To stop a dog from chewing everything, give the chewing somewhere legal to go, remove the tempting objects for a few weeks, and burn the energy that is driving it. Chewing is not spite and it is not a phase you wait out. It is a normal dog behaviour pointing at one of four things: teething, boredom, anxiety, or a dog who has never been taught which objects are theirs. Fix the cause and the shoes survive. Here are the seven fixes that actually work, in the order to try them.
Why is my dog chewing everything?
Most destructive chewing comes down to teething, under-stimulation, separation anxiety, or simple confusion about what is a toy. Puppies under about seven months chew because their mouths hurt. Adolescent dogs — roughly six to eighteen months — chew because they have more energy than outlet. Adult dogs who suddenly start chewing are usually stressed, understimulated, or in pain, and that last one is worth a vet call.
1. Give them something better to chew
You cannot stop a dog chewing; you can only redirect it. Keep three or four genuinely satisfying chew items in rotation and make them more interesting than furniture: a stuffable rubber toy, a durable nylon or wood-composite chew, and something edible and long-lasting. Rotating them weekly matters more than owning twenty — novelty is most of the appeal. Our roundup of the best dog toys of 2026 covers which brands actually survive a power chewer.
2. Manage the environment for three weeks
Every successful chew on your shoe teaches your dog that shoes are great. For three weeks, make the mistake impossible: shoes behind a door, remotes up high, charging cables clipped out of reach, baseboards blocked with furniture. Management is not cheating — it is how you stop the habit rehearsing itself while training catches up.
3. Exercise the brain, not just the legs
A tired dog chews less, but a mentally tired dog chews far less. Twenty minutes of sniffing, puzzle-feeding or training is worth an hour of fetch for a dog who chews from boredom. Feed at least one meal a day out of a puzzle toy rather than a bowl — see our guide to the best dog puzzle toys of 2026. Chewing is self-soothing; give the brain a job and the need drops.
4. Use a crate or safe zone when you cannot supervise
An unsupervised dog with a chewing habit will practise it. A properly introduced crate or a puppy-proofed room gives you a place where nothing can go wrong — not as punishment, but as a default resting spot with a legal chew in it. Our dog crate guide covers sizing and the wire-versus-furniture question.
5. Interrupt calmly, then swap
When you catch them in the act, make a neutral noise, take the item, and immediately hand over a legal chew. Then praise the moment they take it. Shouting turns chewing into an attention game; chasing them turns it into keep-away. The swap is the whole lesson: that one no, this one yes. Never punish a chew you find hours later — your dog cannot connect the two.
6. Treat the teething, if that is what it is
Puppies between roughly three and seven months chew because their adult teeth are coming in and their gums ache. Cold helps: a damp, frozen tea towel, a chew toy from the freezer, or a chilled rubber toy. This one genuinely does pass, but only if the puppy has legal things to chew during it — otherwise the habit outlives the teething. The same principle applies to puppy mouthing, which we cover in how to stop a puppy from biting.
7. Rule out anxiety — and rule out pain
Chewing that happens only when you leave is separation anxiety, not naughtiness, and chew toys alone will not fix it. The tell is location: door frames, window sills and the spot where you last stood. That needs a graduated departure plan, and often a vet or behaviourist. Sudden chewing in an adult dog who never chewed before can also signal dental pain or nausea — worth a checkup before you assume it is behavioural.
What does not work
| Common advice | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| Scolding after the fact | Dogs cannot link a telling-off to something they did an hour ago |
| Bitter anti-chew sprays alone | Many dogs ignore them, and they address nothing underneath |
| More walks, nothing else | Builds fitness and appetite for stimulation without providing any |
| Leaving old shoes as toys | Teaches that all shoes are fair game — dogs cannot tell old from new |
When chewing becomes an emergency
Call a vet if your dog swallows fabric, cable, bone shards or anything that could block the gut. Repeated vomiting, refusing food, a hunched posture or straining without producing anything are all signs of an obstruction, and obstructions get worse fast. Chewers also find things they should not eat, so it is worth knowing which foods dogs cannot eat before it becomes urgent.
The chewer’s other habit: the door
Here is our honest bias, since we make pet ID tags: the dogs who chew out of boredom or anxiety are the same dogs who bolt through an open front door. Under-stimulated and anxious dogs are escape artists, and destructive chewing is often the first warning that a dog has more drive than outlet.
That is why we built our $38 NFC smart pet ID tag. Whoever finds your dog taps it with any phone — no app needed on their end, iPhone or Android — and sees your current phone number instantly. Designer acrylic, made in the USA, engraved on the back as a backup, no subscription. The free Lohji app keeps vaccine records and vet notes in one place, which helps on the day you need them. Other tags work too; we just think ours is the prettiest one that still does the job.
Frequently asked questions
At what age do dogs stop chewing everything?
Most dogs settle between 18 months and two years, once adolescence ends. Teething chewing usually eases by around seven months. Chewing that continues past two years is almost always boredom or anxiety rather than age.
Is it normal for an adult dog to suddenly start chewing?
No — a sudden change deserves attention. Look for a new stressor (a schedule change, a move, a new pet), or dental pain and nausea. A vet visit is reasonable before assuming it is behavioural.
Does anti-chew spray work on dogs?
Sometimes, as one layer. Many dogs are unbothered by bitter sprays, and none of them give the dog anything to do instead. Use them alongside management and redirection, never on their own.
Should I crate my dog to stop chewing?
Crating helps as management while training works, provided the crate is introduced positively and the dog is not left in it for long stretches. It prevents damage; it does not by itself teach anything.
Why does my dog chew when I leave the house?
That pattern points to separation anxiety rather than boredom, especially if the damage is at doors and windows. Work on graduated departures and talk to your vet or a qualified behaviourist — chew toys alone rarely solve it.
Get Your Tag
A bored dog chews the sofa — and bolts through the door. One tap on our NFC tag shows any finder your number.
