How to Stop Your Dog from Chewing

It’s Not Teething — It’s a Lack of Structure.

Chewed furniture. Destroyed baseboards. Shredded shoes.

Most owners shrug it off:

“He’s just teething.”

“She’ll grow out of it.”

“He just needs more toys.”

Wrong. Chewing isn’t just a puppy phase. It’s a lack of rules, too much freedom, and zero accountability.

At Elite K9 Service, we don’t “manage” chewing — We stop it by fixing the dog’s lifestyle.

---

Why Dogs Really Chew

Here’s the truth behind chewing:

Boredom – no mental job, no direction

Too much free roaming – freedom before maturity

Anxiety – especially from lack of crate structure

Testing – a disrespect of boundaries, not confusion

Teething – only valid for puppies *under 6 months* (and still fixable)

---

How to Fix Chewing: The Elite K9 Service Way

✅ Step 1: Crate = Control

A chewer should never be left alone loose in the house. Period.

- Crate when unsupervised

- Keep crate time structured, not emotional

- No “guilt letting” them out just because they whine

👉 Structure solves more than supervision ever will.

---

✅ Step 2: Leash Indoors

The leash isn’t just for walks — it’s for training your dog how to behave in your space.

Use the leash to:

- Prevent wandering and sneaking off

- Block access to furniture or items

- Apply corrections for sneaky chewing attempts

---

✅ Step 3: Say “No” and Correct Early

You must interrupt the act of chewing if you want it to stop.

- Mark: “No.”

- Correct: leash pop, spatial pressure, e-collar tap (if conditioned)

- Redirect: guide to a Place or command

Don’t trade shoes for toys. That’s negotiation, not leadership.

---

✅ Step 4: Earned Freedom Only

Chewing means your dog hasn’t earned unsupervised time.

Ask yourself:

- Has my dog been perfect for 30+ minutes in controlled freedom?

- Have they completed their Place, Heel, Crate drills today?

If not, they don’t get freedom.

---

✅ Step 5: Redirect Productively (If Structured First)

After clear corrections and structure are in place, then offer appropriate chews:

- Frozen Kongs (especially for teething)

- Chew bones (not rawhide)

- Puzzle feeders (when supervised)

This isn’t a bribe — it’s a job, given after accountability is established.

---

What Doesn’t Work

❌ Just buying more toys

❌ Ignoring and hoping they grow out of it

❌ Punishing after the fact

❌ Letting guilt dictate freedom

Chewing is not a mystery. It’s a pattern — and structure is the solution.

---

Final Word

If your dog is chewing, it’s not about finding a better toy. It’s about creating a better system. The more structured their life is, the less room they have to make destructive choices.

✔️ Crate them when unsupervised

✔️ Keep them leashed when free

✔️ Interrupt and correct early

✔️ Don’t allow freedom they haven’t earned

📞 Ready to stop the chewing and build calm, obedient habits? Contact Elite K9 Service. We'll help you turn destruction into discipline.