How to Stop a Dog from Chewing: The Complete Guide to Causes, Fixes and Prevention

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Quick Answer: How Do You Stop a Dog from Chewing?
Dog Chewing Statistics: What the Research Shows
Why Do Dogs Chew? Normal Chewing vs Destructive Chewing
Why Is My Dog Chewing Everything? 8 Common Causes
How to Stop Destructive Chewing in Dogs: A 7-Step Plan
How to Stop a Puppy from Chewing Everything
How to Stop a Dog from Chewing When Left Alone
Why Has My Adult Dog Suddenly Started Chewing Everything?
How to Stop a Dog from Chewing Furniture, Shoes and Wires
Safe Chew Toys for Dogs: What to Buy and What to Avoid
What Not to Do When Your Dog Chews
When to See a Vet About Dog Chewing
How to Prevent Destructive Chewing Long Term
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Chewing
Final Thoughts
References

A chewed chappal is annoying. A chewed phone charger or a swallowed sock can become an emergency. To stop a dog from chewing your belongings, find the cause, remove access to the items and give your dog safe things to chew. You can’t remove the urge itself, because chewing is normal dog behaviour.

This guide explains why dogs chew, how to identify the cause, and how to fix and prevent destructive chewing in puppies and adult dogs.

Quick Answer: How Do You Stop a Dog from Chewing?

To stop dog chewing, follow these steps:

Rule out a medical cause, especially if the chewing started suddenly.
Remove temptation by keeping shoes, clothes, wires and rubbish out of reach.
Provide safe chew toys and rotate them every two days.
Interrupt and swap when your dog picks up the wrong item, then praise them for chewing the right one.
Give daily exercise and mental stimulation.
Prevent access when you can’t supervise by using a dog-proofed room or a crate your dog is comfortable in.
Treat the root cause, whether that is teething, boredom, hunger or separation anxiety.

Never punish your dog after the fact. Dogs can’t connect punishment with something they did earlier.

Dog Chewing Statistics: What the Research Shows

These verified figures explain why the right fix depends on the cause.

Dog chewing, anxiety and injury statistics

Topic	Verified finding	Source
Daily chewing of household items	2.5% of dogs chewed soft household objects daily, 2.2% chewed resting places and 1.4% chewed clothes or shoes	Arhant et al., 2021 (1,439 completed surveys)
Age	Dogs up to one year old chewed objects more often than older dogs	Arhant et al., 2021
Vet care after chewing	3.6% of owners reported veterinary treatment for a chewing-related problem	Arhant et al., 2021
Separation-related behaviour	5% to 6% of dogs showed separation-related behaviour, and it was more common in younger dogs	Salonen et al., 2020 (13,715 Finnish pet dogs)
Tooth fractures	The reported prevalence of tooth fracture in dogs is 20% to 27%	Vet Times
Swallowed objects	94% of dogs survived a discrete foreign body, compared with 80% for a linear foreign body such as string	Hayes, 2009 (208 cases in dogs and cats)
Foreign body surgery	44% of dogs needed surgery. Survival was 94% after enterotomy and 33% after enterectomy, which removes a section of intestine	Di Palma et al., 2022 (72 dogs)

The owner surveys come from Finland and from Germany and Austria, so treat them as a guide rather than as figures for dogs in Pakistan.

Why Do Dogs Chew? Normal Chewing vs Destructive Chewing

Chewing is natural at every age. It relieves teething pain in puppies, keeps adult dogs’ jaws strong, and helps dogs cope with boredom, mild anxiety and frustration.

Chewing is a problem when your dog:

Targets household items instead of their own toys
Damages furniture, doors or walls
Swallows pieces of what they chew
Chews so intensely that you can’t distract them
Injures their teeth, gums or paws

Why Is My Dog Chewing Everything? 8 Common Causes

Record when the chewing happens, what your dog chooses and what else you notice. These three clues point to the cause.

Cause	Common clues	Best fix
Teething	Puppy aged about 3–6 months, chewing almost anything	Puppy-safe chews, chilled toys, close supervision
Adolescence and habit	Young dog who never learned what is allowed	Management, consistent redirection, training
Boredom or low exercise	Chewing when the house is quiet or after a dull day	Daily walks, play, training, food puzzles
Separation anxiety	Chewing mainly when alone, often near doors or windows, plus whining, pacing or house soiling	Gradual alone-time training and professional help
Stress or frustration	Chewing during specific triggers, such as seeing animals through a gate	Reduce triggers and offer a tug or chew toy
Hunger	Targets food-scented items, rubbish or kitchen objects, especially on a strict diet	Check the diet with your vet
Pain or illness	Sudden change, fussy eating, drooling, weight loss or vomiting	Veterinary examination
Pica or compulsive behaviour	Repeatedly swallows non-food items, or is very hard to distract	Veterinary check, then behaviour support

Timing matters most. In a 2021 survey of dog chewing, object chewing was closely linked to being left alone (rs = 0.63) and moderately linked to routine changes (rs = 0.47). It had little link with play motivation or activity levels (rs below 0.2). More exercise alone won’t fix chewing that starts when your dog is left alone or when their routine changes.

