Understanding Why Dogs Chew on Everything: Causes & Sol

One: The Itch and Discomfort of Teething Puppies

As puppies approach three weeks of age, they begin the process of teething, which continues until they are about seven months old, marking the end of their milk teeth. During this period, puppies are particularly curious and will explore the world with their mouths. If they find something interesting, whether it's something to eat or play with, they'll likely give it a bite.

During this teething phase, providing rubber toys for them to chew on can help alleviate the discomfort caused by their itchy teeth.

Two: Marking Territory

Dogs develop a possessive nature over items they favor, such as their toys. They may chew on them to assert ownership, fearing that others might take them away. Some dogs even have a tendency to nibble on their owner's heels, a sign of affection, as they want to leave their scent on the owner, marking it as theirs and no one else's.

Three: Seeking Attention

Many videos show owners returning home to find their sofas, beds, and furniture in disarray, prompting anger and reprimands. However, the dog might interpret this anger as attention, and thus, they may escalate their destructive behavior. This could be due to the dog feeling lonely and bored when left alone, seeking any opportunity to catch the owner's attention. To prevent such destruction, consider using scents that the dog dislikes on items like sofas and shoes to deter them.

Four: Emotional Release

Dogs may become unhappy due to scoldings from their owners, compounded by past incidents of chewing and destruction that led to anger. In response, they might deliberately provoke their owners to express their frustration.

Five: Pica

If a dog frequently chews on shoes, rummages through trash cans, eats feces, or consumes plants, it may indicate a deficiency in certain trace elements, leading to pica. In such cases, it's advisable to consult a veterinarian and provide the dog with appropriate nutritional supplements.

Understanding Your Dog's Chewing Habit

Have you identified the reasons behind your dog's destructive chewing? Correcting this behavior requires understanding the underlying cause and consistent training. It's essential to be patient and persistent, as it may take time for your dog to form a conditioned response and break the habit of chewing on things unnecessarily.