Some dogs chew more than others, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a dog that doesn’t chew. So, it’s important to start training your dog early on what they can and can’t chew on in your home. Understanding the reason why your dog is doing something can often help you redirect to something more appropriate or stop the behavior if it becomes excessive. So, why do dogs chew? Here are a few reasons:

8 Reasons Why Dogs Chew

1. It’s how dogs navigate the world.
2. Chewing might provide relief.
3. It could be a calming behavior.
4. Chewing gives them something to do.
5. They may have been trained into it.
6. Chewing can be a way to get your attention.
7. Your dog might be hungry.
8. Excessive chewing can be a sign of pica.

1. It’s How Dogs Navigate the World

Sure, dogs can see, but their most powerful sense is their nose. They navigate and investigate the world with their sense of smell, their hearing, and their sense of taste. Your dog can’t check out everything with their paws, so a lot of the time, they’ll use their mouth.

Not only can they carry stuff and taste it, but it also allows them to get a feel for the texture of something. Plus, if something has a smell or taste they like, a dog will often end up chewing on it. Chewing is a normal behavior that’s a fun activity for your dog, but can be an exploratory behavior too.

2. Chewing Might Provide Relief

Your dog could be chewing because it provides relief for them. This is especially true when it comes to puppy teething. The teething process can be painful for your puppy. Their gums might be swollen and irritated as their adult teeth come in, and chewing can often help provide some relief.

Plus, they’re puppies, so they try to put everything in their mouth. At this stage, it’s important to provide some appropriate chew toys and to start establishing boundaries on what is and is not acceptable to chew on. This is a good way to stop your dog from chewing on furniture or other things they shouldn’t be chewing on before it becomes an established behavior.

If an older dog is chewing a lot, they could just enjoy it, or it might be a habit by that point. It could also be a sign that they have an irritation in their mouth somewhere, and chewing helps. If a dog that normally chews a lot stops chewing, you may want to check their mouth. It may be a sign that something is making it painful to chew, and it could start affecting their ability to eat as well. It may not always happen, but your dog’s face could be swollen if something is going on in their mouth.

3. It Could Be a Calming Behavior

Chewing is often a calming behavior for dogs. It also releases endorphins, which contributes further to that soothing, calming effect. For many dogs, it’s just fun and something that keeps them busy. For others, it could be a reaction to feeling anxious or separation anxiety. Some dogs may start chewing as a self-soothing behavior.

In the case of separation anxiety, chewing often becomes destructive because the dog is trying to self-soothe through chewing, and it’s not working, so they end up destroying things. Or, in more advanced cases of separation anxiety, the dog may end up destroying walls, doors, etc. because they are trying to get out.

4. Chewing Gives Them Something to Do

Chewing is something to do and is often an enjoyable activity for your dog. If they are feeling bored, they may start chewing as a way to entertain themselves. Chewing and other destructive behaviors can also be signs that your dog is lonely.

If you want your dog to chew a little less, make sure they get plenty of exercise and that you are providing them with enough mental stimulation and attention. This can help keep your dog from getting bored. When it comes to canines, the cliches are true – a bored dog is often a destructive one, and a tired dog is often a happy dog.

So, if your dog is chewing a lot and you don’t want them to be, go out and do something together – take a hike, play frisbee, go for a run, go swimming, take a trip to the dog park, etc. Find something that works for you and your dog and help them burn off some energy.

If they’re chewing because they’re home alone, invest in some puzzle toys that will keep them mentally stimulated, or ask a friend to stop by for a walk or play session. And, make sure you are cleaning your dog’s toys properly and throwing them out when needed.

Also, be careful with squeaky toys for heavy chewers. It’s not that your dog can’t have them, but you do want to keep an eye on them to make sure they’re not eating the squeaker or materials they shouldn’t ingest once they chew through a toy.

5. They May Have Been Trained Into It

You can’t stop a dog from chewing entirely, as it’s an instinctual and natural behavior. But, you can teach them and train them on what they are allowed to chew on. They don’t automatically know the difference between the stick they’re allowed to chew on outside and the wooden table leg you don’t want them gnawing on – you have to teach them the difference.

