Reasons Why Dogs Chew On Wood And How To Stop It

Why do dogs chew on wood? Many dog owners have had the experience of coming home to see wooden furniture or wood trim marked with dog’s teeth marks or even partly destroyed. Chewing non-edible items is usually an indication that your dog may either be bored, anxious or suffering from dental pain. Whatever the reason, dogs chewing on wood do more than damage to property. Your dog runs the risk of ingesting tiny splinters of wood, which can cause damage to his internal organs.

Why Does Your Dog Chew on Wood?

There are a few different reasons why dogs sometimes just couldn’t resist munching on wood. Understanding the possible reasons behind the chewing behavior can help you deal with the problem more effectively.

·        Teething and dental issues

Why do puppies chew on wood? Puppies may start to chew on wood to relieve any pain or discomfort that comes with teething. At four to 30 weeks, puppies’ teeth start to grow rapidly and the process can be quite uncomfortable for the young ones, which could be the primary reason why you spotted some unsightly teeth marks on the wood trim.

In adult dogs, dental problems may result in incessant chewing.

·        Boredom

If you go to work every day and leave your dog alone at home for long periods, there’s a chance that your dog has turned his attention to your wooden coffee table because he is bored. Compulsive chewing, along with obsessive licking and over-grooming in canines, are a few tell-tale signs that they’re in need of more physical exercise and mental stimulation.

·        Anxiety

Dog anxiety manifests in several symptoms, which may include obsessive wood chewing. Dogs get anxious over different reasons and you must try to find out what’s causing your dog to behave destructively. Could your dog be suffering from separation anxiety? Have you moved to another home or has there been a major change in the household lately?

It’s quite possible that your dog is feeling nervous, upset, or a little worked up and is trying to cope by taking it out on the wooden window frames or furniture. Find out what’s going on with your canine buddy and know how to stop your dog from chewing on wood. 

·        Breed instinct

Some dog breeds may have stronger chewing instinct than others. Retrievers and hunting dogs, for instance, are predisposed to grab things with their mouths as dictated by their instincts.

How to Get a Dog to Stop Chewing on Wood?

Once you understand what’s causing the destructive chewing behavior, you can take some measures such as prevention, behavior training, distraction, and providing your canine friend the attention he deserves. Here are some of the things you should do if you want to know how to stop your dog from chewing on wood.

1. Take preventive measures.

Once the chewing habit has started, it may take a bit of time before your dog can get rid of the behavior. As a form of prevention, make sure to pick up and put away any stray branches, twigs, and any of the non-edible items on the yard that your dog may have resorted to chewing on when there’s nobody around.

Apart from consistent training and supervision, you may want to restrict your dog from areas inside the house where he might cause some damage to your belongings and to himself. Set up barriers at home or keep him in his crate when there’s no one around to supervise him

If you’re worried about being harsh, don’t worry because crate training isn’t necessarily a punishment and actually comes with great benefits. For instance, it’s easier to travel with your dog if he’s been crate trained.  

2. Apply behavior modification training.

Start training your dog by giving him a firm “No” whenever you see him start chewing at the corner of the staircase or the wooden furniture. Following basic dog training techniques, don’t punish or chase your dog when the chewing starts. Instead, offer him treats, pats, or praises when he stops—but it has to be right after you say “No” to help him make the association. Does this consistently until your dog will understand that, chewing won’t earn him any treats.

3. Offer him chew toys.

Chew toys can be an easy and effective ways to solve obsessive chewing. If you want to know how to stop a puppy from chewing on wood, chew toys designed to ease teething pains might just be what you need to solve the problem. Make sure to find ones that are made of durable materials. Just offer your dog a toy whenever he starts chewing on your furniture.

4. Give your dog lots of exercise and play.

Time for exercise and play are absolutely essential towards keeping your dog healthy. If your dog’s chewing behavior is caused by boredom or anxiety, it could be that he’s not getting enough stimulation or attention.

Dogs are extremely sociable creatures and you should also be giving him opportunities to socialize with people and other animals. If needed, you may hire a pet sitter or ask a relative to help socialize your dog, play with him, and take him for walks.

5. Try dog chewing deterrents.

How to stop a dog from chewing on wood trim? Spray a dog chewing deterrent like bitter apple spray on wooden furniture, wood trims, or dry walls to stop dog chewing behavior. You can make your own deterrent, by mixing vinegar with apple cider and spraying the mixture on the wooden items you want your dog to stay away from. Just remember that deterrents would work more effectively with behavior training.

Try these steps on how to stop a dog from chews on wood. Understand the cause, prevent the behavior, offer a distraction by offering an alternative, and be firm and consistent in behavior training. Most importantly, be patient with your dog. Give him enough time to understand that chewing isn’t acceptable behavior and don’t forget to give him praise when he’s truly earned it.