How to Stop Destructive Chewing in Dogs: A 7-Step Plan

Step 1: Book a Vet Check if Anything Seems Off

Don’t assume sudden chewing is bad behaviour. Dental pain, digestive problems, parasites and other health conditions change how a dog behaves. If the chewing is new, intense or involves swallowing objects, find a vet near you before starting a training plan.

Step 2: Dog-Proof Your Home

Removing access is the quickest fix. Your dog can’t chew what they can’t reach, and each successful chewing session strengthens the habit.

Keep shoes, chappals and khussas in a closed cupboard.
Put laundry in a closed hamper. Socks, underwear and dupattas are common targets.
Secure or cover phone chargers, UPS wires and other cables.
Use a dog-proof bin in the kitchen and bathroom.
Keep sanitary products out of reach, because they expand in the digestive system.
Store medicines, cleaning products, insecticides and rat poison in a locked or high cupboard.

Don’t give your dog old shoes or cushions as toys. Dogs can’t tell an old shoe from a new one.

Step 3: Give Your Dog Better Things to Chew

Offer rubber, rope and edible chews, then keep the type your dog chews longest. Rotating toys every two days keeps them interesting. Browse dog chew toys for sale in Pakistan or the wider dog accessories collection on Titans Pet.

Offer a stuffed toy at the times your dog usually chews, such as when you leave the house or sit down for dinner. Fill it with part of their daily dog food or a few healthy dog treats, and freeze it to make it last longer.

If you use peanut butter, check the label for xylitol. Xylitol is toxic to dogs.

Step 4: Interrupt, Swap and Praise

When you catch your dog chewing the wrong thing:

Calmly say “uh-oh” or a similar word.
Offer a chew toy or treat so your dog lets go of the item.
Praise them as soon as they start chewing the toy.
Don’t chase your dog, because chasing turns the item into a game. If your dog growls, stiffens or guards objects, stop taking things from them and speak to a qualified behaviour professional. Titans Pet lists training and behaviour services.

Step 5: Teach “Leave It” and “Drop It”

These two cues stop your dog from picking up dangerous items and get them to release items safely. Practise with low-value items first, reward every success, and keep sessions short. Use calm, reward-based training rather than force, because force damages trust.

Step 6: Meet Your Dog’s Physical and Mental Needs

Exercise and enrichment treat boredom. Give your dog:

Daily walks with time to sniff
Fetch or tug
Short training sessions
Food puzzles instead of a bowl
Safe play with friendly, vaccinated dogs

In Pakistan’s summer, exercise during the cooler morning and evening hours. On very hot days, use indoor training and food puzzles to reduce the risk of heatstroke.

A German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever or Rottweiler needs regular activity and training, but destructive chewing can develop in any breed.

Step 7: Use Deterrents and Confinement Correctly

Bitter sprays support training, but they don’t replace it. Choose a pet-safe product and test it on a small hidden area first. The ASPCA recommends letting your dog taste a small amount on a tissue, then spraying the items you want to protect every day for two to four weeks. Stop using the spray if your dog ignores the taste.

Confinement keeps your dog safe when you can’t watch them. Use a dog-proofed room, baby gate or a suitably sized dog cage or crate, and include water and safe toys. Introduce it gradually and never use it as punishment. The ASPCA advises against crating a dog for more than six hours to prevent chewing, and puppies need more frequent toilet breaks. If your dog panics in confinement, stop and get professional advice.

How to Stop a Puppy from Chewing Everything

Puppies explore with their mouths, and teething strengthens the urge to chew. Puppies start losing their 28 baby teeth at around 3–4 months, and their 42 adult teeth are usually in place by 6–7 months.

The urge doesn’t end with teething. Adolescent dogs commonly chew more than older adults until around 18 months of age.

To help a teething puppy:

Offer soft, flexible toys designed for puppies.
Chill a suitable rubber toy.
Give a frozen wet washcloth under supervision, and remove it before it tears.
Skip ice cubes and hard chews, because both can damage teeth.
Use a safe play area when you can’t watch your puppy.
Build chew breaks into their routine after meals and play.

Teething pain doesn’t mean you should allow chewing on your belongings. Teach the rule now, before the habit is established.