Poor training or even just accidentally rewarding undesirable behavior can train your dog into chewing on something you don’t want them to. If a dog is barking and chewing on something they shouldn’t be and your approach is to shush them and give them a treat for not barking, you’ve really just rewarded them for chewing on the thing they’re chewing. After a few times of this, the dog may associate chewing on that thing with treats and praise, and the next thing you know, they’ve been inadvertently trained into an undesirable behavior.

6. Chewing Can Be a Way to Get Your Attention

Destructive behavior can be a sign that your dog is bored or lonely. It can often be a way for dogs to get your attention. Even if your attention is negative, it’s still rewarding when given to dogs exhibiting attention-seeking behavior.

Dogs might chew on things they know they shouldn’t if it gets them your attention. This is especially true if this is something that has worked for them before. Even if they haven’t necessarily been completely trained into doing it, this could be a sign that the association between chewing and getting the attention they want is starting to form.

Chewing as an attention-seeking behavior is not always a behavioral issue. It could also mean your dog is trying to get your attention to tell you something is wrong. Chewing as a calming behavior or as a way to relieve mouth pain can be a way for your dog to tell you that something is going on in their mouth or somewhere else. It can be a sign that your dog is in pain. It’s up to you to take everything into account, check over your dog, and determine what might be going on.

7. Your Dog Might Be Hungry

Dogs that are missing key nutrients or are not getting enough food may chew on things as a way to find more food. This is particularly true when the extra chewing is reserved for food-related items or items that look or smell like they could be food.

If your dog has started begging for food and chewing more often, and another cause is not obvious, review their food and feeding schedule. A growing puppy will have different feeding needs as they grow. Make sure you are feeding your dog the right dog food and enough of it.

If you’re unsure or you think your dog is missing nutrients they need, have a talk with your vet. They can look over your dog, go over the food and feeding schedule with you, and let you know what adjustments need to be made. You may need to choose a better dog food for your dog or supplement their diet with other things.

8. Excessive Chewing Can Be a Sign of Pica

If a dog is chewing excessively and eating things they shouldn’t, especially things that aren’t food items, it could be a sign of pica in dogs. Pica is where the affected individual craves and compulsively eats non-food items. It can be a medical issue or a compulsive behavioral problem that causes medical issues. It occurs in humans and other species, including dogs.

If you suspect pica in your dog, the first step is to visit the vet. They’ll rule out other issues or potential causes. Whether it is pica or something else, your vet will be able to determine what is going on with your dog and the next best steps for treatment and recovery.

8 Benefits of Chewing For Dogs

Although excessive chewing can be a problem, regular chewing does provide some benefits to dogs. Within normal ranges and on the right things, here are some benefits of chewing for dogs:

1. Chewing on chew toys or dental treats helps remove plaque and tartar buildup (in addition to good dental care for dogs).
2. Dental chews can help reduce bad breath while supporting good dental health.
3. Chewing appropriate chew toys can help alleviate pain for teething puppies.
4. Chewing can help improve jaw strength and health by working the jaw muscles.
5. Chewing can help reduce stress and help dogs relax.
6. Chewing can provide mental stimulation and help prevent boredom.
7. Providing the right chew toys can help reduce destructive chewing.
8. Chew toys can also help redirect and manage prey drive in dogs.

How to Manage Chewing (And Keep it From Becoming Excessive)

Other specific causes aside, here are some tips for managing chewing to create a regular chewing routine and keep your dog from chewing excessively or chewing on the wrong things:

1. Exercise your dog regularly.
2. Store items that they shouldn’t have out of reach.
3. Train them on “leave it” or “drop it” commands.
4. Provide safe chew toys and toys that are the right type for your dog’s age and size.
5. Supervise your dog during chewing sessions.
6. Redirect your dog to appropriate chew toys or channels when they start chewing on the wrong things, or when chewing starts to become excessive.

Manage and Redirect Chewing Into Appropriate Channels

There are a lot of potential reasons why a dog is chewing. It’s a natural behavior, so there is no getting rid of it completely – there is only managing where it happens and what they chew on, so it gives them the benefits of chewing without causing issues.

But, when it comes to excessive chewing or redirecting chewing behavior to something else, knowing some other answers to the question, “Why do dogs chew?”, can help you get your dog chewing on their toys instead of on your shoes or the couch.