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If you’re a new dog owner, perhaps you’ve come home to find a pair of chewed-up shoes on the floor or found that your dog has eaten through your garden hose. Dealing with this destructive behavior can be overwhelming, but there are a few techniques available to help you redirect your dog’s energy.


How to Stop Your Dog From Unwanted Chewing

 OK, so what's going on here is I came in the room and I saw her chewing my favorite hat. Obviously it's not a chew toy, and I need a teach her there are things that she can chew and things she cannot chew. So what I've done here is I've placed six items on the floor, three things that she cannot chew-- so that's a hat, a shoe, and a remote control. And there's three things that she can chew, all dog toys. Your goal is to remove the items that she cannot chew-- like, right there, she was about to go for the shoe. I take it away and offer her something or redirect something that she can chew. Now, I get her on this, which is a dog toy. There you go. Good, good, good. And I praise when she starts going after it, which she's doing right now. Good, girl. All the process is is redirecting. I'm giving her multiple choice. This she cannot chew. This she can chew. This she cannot chew. This she can chew. This she cannot chew. And this, which she's chewing right now, she can chew. Now, also very important to remember here-- number one, common sense goes a long way. So you don't want to leave expensive things lying on the ground with a puppy, just like you wouldn't leave things lying on the ground with a toddler. However, there are things that your puppy can grab on a daily basis. Shoes are often on the ground. Hats can be even on a table. Remote controls-- once again, coffee table. She's definitely the size where she can grab things off. As much as you can keep things off the floor, keep them off the floor. But this is a really good building block to teach them there are things in the world they can chew and things in the world they cannot chew. And right now, this is the absolute basics on how to teach her. Here, here. Here. Look at right here. Good, good, good, good. There you go. Good. Good. Nice. There you go. Good, good. Perfect. Perfect. Good. Nice. There you go. Good. Perfect. Oh yeah. Ah, ah, ah, ah. No, no. No. No. There you go. Good, good, good. There you go. Good, good, good. Perfect. That's a good girl. Perfect. Good. Nice. And as you can see, I've already got her on some dog toys. Good girl, good girl. Heavily praise as she's doing it. Good girl. Good, good, good, good. When she grabs a shoe, quick little reprimand-- ah, ah, ah, no, knock it off, leave it, whatever your command is-- and quickly redirect them. And what I mean when I say redirecting is take the item that they can't chew out of their mouth and simultaneously put an object that they can chew, which is a dog toy, in their mouth. And this right here is the redirecting process. And now she's all over the dog toys. I'm going to pick up the items that she cannot chew, get them off the floor, and now she can go ahead and have fun with her toys.

There are a wide number of reasons why your dog may be chewing:

- __Their instincts__. Chewing is a natural and healthy part of an adult dog’s behavior—it’s how they keep their teeth and jaws strong. When training your dog, it’s important not to try to stop their chewing behavior entirely. Instead, you should help them direct their chewing instincts toward objects they’re supposed to chew, like bones, bully sticks, rubber toys, chew toys, and rawhide.
- __They’re teething__. If your puppy is chewing nonstop, it’s likely because they’re teething. Chewing is a way for them to alleviate the pain of their adult teeth coming in, and it’s a healthy response to this pain. If your puppy is teething, try giving them ice cubes or a cold chew toy to help numb the pain and redirect their chewing away from inappropriate items.
- __They need attention__. Many dogs chew because they’re bored, underexercised, or in need of some attention or playtime. Dogs need physical and mental stimulation in order to be on their best behavior—make sure you’re walking them, letting them play with other dogs, teaching them tricks, and giving them lots of love. Consider giving them dog toys during times when you can’t give them any attention to help keep them happy. If the behavior persists, it could be that your dog is struggling with separation anxiety, and their chewing habits have become compulsive when they’re upset you’re not there—if so, seek out a professional dog trainer to help.
Dogs of all ages like to chew, but the behavior is more common among puppies and adolescents. This is because their teeth are coming in and moving around, and the process is itchy. Since they can’t scratch that itch, they need to chew to relieve it. You’ll never stop a dog from chewing, you’ll only redirect what it is they’re chewing on. Here a few ways to train your dog to stop unwanted chewing:

1. __One-on-one training__. To curb unwanted chewing, you’ll need three objects your dog can chew—like toys—and three things they can’t—a shoe, the TV remote, a hat. Place the objects on the ground in front of your dog. If they go for a no-chew object, give a quick reprimand (like “Uh-oh”), then redirect them to an object they are allowed to chew. When they chew something that they are allowed to chew, offer heavy praise. Once your dog is focused on a chew-appropriate item, remove the other objects.
2. __Try taste deterrents—but don’t rely on them__. Many trainers will spray lemon or bitter apple on off-limits items to curb inappropriate chewing. While these sprays can be an effective training tool, avoid relying too heavily on a taste deterrent—if you forget to spray something, your dog won’t have the training foundation to resist temptation.
3. __Don’t give them your old shoes__. If a dog chews up a good pair of shoes, some people will offer an old pair of shoes as a substitute. This action will most likely encourage your dog to chew on any pair of shoes they find. Your dog doesn’t understand the difference between shoes that are okay to chew and shoes that should be left alone. To avoid confusion, offer your dog a chew toy or bone as a replacement.
4. __Keep off-limit items out of reach__. Sometimes, even well-trained dogs can’t resist the allure of a fun thing to chew on. One of the best ways to prevent unwanted chewing is to remove tempting items from your dog’s reach. Store off-limit items like shoes and remotes away from your dog, and place appropriate chew toys or bones in places that are accessible to them throughout your home.
5. __Keep practicing__. Dog training can be a lengthy process. Your dog may appear to understand what not to chew, but then suddenly they lapse into old behavior. It’s important that you remain consistent throughout the training process—even when your dog needs lots of repetition to get something right. Otherwise, your dog will learn that if they resist the training long enough, you’ll let them off the hook and they can return to destructive behavior.