How to Stop a Dog from Chewing When Left Alone

Chewing that happens only or mostly when your dog is alone points to separation anxiety, especially with whining, barking, pacing, restlessness or toilet accidents. A study of 13,715 Finnish pet dogs found separation-related behaviour in 5% to 6% of dogs, so don’t assume every dog that chews alone has this condition. Boredom and an unsupervised routine produce the same damage.

A dog with separation anxiety isn’t being spiteful, and extra toys won’t solve the problem. Follow these steps:

Practise very short departures and build up slowly.
Keep arrivals and departures calm.
Exercise your dog before you leave.
Offer a safe, long-lasting food toy, as long as your dog eats when alone.
Record your dog with a phone or camera to see what happens.

If your dog injures themselves, tries to escape or panics, speak to a veterinary professional. Severe cases need a behaviour plan and, in certain cases, medication prescribed by a vet.

Why Has My Adult Dog Suddenly Started Chewing Everything?

A sudden change in an adult dog needs investigating. Check these five areas:

Health: dental pain, stomach problems or another medical issue
Diet: a recent food change, a calorie-restricted diet or hunger
Routine: less exercise or attention, or a new work schedule
Stress: moving home, guests, loud noises, a new pet or a family member leaving
Environment: easier access to tempting objects

See a vet first if the change is sudden or your dog seems unwell. If your dog is healthy, identify what changed in their routine and return to the seven-step plan.

How to Stop a Dog from Chewing Furniture, Shoes and Wires

Furniture: Block access when you’re out, offer a chew toy near your dog’s favourite resting spot, and use a pet-safe deterrent on the affected area. A dog that chews doors or window frames while alone may be anxious, so don’t treat it as mischief.

Shoes and clothes: Close the cupboard, use a laundry hamper and teach “drop it”. These items smell strongly of you, which makes them appealing.

Wires and chargers: Treat this as a safety problem first. Unplug, cover or block access to cables. If your dog bites a live wire, keep them away from the source, turn off the power before touching them, and contact a vet immediately.

Sticks, stones and rubbish: Supervise outdoors, practise “leave it” and book a vet check if your dog repeatedly eats these items.

Safe Chew Toys for Dogs: What to Buy and What to Avoid

A product sold as a chew isn’t automatically safe. Hard chews break teeth. Vet Times reports a tooth fracture prevalence of 20% to 27% in dogs, with canine and carnassial teeth most commonly affected. A fractured tooth may need root canal treatment or extraction.

Use the Fingernail Test

Press your fingernail into the chew. A safe chew has enough give for your nail to leave a mark. If it feels rock hard, don’t give it to your dog. Veterinary dentists also use the “kneecap test”: if it would hurt to hit your kneecap with it, it’s too hard.

Dog Chew Safety Guide

Chew type	Safety view	What to remember
Durable rubber toys	Best option	Match the size to your dog and check for damage
Stuffable rubber toys	Best for boredom	Use part of the daily food allowance
Soft plush toys	Gentle chewers only	Supervise and remove squeakers or stuffing
Rope toys	Use with care	Remove once fibres come loose
Tennis balls	Short-term play only	The surface wears teeth down
Edible dental chews	Choose carefully	Supervise, and look for a Veterinary Oral Health Council seal
Antlers, hooves and hard nylon toys	Avoid	They fracture teeth
Cooked bones	Never give	They splinter and cause serious injury
Raw or natural bones	Avoid unless your vet advises otherwise	They break teeth, and swallowed pieces are dangerous

This matters after Eid and family meals. Never give your dog cooked bones from leftovers, including chicken or mutton bones.

Whichever chew you choose, make sure it can’t fit fully into your dog’s mouth, supervise new items, and throw it away once it becomes small or starts breaking apart.

What Not to Do When Your Dog Chews

These common reactions don’t work and can harm your dog. Do not:

Hit, shout at or punish your dog after you find the damage
Show your dog the chewed item and scold them
Tie a damaged object to your dog
Tape or hold their mouth shut
Use a muzzle to prevent chewing
Leave your dog in a crate for long periods
Give old household items as toys

That “guilty look” doesn’t prove your dog understands what they did wrong. Your dog is reacting to your tone and body language.

When to See a Vet About Dog Chewing

Book a vet appointment if your dog:

Starts chewing suddenly
Regularly swallows non-food items
Has bad breath, drooling, a broken tooth or bleeding gums
Has lost weight or has changes in appetite or toilet habits
Injures themselves when left alone

Signs of an Emergency

Contact an emergency vet in Pakistan straight away if your dog has swallowed something dangerous or shows:

Repeated vomiting or retching
Gagging, choking or difficulty breathing
A painful or swollen abdomen
Blood in the stool
Weakness or collapse
Complete loss of appetite

Don’t wait for symptoms if your dog has swallowed a battery, sharp object, medicine, poison, string or a large piece of fabric. Speed matters: in a study of 72 dogs with swallowed objects, vomiting for more than 24 hours was significantly associated with death, and survival fell to 33% for dogs that needed a section of intestine removed. String and thread are especially dangerous. Survival in 208 foreign body cases was 80% for dogs with linear objects, compared with 94% for discrete objects.

