Help, my American bulldog chews on everything, how can I stop a dog from destroying toys? I think I have bought just about every chew toy they sell out there, including the Kong which I had high expectations, but he managed to chew that up too! Is there anything you can suggest? This is a question I received recently and my answer is that there are several ways to stop a dog from destroying toys, but in order to have success, you will need to take a multi-faceted approach. A dog destroying chew toys is giving out two strong messages: he has a powerful jaws and he desperately needs something better to do all day!
Stop a Dog From Destroying Toys
It’s important to stop a dog from destroying toys for many reasons. One of them of course is for financial reasons. It’s annoying to have to spend hard earned money for chew toys only to find them destroyed seconds later!
On top of that, consider that when your dog destroys toys, he’s put into a dangerous situation. Countless dogs each year end up on the surgical table for intestinal blockages. These dogs end up swallowing large chunks of toys that end up blocking their digestive tract preventing the passage of food. Such surgeries end up being surely costly!
For this reason, it’s always important to invest in the safest toys (avoid toys with squeakers or toys that break into large parts) and always supervising the dogs for safety.
If your dog is powerful chewer who has destroyed several toys, you need to therefore keep your dog’s safety in mind as many potent chewers as such may end up chewing shoes, the legs of tables and chairs when left unsupervised. Crating your dog when you are unable to supervise him, can help prevent him from chewing unwanted items and will also keep him safe
Maturing Dog Chewing
If you are dealing with a puppy, understand that puppies just as babies go through teething stages. And even after they have put in all their permanent teeth, they need to chew, chew and chew. Consider that in a dog, the most intense chewing phase generally peaks from the age of five months to a year and sometimes even longer.
If your dog is still a puppy under 6 months, you can help those sore gums by offering some ice cubes every now and then. Some also find it helpful to rinse large wash cloths in cold water and then place them in the freezer. Offer this to chew on, but supervise and take it away as soon as it thaws. When shopping for toys and bones, make sure they are appropriate for puppies of his age.
If your dog is over 6 months, chewing is still important as it helps develop strong jaws. All that gnawing is instinctive as it the teeth to become strong and firmly embedded in the skull. Some of the most intense chewing is seen in dogs of this age, often with a peak towards 8 to 14 months. During this time, it’s important to provide good chew toys.
Durable Chew Toys for Potent Chewers
Kongs are great toys and even one of the most durable ones,(the most durable one is the black Kong Extreme) but nowadays, they have made some even stronger toys, some even backed up with a guarantee that they will replace the toy should your dog manage to chew them. In this case, even though your dog would chew, at least you can have your money back or a brand new chew toy.
Worth mentioning are Zogoflex toys produced by West Paw Design. This company is so confident powerful chewers will not destroy their toys that they back them up with a guarantee against destruction! Their Tux is claimed to be their toughest chew toy.
Goughnuts may also be worth a try, they are claimed to be ”almost” indestructible and come with a guarantee as well. These toys are designed with safety in mind since they come with a “Chew Toy Safety Indicator”. Basically, if your dog chews through the outside wear layer up to a point of exposing the underlying indication layer, GoughNuts will replace your toy.
The Kong Wobbler is quite a strong toy. Most dogs may try to chew it at first, but because it moves so much and it’s difficult to grasp (they’ll mostly scrape their teeth on it), they eventually give up trying. They soon learn that it’s far more rewarding nudging it and pushing it around rather than chewing it.
Bully sticks are also a great type of chewing bones that are very durable and can keep your dog busy for several minutes. Best of all, they are a much safer choice than rawhide.
Tackling the Underlying Issue
Now, when tackling how to stop a dog from destroying toys let’s discuss about chewing in general. Some dogs resort to chewing when they are not stimulated enough and build up frustration, so make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise during the day.
Do not forget mental stimulation as well, like hiding some treats in the grass or clicker training. These exercises often can be more tiring than a brief walk!
Anxiety and stress can also trigger chewing episodes as well. Many dogs who are boarded in a kennel and end up chewing their beds (something they would never end up doing at home) because of the stress associated with being away from home and their families.
So don’t forget to evaluate your dog’s state of mind, perhaps he’s stressed by noises, a recent move or other things going on in his life.