Chewing and destruction (especially when I leave)
A dog who destroys things isn't taking revenge and isn't misbehaving on purpose. He's answering a need: teeth coming through, not enough exercise, boredom, or sometimes real distress when you leave.
He isn't doing it on purpose: he's answering a need
The destruction is almost never the problem itself: it's the sign of something else. Your dog doesn't even know he's “destroying” anything. He chews to get his teeth through, to burn off too much energy, or to explore the world with his mouth. Most of the time the cause is easy to fix: not enough walks, not enough to keep his mind busy.
He chews a bit of everything (furniture, chair legs, skirting boards)
- Most often: teeth coming through in a puppy, too much pent-up energy or boredom in an adult.
He digs (garden, sofa, bed)
- Digging answers an instinctive need, very strong in terriers and in a dog who is bored.
Always the same object (one single chair leg)
- He had a quiet nibble at it once, and the habit settled on that one object.
- No point wearing yourself out redirecting him: remove or replace that object, the rest is fine.
Meet the needs first, redirect second
Work in order: needs first, redirection next. Skipping the first step means retraining on sand.
Tire him out, mind and body, before you leave
Aim for at least one proper walk a day, half an hour or more depending on his energy, and let him sniff to his heart's content rather than clocking up the miles. A walk where he sniffs, rummages and explores tires out his mind, not just his legs: one study found that a scent-work programme left dogs calmer than a plain heelwork programme. A dog who has used up his body and his mind sleeps while you're away, instead of wrecking the place.
Give him somewhere to put his teeth
Offer several chew toys in different materials (soft, hard, stuffable) that he can chew on his own. He needs to chew; it isn't a whim.
Redirect instead of punishing
When he goes for a piece of furniture, say “stop” in a calm voice, hand him his chew toy straight away, then step back. As soon as he chews the right object, mark it with a marker word: one short word, always the same (“yes”), said at the exact moment he gets it right, to tell him the reward is coming. If he turns his nose up at the toy you offer, don't repeat the same cue ten times: cut off his access to the furniture (shut the room, move him away) and make the toy more tempting by stuffing it with a little food.
Create a special away-from-home toy
Keep one stuffable toy that he never sees except when you leave, and put it away as soon as you're back. Fill it with his wet food or his moistened kibble, and you can even freeze it so it keeps him busy for longer. Your absence becomes a good moment to live through, not a punishment.
Leave and come home calmly
Keep departures and returns neutral, no big hugs or dramatic goodbyes, then make a fuss of him once he's calm, meaning all four paws on the floor and a few seconds without fidgeting. No telling off when you get back, even in front of the damage.
Avoid while you're out
Best choices while you're out
A chew toy is chewed alone; an interactive toy comes out and goes away again. Mixing the two makes the game lose its value.
Doing it alone, or getting help
You can go it alone
- The destruction is spread around and mostly targets chewable objects.
- Your dog isn't getting enough exercise: he needs more walks and more to do.
- He doesn't panic when you leave, he's bored.
Get some support
- He only destroys your belongings, howls, barks, drools a lot or soils indoors as soon as you leave: that's separation distress, not a training problem.
- He injures himself at the exits (doors, windows) trying to get out.
When the destruction becomes a health risk
Destroying sometimes means swallowing. If he has swallowed a bit of plasterboard, wood, fabric or a sock, keep an eye on his tummy and his general state.
Keep an eye on it
- He has swallowed a small piece but eats, drinks and plays normally
- A slightly soft stool, with no other sign
See the vet without delay
- Repeated vomiting, he refuses to eat
- His belly is tense, he complains when you touch him
- No stool since yesterday
Emergency
- He stays lying down, won't get up and no longer reacts to the things that usually interest him
- Projectile vomiting, belly swollen and hard
- He has swallowed a sharp object or a large volume
- Duranton & Horowitz — Let me sniff! Nosework induces positive judgement bias in pet dogs (2019)
- de Assis L. S. et coll. — Developing Diagnostic Frameworks in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine: Disambiguating Separation Related Problems in Dogs, Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2020)
- AVSAB — Position Statement on Humane Dog Training (2021)
- Behavior Problems of Dogs, Merck Veterinary Manual (2024)
Going further
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dog destroy everything?
Because he's answering a need, not because he holds a grudge: teeth coming through, boredom or too much pent-up energy. Almost always start with more walks that tire out his mind, and with a variety of chew toys.
Why does my dog destroy everything when I leave?
There are two cases to tell apart. If he pulls apart more or less anything, he's bored: leave him a stuffable toy for your absences, and meet his needs before you go. If he only goes for your belongings and panics the moment you step out of the door, it's more like separation distress: that's worked on through gradual absences, almost always with a behaviourist or your vet.
How do I stop a dog from digging?
You can't switch off the urge to dig: give him somewhere to express it. Set up a digging corner just for him, a box filled with sand or soil, and bury treats and toys in it to make him want to rummage there. Reward him with a marker word (“yes”) when he digs there rather than elsewhere. A dog whose mind gets a workout also digs far less out of boredom.
My dog destroys everything when I leave, what should I do?
Before you leave: a proper walk where he sniffs and tires himself out, then a chew toy reserved for your absences. When you get back: calm, never a telling off. And lengthen your absences in small stages, always staying below what worries him, to build his independence.
Does a crate stop destruction?
In the moment yes, because the dog simply can't, but he hasn't learnt anything: the day you open the door, he starts again. A crate contains, it doesn't teach. The real answer is still meeting his needs, redirecting, and teaching him to be alone.
At what age does a puppy stop chewing everything?
Teething starts at around 3 to 4 months and often settles down at around 6 to 7 months, once the adult teeth are in place. As long as you give him chew toys and stay consistent day to day, he'll then chew far less of whatever is lying around. Once his needs are met, it settles for good.
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