My dog chews everything! How do I stop her destructive behavior?

Question

My 1 year old dog destroys/chews on everything she shouldn't. Is she lacking something in her system? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 1 year old | 60 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Chewing on lots of things is very normal behavior for young dogs - it normally diminishes on its own with age, but in the meantime you can do some things to help. First and foremost, make sure that she has plenty of chew items and long-lasting treats available to provide an appropriate outlet for this behavior - things like bully sticks, cow or pig ears, large rawhide chews, and puzzle toys such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter are all good options. Keep clothing, shoes, and other objects put away out of her reach, just as you would for a toddler or small child. I would also recommend supervising her closely so that you can redirect her to one of her chews if she starts to chew on something she shouldn't. Finally, Bitter Apple spray can be used on furniture, baseboards, or other areas to help discourage chewing. If the destructive behavior is only happening when you're not home, I would be concerned that she may have separation anxiety - you can video tape her one day while you're gone to find out for sure.

My dog chews everything! How do I stop her destructive behavior?

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