Your dream of having a dog who understands words like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and—crucially—”no” is just a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) away. The only things you’ll need to train up a well-behaved pup are your laptop, a big bag of treats, and our exclusive instructional videos from superstar animal trainer Brandon McMillan. 
If you’re a new dog owner, perhaps you’ve come home to find a pair of chewed-up shoes on the floor or found that your dog has eaten through your garden hose. Dealing with this destructive behavior can be overwhelming, but there are a few techniques available to help you redirect your dog’s energy.


There are a wide number of reasons why your dog may be chewing:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Their instincts. Chewing is a natural and healthy part of an adult dog’s behavior—it’s how they keep their teeth and jaws strong. When training your dog, it’s important not to try to stop their chewing behavior entirely. Instead, you should help them direct their chewing instincts toward objects they’re supposed to chew, like bones, bully sticks, rubber toys, chew toys, and rawhide. </li><li class="">They’re teething. If your puppy is chewing nonstop, it’s likely because they’re teething. Chewing is a way for them to alleviate the pain of their adult teeth coming in, and it’s a healthy response to this pain. If your puppy is teething, try giving them ice cubes or a cold chew toy to help numb the pain and redirect their chewing away from inappropriate items. </li><li class="">They need attention. Many dogs chew because they’re bored, underexercised, or in need of some attention or playtime. Dogs need physical and mental stimulation in order to be on their best behavior—make sure you’re walking them, letting them play with other dogs, teaching them tricks, and giving them lots of love. Consider giving them dog toys during times when you can’t give them any attention to help keep them happy. If the behavior persists, it could be that your dog is struggling with separation anxiety, and their chewing habits have become compulsive when they’re upset you’re not there—if so, seek out a professional dog trainer to help. </li></ul>

Why Do Dogs Chew?

Dogs of all ages like to chew, but the behavior is more common among puppies and adolescents. This is because their teeth are coming in and moving around, and the process is itchy. Since they can’t scratch that itch, they need to chew to relieve it. You’ll never stop a dog from chewing, you’ll only redirect what it is they’re chewing on. Here a few ways to train your dog to stop unwanted chewing:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. One-on-one training. To curb unwanted chewing, you’ll need three objects your dog can chew—like toys—and three things they can’t—a shoe, the TV remote, a hat. Place the objects on the ground in front of your dog. If they go for a no-chew object, give a quick reprimand (like “Uh-oh”), then redirect them to an object they are allowed to chew. When they chew something that they are allowed to chew, offer heavy praise. Once your dog is focused on a chew-appropriate item, remove the other objects. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Try taste deterrents—but don’t rely on them. Many trainers will spray lemon or bitter apple on off-limits items to curb inappropriate chewing. While these sprays can be an effective training tool, avoid relying too heavily on a taste deterrent—if you forget to spray something, your dog won’t have the training foundation to resist temptation. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Don’t give them your old shoes. If a dog chews up a good pair of shoes, some people will offer an old pair of shoes as a substitute. This action will most likely encourage your dog to chew on any pair of shoes they find. Your dog doesn’t understand the difference between shoes that are okay to chew and shoes that should be left alone. To avoid confusion, offer your dog a chew toy or bone as a replacement. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Keep off-limit items out of reach. Sometimes, even well-trained dogs can’t resist the allure of a fun thing to chew on. One of the best ways to prevent unwanted chewing is to remove tempting items from your dog’s reach. Store off-limit items like shoes and remotes away from your dog, and place appropriate chew toys or bones in places that are accessible to them throughout your home. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Keep practicing. Dog training can be a lengthy process. Your dog may appear to understand what not to chew, but then suddenly they lapse into old behavior. It’s important that you remain consistent throughout the training process—even when your dog needs lots of repetition to get something right. Otherwise, your dog will learn that if they resist the training long enough, you’ll let them off the hook and they can return to destructive behavior. </li></ol>

How to Train Your Dog to Stop Unwanted Chewing 

Your dream of having a dog who understands words like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and—crucially—”no” is just a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> away. The only things you’ll need to train up a well-behaved pup are your laptop, a big bag of treats, and our exclusive instructional videos from superstar animal trainer Brandon McMillan.

Want to Learn More About Training the Goodest Boy or Girl?

If you’re a new dog owner, perhaps you’ve come home to find a pair of chewed-up shoes on the floor or found that your dog has eaten through your garden hose. Dealing with this destructive behavior can be overwhelming, but there are a few techniques available to help you redirect your dog’s energy.