How to Stop Dog from Chewing Everything

Some dogs don't just chew one thing — they chew everything. Furniture, shoes, remote controls, books, baseboards, plants, clothing. If your dog seems to treat the entire house as a chew toy, you're dealing with a dog whose chewing drive is high and whose environment isn't set up to channel it appropriately. Here's how to fix it.

What You'll Need

• Bitter apple spray: Bitter apple chew deterrent spray applied to surfaces your dog targets makes them taste unpleasant and discourages repeat chewing.
• A variety of chew toys: A Kong toy for stuffing, a durable Nylabone for power chewers, and a puzzle toy for mental stimulation give your dog a full range of appropriate chewing and enrichment options.
• A pet exercise pen: An indoor exercise pen creates a safe, dog-proofed zone where your dog can be when you can't supervise.
• Treats and a treat pouch: Reward your dog for choosing their toys. A treat pouch with magnetic closure keeps rewards ready for instant reinforcement.

Why Some Dogs Chew Everything

Dogs that chew indiscriminately usually have one or more of these issues:

• High chewing drive: Some breeds — especially retrievers, terriers, and working breeds — have a strong instinct to chew
• Insufficient exercise: Pent-up energy comes out as destructive chewing
• Boredom and under-stimulation: Dogs left alone with nothing to do will find their own entertainment
• Anxiety: Chewing is self-soothing for stressed dogs
• Teething: Puppies between 3–6 months chew everything to relieve teething pain
• Too much freedom too soon: Unsupervised access to the whole house before a dog is trained is a recipe for destruction

Step-by-Step: How to Stop Chewing Everything

Step 1: Dog-Proof Your Space

Remove or secure everything your dog can reach that you don't want chewed. Put shoes in closets, books on high shelves, cables behind furniture, and plants out of reach. You can't train a dog not to chew if they have unlimited access to chewable items.

Step 2: Apply Bitter Spray to Fixed Targets

For items you can't move — baseboards, furniture legs, door frames — apply bitter apple spray. Reapply every few days. Cover all surfaces your dog has targeted.

Step 3: Create a Chew-Safe Zone

Use an exercise pen to create a dog-proofed area stocked with appropriate chew toys. When you can't supervise, your dog goes in their zone. This prevents destructive chewing while you're busy and limits the habit from reinforcing itself.

Step 4: Provide a Rotation of Chew Toys

Dogs get bored with the same toys. Keep 5–6 chew toys and rotate them — put some away and bring them back out after a few days. A "new" toy is far more interesting than a familiar one. Always have a stuffed Kong available — it's one of the most effective long-lasting chew options.

Step 5: Dramatically Increase Exercise

If your dog is chewing everything, they almost certainly need more physical exercise and mental stimulation. Add a second walk, a training session, or an active play session to your daily routine. A genuinely tired dog chews far less.

Step 6: Redirect Every Time

Every time you catch your dog chewing something inappropriate, calmly interrupt and redirect to a chew toy. When they take the toy, reward with a treat. Consistent redirection builds the habit of choosing appropriate items.

Step 7: Supervise or Confine — No Exceptions

Until your dog's chewing is under control, they should never have unsupervised access to the house. Either you're watching them, or they're in their safe zone. This is the single most important rule for dogs that chew everything.

How Long Does It Take?

With strict management and consistent redirection, most dogs show significant improvement within 3–4 weeks. High-drive chewers may take longer. The key is preventing the behavior from being rehearsed while you build better habits.

Final Thoughts

A dog that chews everything needs management, enrichment, and exercise — not just training. Dog-proof your space, apply bitter spray to fixed targets, create a safe zone, provide a rotation of satisfying chew toys, and dramatically increase daily exercise. With consistency, even the most enthusiastic chewers can be redirected to appropriate outlets.