Don’t pull on anything hanging from your dog’s mouth or bottom, and don’t make them vomit unless a vet tells you to.

In a major city, you can also search for vets in Lahore, vets in Karachi or vets in Islamabad.

How to Prevent Destructive Chewing Long Term

Use this checklist to prevent chewing problems from starting or returning:

Keep tempting items out of reach.
Offer safe chew toys from the first day your dog comes home.
Rotate toys every two days.
Reward your dog for choosing their own toys.
Provide exercise and mental stimulation every day.
Feed a suitable, balanced diet.
Teach “leave it” and “drop it”.
Build up alone time gradually.
Keep regular vet and dental checks.
Ask everyone at home to follow the same rules.

If you’re still choosing a dog, research their energy and care needs first. Read the Titans Pet guides to the best dog breeds for Pakistan’s hot climate and Golden Retriever care in Pakistan. You can also explore dogs in Pakistan, view adoption listings and review the Titans Pet Ethical Sales Charter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Chewing

How do I stop my dog from chewing everything?

Remove access to your belongings, give safe chew toys, swap the wrong item for a toy, and treat the cause. Book a vet check first if the chewing is sudden.

At what age do dogs stop chewing everything?

Teething ends at around 6–7 months, and heavy adolescent chewing usually eases at around 18 months. Dogs keep chewing for life, so teach them what to chew rather than trying to stop it.

Do dogs grow out of destructive chewing?

Young dogs chew objects more often than older dogs, but a habit doesn’t disappear by itself if it’s still rewarding. Management and training are what change it.

Is chewing a sign of anxiety in dogs?

Chewing can be a sign of anxiety, but it isn’t proof. Chewing only when alone, with whining, pacing or toilet accidents, points to separation anxiety. Chewing at any time of day points to teething, boredom or habit.

Why does my dog only chew my things?

Your dog chews your things because they smell of you, are easy to reach and may get your attention. Store them out of reach and reward your dog for chewing their own toys.

Does exercise stop a dog from chewing?

Exercise reduces boredom chewing, but it doesn’t fix anxiety. In a 2021 survey, object chewing had little link with activity levels and a close link with being left alone.

What can I spray so my dog stops chewing?

Use a pet-safe bitter deterrent made for dogs. Spray the item daily for two to four weeks, test it on a hidden area first, and don’t use homemade mixtures containing spices or essential oils.

What is the safest chew toy for a heavy chewer?

A durable rubber toy is the safest choice for a heavy chewer. It should dent under your fingernail and be too large to fit fully into your dog’s mouth.

Is rawhide safe for dogs?

Rawhide isn’t risk-free. The ASPCA lists it as an edible chew but warns that dogs can choke on large swallowed pieces, and veterinary dentists warn against thick rawhide. Supervise your dog if you use it.

Should I punish my dog for chewing?

No. Punishment doesn’t teach your dog what to chew, and dogs can’t link it to something they did earlier. Interrupt calmly, swap the item for a toy and praise your dog.

How long does it take to stop a dog from chewing?

There’s no fixed timeline, because it depends on the cause, your dog’s age and the length of the habit. Bitter spray alone takes two to four weeks of daily use, and anxiety takes longer.

Why does my dog chew blankets and soft fabric?

Dogs chew blankets for comfort, and frequent licking or sucking of fabric can become compulsive. Speak to a vet if your dog does this for long periods, is hard to distract, or swallows the fabric.

What should I do if my dog swallowed something while chewing?

Call a vet immediately, even if your dog seems normal. Don’t make your dog vomit or pull on anything hanging from their mouth or bottom unless a vet tells you to.

Final Thoughts

To stop a dog from chewing, identify why it’s happening. Rule out health problems, protect your belongings, offer safe alternatives and meet your dog’s daily needs.

If the chewing is sudden, severe or linked to anxiety, get professional help. Book a vet or pet service through Titans Pet Care or read more pet care guides on the Titans Pet blog.

This guide is for general education and doesn’t replace advice from a licensed veterinarian. If you’re worried about your dog’s health, contact a vet.

References

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Titans Pet Editorial

Our guides are written by the Titans Pet editorial team and reviewed by licensed Pakistani veterinarians and verified pet-service professionals, so the advice stays accurate for local conditions across Pakistan.