Chewing & Toys

Does Your Dog Chew Everything? 7 Ways to Stop Destructive Chewing

Why dogs chew everything, and seven practical ways to redirect it before the couch pays the price.

By 4 min read
Does Your Dog Chew Everything? 7 Ways to Stop Destructive Chewing – Freezbone

Your shoes, the couch cushions, the corner of the rug. If your dog chews everything, you are not alone, and it is not because they are bad. Chewing is natural for dogs. It only becomes a problem when it lands on the wrong things.

The key is not stopping the chewing. It is redirecting it to something safe and satisfying. Here are seven ways to do exactly that.

Give your dog durable chew toys, rotate them weekly and keep tempting items out of reach. Praise them for chewing the right things, add a frozen, filled toy for a longer challenge, and make sure they get enough exercise. If you cannot supervise, a crate with their favorite toys prevents unsupervised damage.

Why does my dog chew everything?

Chewing does a few different jobs for a dog, and the reason behind it shapes the fix:

  • Teething pain. Puppies chew a lot while their teeth come through. Our puppy teething guide covers that phase week by week.
  • Stress and anxiety. Chewing can be a coping mechanism for stress or separation anxiety.
  • Boredom. Without enough stimulation, dogs chew simply because there is nothing better to do. Learn to spot the look your dog gives you when they are bored.

Understanding why your dog is chewing helps you choose the right solution.

How do I stop my dog from chewing everything? 7 ways that work

1. Offer chew-friendly alternatives

Make sure your dog has plenty of safe, durable chew toys. A Freezbone is designed to satisfy the chewing instinct while your furniture stays in one piece.

2. Rotate toys regularly

Dogs lose interest in the same toys. Rotate them weekly to keep things fresh. Because FreezBone toys come in lots of different shapes, you can swap styles and keep your dog engaged every time. Our Freezbone treat planner helps you map out the week in minutes.

“My 6 month old bully loves it. It's so well made, he plays with it after he eats up the yummy treat in it. Normally he destroys most of his things, this I can tell will last.”
Yasmin M., verified buyer

3. Remove tempting items

Keep shoes, remotes and anything else chewable out of reach. Less temptation means fewer chances to practice the habit.

4. Reward positive behavior

When your dog chews an approved toy, praise them and offer a small treat. Positive reinforcement teaches them what is okay to chew.

5. Use frozen treats

Fill a Freezbone with bone refills or treats and freeze it. The frozen challenge keeps dogs engaged for longer than an empty toy ever could.

Freezbone Refills ready-made frozen fills

6. Increase exercise and play

Make sure your dog gets enough physical activity to burn off excess energy. A tired dog has less urge to chew.

7. Consider crate training

If you are not home to supervise, a crate can prevent unsupervised destructive chewing. Put their favorite toys in with them to keep them busy and relaxed, and never use the crate as a punishment.

Give them

  • Durable, fillable chew toys
  • A frozen refill for a longer challenge
  • New shapes in weekly rotation
  • Praise when they choose the right thing

Keep away

  • Shoes and remotes left within reach
  • The same old toy every day
  • Long stretches with no exercise
  • The crate used as punishment

Is chewing good for dogs?

Chewing is not all bad. It is a natural behavior that helps dogs in a few ways:

  • Mental stimulation. A challenging chew toy, like one filled with frozen treats, keeps the mind engaged.
  • Stress relief. Chewing is one of the natural ways dogs settle themselves.
  • A safe outlet. Giving the urge somewhere to go protects your belongings.

The goal is not a dog who never chews. It is a dog who chews the right thing.

Freezbone tip

Keep one filled toy in the freezer at all times. The moment your dog starts eyeing the couch is the wrong moment to start preparing one.

A calmer house, an intact couch

Destructive chewing can be a thing of the past with the right strategy. Offer safe alternatives, increase playtime and keep your dog mentally busy with challenging enrichment toys. Happier dog, intact furniture.

Living with a power chewer or a puppy in full chewing mode? Our complete guide to stopping destructive chewing for good goes deeper into the training side.

Frequently asked questions

  • The most common reasons are teething, stress or separation anxiety, and boredom. Knowing which one applies helps you pick the right fix.

  • Redirect rather than punish. Offer durable chew toys, keep temptations out of reach, praise your dog when they chew the right thing, and give them enough exercise.

  • Weekly works well. Swapping between different shapes keeps toys feeling new and keeps your dog interested.

  • Yes, if you cannot supervise. Include their favorite toys to keep them busy and relaxed, and never use the crate as a punishment.

  • They help a lot. A filled, frozen toy keeps your dog engaged for longer than an empty one and gives the chewing urge a safe place to go.

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Written by Freezbone Team

We make freezable, refillable chew toys in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and test every fill and routine on our own dogs before we write about it.

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