinct to chew. Chewing may result from a dog being in unfamiliar surroundings suffering from separation anxiety. Identifying why your dog is chewing is the key to stopping the behaviour.

If your dog is chewing on a wide variety of objects in the house regardless of whether you are there or not, he's probably chewing out of boredom. Your dog probably needs more play, exercise and physical activity to work off some of that excess energy. Providing appropriate chew toys will also help your dog kick its destructive chewing habit.

Teething trouble

If your dog is teething it's something you're going to have to wait for him to grow out of. Whenever possible you want to redirect your teething pup's chewing to appropriate objects. Try making some frozen treats in popsicle moulds or leaving some of your dogs toys in the freezer before giving them to your dog. This will not only provide an appropriate toy, but one that will be soothing on your dog's teeth as well.

Some dogs chew as a result of separation anxiety. They may be chewing or pawing in an effort to escape from the area they've been left in. They may also chew on inappropriate objects as a nervous reaction to your absence. This is probably the most difficult type of chewing to treat because it happens when you're not present and it is the anxiety itself that needs to be treated. Dog behaviourists will use socialisation, desensitisation and counter-conditioning techniques to cure separation anxiety.