Preventing inappropriate chewing is not just good for your furniture and clothing but can save your dog’s life. Dogs who chew electrical cords run the risk of death by electrocution. Dogs who steal garbage, cat food, or rich treats are at risk for pancreatitis, a potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas. Dogs who eat socks, rocks, or children’s toys can suffer life-threatening intestinal blockages.

Destructive chewing is also harmful to your dog, as it frequently causes feelings of boredom, loneliness, and isolation. Dogs are intelligent, social animals who need the stimulation of activity and companionship. The psychological stress of being left alone on a regular basis can lead to phobias or anxieties that result in chewing as escape behavior (for instance, chewing through doors or windows) or chewing for relief (for example, when the dog is left alone or when a change occurs in the household, such as a new baby or a new work schedule).

Because chewing is so enjoyable and calming, dogs want to do it again and again. That desire to chew can become a good habit or a bad habit, depending on what dogs learn to chew and the quality of interaction they have with their owners.