Your shoe is missing. Again. Or maybe it's a table leg, a TV remote, or the corner of the couch cushion that now has a suspicious dent in it. Before you assume your dog is "being bad," it helps to understand what's actually going on: chewing is one of the most natural behaviors a dog has, and almost every dog does some version of it, from teething puppies to grown adults. The real question isn't "how do I stop my dog from chewing" — it's "how do I give that instinct somewhere appropriate to go."
Why Do Dogs Chew So Much?
Dog chewing behavior usually comes down to one (or several) of these:
- Teething. Puppies chew constantly between about 3 and 6 months old as adult teeth come in — it soothes sore gums the same way it does for human babies.
- Boredom and excess energy. A dog that hasn't had enough physical or mental exercise will often chew to burn off energy or entertain itself.
- Stress and anxiety. Chewing releases endorphins and can be self-soothing — some dogs chew more when left alone, during thunderstorms, or in other stressful situations.
- Natural instinct. Chewing keeps jaw muscles strong and teeth clean, and it's simply part of how dogs explore and interact with the world, the way hands are for people.
- Attention or curiosity. Sometimes it's as simple as "that object is new, interesting, and within reach."
Is My Dog's Chewing a Problem?
Occasional, appropriate chewing isn't something to fix — it's something to redirect. What actually needs attention is destructive chewing: furniture, walls, shoes, or anything that puts your dog at risk (electrical cords, small plastic pieces, socks that can cause a blockage). If destructive chewing shows up suddenly in an adult dog, or is paired with other signs of distress like pacing, drooling, or panic when you leave the house, it's worth a conversation with your vet — that can point to separation anxiety or another underlying issue rather than a chew-toy problem.
For the much more common case — a normal dog with normal energy and nothing appropriate to gnaw on — the fix is almost always the same: redirect, don't just correct.
How to Stop Destructive Chewing: Redirect, Don't Just Punish
Yelling "no" after the fact doesn't teach a dog what to chew — it just teaches them chewing makes you upset, which can backfire into anxiety-driven chewing. A few things that actually work:
- Meet the physical need first. A tired dog is a much less destructive dog. Make sure daily exercise matches your dog's breed and energy level before troubleshooting anything else.
- Keep an appropriate chew within reach at all times. If the only interesting thing in the room is your table leg, guess what gets chewed. Rotate a couple of chew options so there's always something appealing and legal available.
- Catch them chewing the right thing and reward it. Positive reinforcement — a happy "good job!" or a small treat when they're working on their own chew — teaches the behavior you want far faster than correcting the behavior you don't.
- Manage the environment while they're learning. Puppy-proof or crate-train for unsupervised time until good habits are established, the same way you'd baby-proof for a toddler.
- Match the chew to the chewer. A light chewer and a determined power-chewer need different products — the wrong one either doesn't hold their interest or wears out (and gets swallowed) too fast.
Choosing the Right Chew for Your Dog
Not all chews are created equal, and picking the right one does most of the heavy lifting in redirecting chewing successfully. Look for:
- A size that actually matches your dog's weight — too small and a big dog can swallow it whole; too big and a small dog may not engage with it at all
- A single, solid piece rather than pressed scraps or shavings that break apart into swallowable chunks
- Something long-lasting enough to actually hold their attention through a work call or a quiet evening
This is exactly the gap our Rugged Ranch Knotted Rawhide Dog Bones are built for. They're thick, single-piece knotted bones — not pressed chips — sized by weight so a chew actually matches the dog working on it: 3–4" bones for dogs up to 15 lb, 6–7" for 16–55 lb, and 8–10" for dogs over 55 lb. Give your dog something that satisfies the instinct to chew and your shoes get to live another day.
As always: supervise any chew session, and take the bone away once it's small enough to swallow — that goes for rawhide, antlers, and pretty much anything else in the chew aisle.
Dog Chewing FAQ
At what age do dogs stop teething and chewing everything?
Most puppies finish teething and calm down on the compulsive chewing by around 6 months, though the general instinct to chew never fully goes away — it just becomes more manageable with the right outlets.
Will my dog grow out of destructive chewing?
Teething-driven chewing usually resolves on its own. Boredom- or anxiety-driven chewing in adult dogs typically doesn't resolve without a change in exercise, enrichment, or an appropriate chew routine — it's worth addressing rather than waiting out.
How do I know if my dog is a "power chewer"?
If your dog can destroy a standard chew toy in minutes, work through soft treats without slowing down, or has ever swallowed something they shouldn't have, size up and choose sturdier, single-piece chews — and always supervise.
The Bottom Line
Chewing isn't a behavior problem to punish out of your dog — it's a natural instinct that needs a legal outlet. Give your dog a properly sized, high-quality chew, keep an eye on them while they use it, and you'll spend a lot less time googling how to get teeth marks out of the coffee table.
Ready to give your dog something better to chew on? Shop Rugged Ranch Knotted Rawhide Dog Bones and pick the size that matches your dog's weight.
This post is for general information and isn't a substitute for advice from your veterinarian, especially if destructive chewing appears suddenly or alongside other signs of distress.
