Home Remedies to Stop Your Dog Chewing on the Furniture
While some of us may have been lucky and gotten away unscathed, many dog owners have probably had an issue with their dog chewing on their furniture. Whether it's pock-marked table legs or soggy pillows…it's never fun.
It is in their nature to chew, but training them can take some time. Precious time that your coffee table doesn’t have. So what are some safe home remedies you can use to discourage a dog who chews?
Why Do Dogs Chew on Furniture?
To stop something, you need to know why it's happening. There are a number of things that could lead to this kind of chewing behavior. In general, chewing behavior is completely natural, but some things can increase it, leading to chewing on furniture. This can include-
Boredom - Dogs that are bored and under-stimulated are more likely to act out. Chewing is a way to relieve stress, and bored dogs may decide that chewing furniture or other destructive behavior is a good way to relieve some of that pent-up energy.
Anxiety - Dogs with anxiety, especially separation anxiety, might chew to self-soothe. They may begin chewing on furniture if it is readily available.
Teething - Young puppies' gums may be itchy and uncomfortable while they’re teething. Chewing furniture, especially wooden furniture, may provide some relief.
Attention Seeking - Dogs do not have the emotional capacity to seek revenge or act out of spite [1], but they may still chew furniture if they see that it can get a reaction out of you. Even negative attention is still attention.
No Appropriate Chew Toys - Chewing behavior is a normal part of a dog’s life. If there are not enough appropriate chew toys or their current toys are dirty and broken…then they may go for the furniture.
Solution 1: Addressing the Underlying Issue
While not always the case, normally the root at the source of destructive behavior, including chewing furniture, is because your dog is bored and frustrated. They may not be getting enough exercise or mental stimulation, causing them to behave aggressively.
If your dog’s chewing is a problem, consider increasing the distance you walk or the number of walks you take during the day. You could also consider hiring a dog walker to decrease the amount of time your dog is left alone with the furniture and increase its exercise.
You can also substitute other forms of exercise, such as playing at the dog park, going to the beach, obstacle course training, and other appropriate forms.
Chewing on Furniture and Breed
There are no specific breeds that enjoy chewing furniture specifically, but some dog breeds require a lot more exercise and stimulation than others. These include Labradors, Beagles, Staffordshire Terriers, Collies, and Spaniels. [2] Try to find out if your dog is a breed that does well indoors if you plan on keeping them inside for long periods.
Mental Stimulation
Another way to combat destructive chewing behavior is by providing mental stimulation. Like humans, dogs get bored of the same repetitive tasks, and need a little more in their lives to reduce stress.
This can be something simple such as
- Providing a new experience e.g. going somewhere new or trying a new treat
- Giving tasks e.g Training them how to do a new trick
- Playing games e.g. Hiding food around the house or playing hide and seek with them
- Providing stimulating toys e.g. hiding treats in a toy or providing them with a lick matt or slow-feeding matt.
These types of tasks provide mental and physical stimulation, alleviating boredom and either negating the destructive behavior or distracting them from their chewing instinct.
Solution 2: Alternate Chew Toys
As mentioned, dogs love and need to chew things as a way to keep themselves occupied and self-soothe. You need to make sure that they have access to adequate and appropriate chew toys.
‘But I have chew toys! My dogs chew furniture anyways!’ you may say. Unfortunately, dogs can be picky sometimes. They may not like the toys that you currently have, or have grown bored with the same old toy. A dirty, ripped-up chew toy is also not fun anymore, and may have an unpleasant texture.
Small puppies and small dogs may also struggle against a chew toy that is too hard or too big for their small mouths, discouraging them from chewing. Multi-dog houses may also not have enough toys to go around, or have one dog that's hoarding all of the toys.
Safe and Popular Chew Toys
Avoid chew toys that are harder than your dog’s teeth, or that can splinter and stab their gums. This includes things such as certain bones, hooves, or hard plastic toys. Also avoid things that are easy to break apart and swallow - like tennis balls for big dogs.
