Destructive chewing in dogs: why punishment is never the answer.

Picture this….

You come home from a long day at work only to discover that your dog has been busy while you were out chewing up your sofa. In fact, the dog chewed the sofa up hours ago, as soon as you had left the house for work, and have then been quietly asleep the rest of the day. How should you react?

It is highly likely that you will be feeling pretty annoyed and frustrated with your dog. Sofa’s don’t come cheap and it’s really the last thing you want to be dealing with right now. Surely the dog knows that chewing the sofa is wrong. So you should punish them for being naughty, right?

Wrong!

Why is there no point in any form of punishment?

Time for some obvious statements. Dogs are not humans. Although they experience emotions of happiness, fear, contentment and anger, their brains do not have the capacity to think ahead or speculate on the past.

Dogs are not great time keepers. They are not able to make connections between something that is happening right now and something that happened in the past. So, for that simple reason, there is no point in any form of punishment when you return home to see a chewed-up sofa.

Forming associations

The dog cannot associate the anger in your voice with their own actions of chewing up the sofa earlier in the day. All the dog will understand is that sometimes when you come home, you can be really angry. As a result the dog may become anxious of you coming back from work.

They may learn that you get angry when they see a chewed-up sofa, but they will not learn to associate this anger with their own destructive actions that happened in the past.

Appeasement gestures

Some owners report their dogs displaying appeasement signals, such as a sideways ‘grin’ and low body posture, when they return home and think that the dog is feeling ‘guilty’ for their ‘naughty’ behaviour.

However, the dog isn’t telling the owner that they have been ‘naughty’, because naughtiness isn’t a concept with any meaning to the dog. Instead the dog knows that sometimes the owner is angry with them on their return and they are using all the body-language that they know of to show their owner that they pose no threat.

How should you deal with this? 

So if punishment is off the cards, what should you do to deal with this situation? Here are a few helpful tips to make the likelihood of chewing much less.

1) Pet proof the space where your dog is to be left.

It sounds obvious, but keep anything that they might like to chew well out of their reach. Move things to a higher level and restrict access to particular rooms where temptation may lie.

2) Provide a suitable chewing alternative

Chewing is a natural behaviour in dogs and is a self-calming activity. The act of chewing has a soothing and comforting effect in the dogs brain, triggering the release of endorphins, a feel-good hormone. As such, chewing is a tool that the dog has at their disposal in order to 'self-medicate' for anxiety and stress.

There are lots of options for appropriate chewing such as strong toys made of tough rubber or nylon, or natural chews such as elk antlers, dried aortas or rabbits ears. Avoid toys that are too hard and can damage teeth, and avoid anything that can be broken into bits and pieces, causing a choking hazard.

An elk antler is a perfect natural chew for dogs.

3) Create a safe-space

Considering where your dog is left while your are out is also important. It is possible that your dog is anxious about being left alone and is re-directing their frustration on the sofa. Creating a ‘safe-space’ such as a blanket covered cage or coffee table, with lots of soft blankets, or a smaller room, where the dog can feel relaxed may help.

Think about where to position your safe-space - away from front windows, the front door and busy areas may be best. A radio or tv left on at low volume may also help the anxious dog settle.

3) Physical and mental needs

In this situation of the chewed-up sofa, I would recommend that you consider why your dog was destructive in the first place, rather than focussing on punishment. Is your dog properly exercised? Are they bored? Are they anxious?

Take a look at your morning routine. Were your dog’s physical and emotional needs met before you left for work? By taking your dog for an appropriate length walk for the breed each morning is essential. It is also important to play stimulating games with the dog for at least 15 minutes before leaving the house.

This may seem like an unnecessary burden to add to your morning routine. But by ensuring your dog is both physically and mentally satisfied before being left alone, they are far more likely to settle.

5) Take a deep breath!

Ultimately, an understanding of why the chewing behaviour happened in the first place and a better understanding of the dog’s physical and emotional needs, will lead to a happier and less destructive dog. In contrast, punishment could lead to further anxiety and fear in the dog and exacerbate the re-directed frustration further.

So if you ever return home to a scene of destructiveness, take a deep breath, count to 10, slowly, and be an understanding dog parent.

Further reading

For more information on creating a safe-space for your dog, please take a look at my information sheet with lots of helpful hints.