Is chewing normal dog behavior?

Chewing is usually a totally normal and needed behavior for puppies and adult dogs. Puppies and dogs will chew for a variety of reasons. Here are some examples of normal motivation for chewing:

• play
• investigating new objects and possible foods
• exploratory behavior
• searching for food
• natural urge to gnaw and chew
• teething
• boredom
• attention-seeking

But there can also be some concerning reasons for chewing that include:

• medical illnesses or pain
• anxiety and fear
• overstimulation or frustration
• panic disorders
• environment is not sufficiently safe or hygienic

If you are not sure, your veterinary team can help determine if the chewing behavior you see is normal or concerning.

If your puppy or dog is chewing on non-food items and even ingesting them, this can be unsafe and lead to broken teeth, mouth injuries, intestinal obstruction, toxicities, and more. Preventing unwanted and dangerous chewing and promoting healthful chewing are important aspects of dog ownership.

How can I prevent unwanted chewing?

Chewing can manifest for different reasons.

Teething. Puppies will lose all their baby teeth and grow in 42 new adult teeth between 12 and 24 weeks of age. During this time, puppies will have an increased desire to chew. Preventing unwanted chewing during teething is a matter of management and setting puppies up for success.

• Puppies need constant supervision when they are in areas where they might chew on inappropriate items.
• Supervise puppies during chewing to make sure they do not swallow or choke on items.
• Provide a secure area such as a pen or crate with appropriate chew items when pups are unsupervised.
• Provide appropriate chews. The chew should be firm enough that the puppy finds it satisfying to chew, but soft enough it will not result in broken teeth or other injuries. You should be able to hold the chew between two fists and slightly flex it or press firmly with a thumbnail on the surface and leave a small dent. Here are a few examples of appropriate chews:
  • stuffed Kongs, Topls, or similar rubber type toys stuffed with food, treats, or frozen canned food
  • edible, fully digestible chews (check the label and with your veterinarian)
• Some potentially harmful chews include antlers, wood chews, cooked or smoked animal bones, yak milk chews, synthetic extra hard bones or chews, non-digestible edible chews, anything small enough to gulp or swallow. These chews can result in injuries.

Play. If your puppy chews on your hands or clothing during play, take a break. Calmly remove your hands or clothing, then provide the puppy an appropriate chew item as a replacement. Use large soft toys when playing with your puppy if you think he is likely to chew during play, so it is easy for him to chew on the right item and more difficult to chew on your hands or clothing.

Food Seeking. Prevention is key if chewing is associated with food-seeking. Keep trash bins locked or secured behind a closed door. Keep food pushed back from the edges of counters or off the counters completely. Reward your dog for chewing appropriate items, and for staying out of the kitchen.

Investigation. Preventing unwanted investigative chewing is all about supervision. It is normal for dogs to learn about their environment by sniffing, picking up items, and chewing on them. Make sure to keep forbidden items picked up and out of your dog’s reach, supervise your dog, and provide a safe area where he can rest when unsupervised and where it is difficult to reach contraband.

Attention-seeking. Most dogs love attention. When dogs chew on a contraband item like the leg of a chair or the door trim, we will naturally respond quickly to stop this! Unfortunately, this can sometimes teach the dog that chewing is a great way to get attention, even if the attention is “bad” or “scolding.” It is still more interaction than feeling ignored.

Note when your dog is likely to chew. Is it when they are over-excited, right before bedtime, or when you are working on the computer? Make sure that during these times you can either move your dog to a quiet rest area with an appropriate chew, or supervise and interrupt them before they engage in chewing on an unwanted item. Watch for other attention-seeking behaviors which are more appropriate such as approaching you, sitting, offering tricks, playing with toys, or soliciting play. Giving attention for wanted behaviors is a good way to encourage these good behaviors to continue.

"Giving attention for wanted behaviors is a good way to
encourage these good behaviors to continue."

If your dog begins chewing on a contraband item for attention, as calmly as possible interrupt him and replace the item with an appropriate chew. Wait several seconds, then praise for appropriate chewing. Observe your dog throughout the day and offer calm happy praise whenever you see him or her chewing on an appropriate item.

Boredom. Boredom, or lack of physical or mental exercise, can lead to chewing in dogs. Sometimes this is persistent chewing of appropriate items, or it can manifest as unwanted chewing of contraband.

Make sure your dog’s need for physical and mental exercise is met each day. Dogs need the chance to run, play, explore, sniff, and think/problem solve each day. Going for leash walks, playing energetic games, exercising off-leash in safe areas, swimming, and retrieving are all examples of physical exercise. Training, learning new tricks, eating meals from a puzzle toy, engaging in dog sports, and sniffing on walks are all examples of mental exercise.

Consider your dog’s roots when thinking about what kind of mental exercise they might like best. A retriever may enjoy a great game of fetch, while a hound may find sniffing and searching games more engaging. A herding breed might enjoy play with a flirt pole or dog sports, while a racing breed might simply need plenty of running. Plenty of exercise is important for every dog, every day. The amount each dog needs will vary by breed, age, and individual.