Dog training for chewing

Get support redirecting unwanted chewing and building appropriate habits. Choose your location to find a trainer near you.

Dog chewing training and destructive chewing: what to look for

Browse matching businesses

Dog chewing training helps you protect household items while giving a dog appropriate ways to use their mouth. Puppies exploring and teething, adult dogs enjoying an activity and dogs showing distress during absences can all damage objects, but the reasons and training needs differ. Begin by describing what is chewed, when it happens and whether the dog is alone.

The aim is not to eliminate every form of chewing. A practical plan combines suitable outlets, supervision, safe storage and teaching the dog which items are available. If chewing involves swallowing non-food material, injury or a sudden change in behavior, include your veterinarian in the discussion.

Questions to ask before booking

Will the plan include appropriate alternatives and management?
Does chewing during absences need a separate assessment?

Explore the guide10 sections

Look for the pattern behind destructive chewing

Make a short list of the objects and situations involved. Shoes by the door, furniture during evening activity and damage around an exit during absences suggest different questions. Note what the dog was doing beforehand, how long they had access and what alternatives were available.

Do not assume damage discovered after an absence proves deliberate misbehavior. Safe observation can help show whether the dog was calmly exploring, unable to settle or attempting to escape. Destruction alongside persistent vocalization or other signs of distress needs relevant behavior assessment, not simply a more durable toy.

Puppy chewing and mouthy play

Puppies need a carefully managed environment while they learn household rules. Put cables, clothing and other tempting or hazardous items out of reach. Keep appropriate toys available so you can offer a useful alternative before the puppy begins rehearsing a familiar unwanted choice.

Consider the whole routine. An increasingly frantic puppy may need a toilet break, quieter activity or rest rather than another round of exciting play. Avoid making hands, sleeves or moving trouser legs the center of a chase game. Ask your trainer to distinguish ordinary exploratory chewing from handling concerns or behavior that needs a different assessment.

Choose chew items for the individual dog

Size, chewing style and the tendency to break off or swallow pieces matter. Supervise new items and remove damaged ones. Product labels are useful starting information, but no item is suitable for every dog simply because it is sold as a chew. Ask your veterinarian about dental or dietary concerns relevant to your dog.

Observe what the dog actually enjoys rather than accumulating unused toys. Texture and movement may influence interest, and rotating suitable options can help you identify preferences. Food-based enrichment also needs to fit the dog's diet and household arrangements. In a multi-dog home, valued items may need to be offered separately to avoid conflict.

Manage access and teach the alternative

A puppy-proofed room, suitable pen or gate can prevent access when active supervision is impossible. The space should meet the dog's needs and be introduced comfortably. Confinement is not a punishment for damage and should not be used to ignore distress or a need for care.

Reward your dog for choosing appropriate items during ordinary supervised time. If they approach something unavailable, redirect early to an alternative they can use. Repeatedly chasing a dog with a stolen object may create an exciting game. Ask your trainer how to teach a calm exchange and a drop-it cue in a low-stakes practice setting.

What to do when your dog has the wrong item

Keep your response calm and assess the situation. If the object is hazardous or may have been swallowed, contact your veterinarian promptly for appropriate guidance. Do not rely on an improvised training exercise to resolve a possible ingestion problem.

If the dog stiffens, growls or threatens when approached, avoid turning retrieval into a confrontation. Report that behavior before arranging lessons because resource guarding changes the safety plan. Exchange training can be useful, but it should be introduced under suitable conditions rather than tested against a currently guarded item.

Chewing during absences needs its own questions

A dog who damages objects only when left alone may need assessment for separation-related behavior or confinement distress. Video can provide context if obtained safely, and your description of timing is valuable. Do not deliberately leave the dog in a known distressing situation for longer to create evidence.

A provider should explain how they distinguish an access-and-enrichment problem from distress. More exercise, a crate or a food toy may be relevant to some routines but should not be presented as a universal answer. Ask how the plan addresses real absences while the underlying concern is being assessed.

Check whether the plan is working

Measure more than the number of damaged items. Is the dog choosing appropriate chews, settling comfortably and remaining safe when supervision changes? If damage stops only because every moment requires constant intervention, the environment or alternative activities may still need adjustment.

Review setbacks in context. A new room, longer absence or change in the household can create a new opportunity. Give the trainer concrete details so the plan can be updated. A workable routine should be understandable to every caregiver and should preserve safe opportunities for normal chewing.

Appropriate chew toys for puppies and adult dogs

A puppy may explore the world by picking up and mouthing objects, while adult dogs can continue to enjoy chewing as an activity. Provide appropriate chew items and observe how the dog uses them. Dog toys that are suitable for one individual may be unsuitable for another who tears off pieces or tries to swallow them.

Rotate safe options based on actual interest rather than leaving every toy out indefinitely. If you use food enrichment, include it in the normal feeding discussion so extra rewards and dog food are considered together. Ask your veterinarian about individual dietary and dental needs. Suitable things for a dog to chew should support the routine without creating a new ingestion risk.

Redirect chewing before the wrong object becomes a game

When you notice interest in an inappropriate item, calmly offer a suitable alternative and reinforce engagement with it. Practice this while you can supervise your dog closely. If you repeatedly wait until the dog has stolen an object and then chase them, the interaction may become part of an enjoyable sequence.

Prevent inappropriate chewing by arranging the environment before you leave your dog unsupervised. A comfortable crate or other safe area may help some households, but crate training is a separate process and confinement should not be used to ignore distress. Boredom, access to objects and separation-related difficulties require different questions; more exercise alone does not identify which applies.

Set a realistic goal for chewing behavior

Teaching a dog not to chew household possessions is different from expecting no chewing at all. A useful goal is a dog who selects suitable items and can rest safely between activities. Give your trainer examples of both successful choices and destructive behavior so the plan includes what already works.

Review the setup when the dog's routine changes. A puppy reaching a new shelf or an adult gaining access to another room can encounter objects they have never learned to leave alone. That is a reason to renew supervision and practice, not evidence that all previous learning has disappeared.

Refine your search

Training goals

Behavior support

How training happens

Dog age

Training level

Class options

Support between sessions

Assistance and working dogs

Dog sports

Dog size

Your dog’s background

Training approach

Trainer certifications

Evaluator authorizations

Training facilities

Accessibility

Additional services

Consultations

1,353 businesses

Petco Dog Training

Portage, Michigan

4.1/5· 928 Google reviews

Dog Training at Petco in Portage provides group and private classes built around positive reinforcement and real-life skills. Located inside the Petco pet store in…Read in fullShow less

Dog Training at Petco in Portage provides group and private classes built around positive reinforcement and real-life skills. Located inside the Petco pet store in Portage, experienced trainers help pets and pet parents build confidence, improve communication and support good behavior through structured training programs designed for everyday success.

House training
Leash training
Puppy training

Dog training for chewing

Dog chewing training and destructive chewing: what to look for

Questions to ask before booking

Look for the pattern behind destructive chewing

Puppy chewing and mouthy play

Choose chew items for the individual dog

Manage access and teach the alternative

What to do when your dog has the wrong item

Chewing during absences needs its own questions

Check whether the plan is working

Appropriate chew toys for puppies and adult dogs

Redirect chewing before the wrong object becomes a game

Set a realistic goal for chewing behavior

Frequently asked questions

Will my puppy grow out of chewing?

Should I punish my dog when I find chewed furniture?

Does destructive chewing mean separation anxiety?

How do I choose a safe chew toy?

Is chewing a normal behavior for dogs?

How can I keep my dog engaged without encouraging destruction?

More ways to find a trainer

Browse locations