See how your dog chews, if they’re the kind that just gnaws or if they try and break the toy apart. Normally edible dog chewing treats are a good choice, such as bully sticks or beef cheeks, as the dog is more likely to go for it if it tastes nice - but be aware that they may add some extra calories to their diet.
Normally a firm rubber toy, a durable dog-safe plushie, or a rope toy make for the most appropriate chew toy, especially for adult dogs. They are unlikely to break apart and get swallowed.
For puppies you may need to stick to chew toys made for puppies.
Solution 3: Chemical Deterrents
To stop your dog from chewing furniture, you may need to resort to bitter sprays. These are sprays that make furniture taste bitter (obviously) to discourage your dog from chewing on it. It is not a permanent solution, but it can be useful to break a bad habit.
If you are worried about store-bought discouragers, there are some pet safe bitter sprays you can make at home. Most trainers report mixed results, even with store-bought products, but you may have some success.
Important: Test the solution on a not-easily seen piece of furniture beforehand to ensure it doesn’t discolor or damage it
Lemon or Vinegar Solution
- Mix one part Lemon or Apple Cider Vinegar to five parts water inside a spray bottle (Apple Cider vinegar is more effective, but the lemon juice may smell a bit better)
- Apply to whatever part of the furniture your dog chews the most
- Reapply it every so often, especially if you’ve washed the furniture
Chilli Solution
- Mix 1 tablespoon powdered cayenne pepper to 1 quart water (~1L) and stir thoroughly
- Apply to furniture
- Reapply every so often, especially if you’ve washed the furniture
Be careful with the cayenne. Although it is safe for dogs, it may cause some tummy upsets if the dog decides to try to lick it off anyway.
Solution 4: Keep Away
One of the easiest solutions might be to just keep your dog away from the furniture.
There are probably one or two items that you can find your dog chewing often, pieces that they are particularly fond of. Otherwise you may notice that they may chew more when you are out of the room, possibly from separation anxiety.
One solution is to physically keep them away. You can keep young puppies out with barriers, or keep older dogs out with things such as baby gates.
Some dogs may also be more likely to chew when you are at work or at night when you’re in bed. You may be able to calm their separation anxiety if you let them sleep outside. This is perfectly safe in most locations, provided they have access to shelter. Otherwise, you could try crate training.
Sometimes this may only need to be a temporary solution as you train your dog, but other times you may need to consider keeping your dog out of the house unless supervised.
Solution 5: Behavioral Therapy for Stress and Anxiety
If your dog is fully grown, well-trained, and is still chewing furniture, then it may be that your dog suffers from separation anxiety or another behavioral issue that causes them to act this way.
Consider calling in a professional dog trainer to address the issue and give you tips. Remember, diverting your dog’s attention or giving positive feedback when they chew on the CORRECT things is often more useful than yelling or scolding.
Crate training is a good way to deal with anxiety, as well as increasing their exercise time. You could also invest in a dog t-shirt or jersey, as the swaddling sensation has been shown to have a positive impact in calming the nerves. For some stylish jacket-coat options, consider checking out Sparkpaws’ Jacket and Coat Collection.
Also consider booking a vet visit, as they may be able to rule out any underlying pain as a cause, or recommend mood stabilizers for very anxious dogs.
Conclusion
There are a few reasons your dog may be chewing on the furniture. Normally this boils down to the fact that they don’t have enough or appropriate chew toys, they are anxious or bored, or they want attention.
The best solutions are-
Provide More Stimulation - Increase the amount of physical exercise and mental stimulation they get.
Review Your Chew Toys - Make sure you have enough chew toys and that your dog actually likes them.
Chemical deterrents - Spray your furniture with something to make it taste bad.
Keep Them Away - Make sure your dogs don’t have access to the furniture, especially when you are not around.
Stress Relief - Try to reduce anxiety through providing dog clothes, crate training, behavioral training, or even vet-approved medication.
Try a number of methods to find out what works best for both you and your dog. We’re confident that you will find a way to keep your furniture safe and restore peace in your home.
Happy Walking!
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