How to Teach Your Dog Not to Destroy Toys: 6 Vet-Approved Methods

As pet parents, we think of our dogs as little angels, no matter the size or breed of the dog. What we’re often not prepared for are our canine angels to rip, tear, and chew their toys to shreds.

The last thing you want is for your dog to turn their play area into something resembling a crime scene, but what do you do? Why is your dog suddenly destroying their toys, and what can you do to stop this behavior?

We’ll give you a few reasons for the behavior and a few methods to stop it in the blog below.

Why Does a Dog Chew Their Toys?

There are a few reasons that a dog will start chewing on and destroying their toys.

The Dog Is Bored

A dog starts destroying their toys because their bored and looking for something to do. This often happens with dogs that are left alone for long periods. Just like humans, being alone makes them bored and anxious.

The dog becomes bored and has excessive energy to burn, resulting in them chewing on your furniture and their toys, ending in destruction.

Their Toy Isn’t Breed Appropriate

No one toy fits all dog breeds. There are toys for little dogs and toys for bigger dogs for a reason. For example, if you’ve given a toy for a small breed dog to a massive dog, then that dog is going to easily destroy that toy without even meaning to.

Purchase toys depending on the size of your dog and how mouthy the dog is. For example, you’ll need durable toys for dog breeds such as the following.

• Jack Russel Terriers
• Pitbulls
• Tibetan Mastiffs
• Siberian Huskies

Some dogs will destroy their toys when they are frustrated. Frustrations can range from being hungry or overstimulated to needing a potty break or not being able to play with their playmate.

Is It Normal for a Dog to Destroy Their Toys?

While it can be normal for a dog to destroy their toys, it’s not a behavior that should be encouraged. Not only is it expensive to keep replacing your dog’s toys, but it can also be a hazard to your pet. It’s possible that the dog will swallow a loose piece of the toy and choke or end up with the toy piece lodged in his intestines.

The 6 Methods to Stop Your Dog From Destroying Their Toys

There are a few methods that you can try to stop your dog from destroying their toys. We’ll give you six of the most effective in the sections below.

1. Purchase the Right Toys

Not only do toys need to be durable, but they should also be interactive. If you’re going out for a short time, try giving your dog a toy that keeps them entertained until you return. Food puzzles are perfect interactive toys, as they require the dog to work for the treat inside and reward them in the end. Having a variety of toy types and rotating them helps keep them interesting for your pup.

• You may be interested in: 10 Best Dog Toys for Chewers – Reviews & Top Picks

2. Replace Destroyed Toys Right Away

Whether the toy is slightly torn, ripped, or completely destroyed, it’s essential to throw away the damaged toy, ideally replacing it right away. While many pet owners think this is a waste of money, it’s a whole lot less worrying than having to take your dog to the vet because he swallowed pieces of a ripped, shredded, or destroyed toy.

3. Teach Your Dog to Respond to Verbal Commands

Teaching your dog to respond to your verbal commands will help quite a bit. When the dog is playing too roughly with their toy, tell them to drop it. Once they drop the toy, give them a treat. This will reinforce this behavior, letting them know listening to you and not destroying their toy will be rewarded. A veterinarian can give you some useful pointers on how to teach your dog basic commands.

4. Don’t Give a Large Dog a Small Toy

If you give your Great Dane a toy that’s meant for a Poodle, you can’t expect the dog not to destroy the toy in a matter of hours, if not minutes. Make sure that the size of the toy matches the size of your dog for the best results.

On top of that, a small toy in the mouth of a Great Dane could easily become a choking hazard. Size up if you’re in doubt, for safety’s sake.

5. Join in on Playtime

Having fun with your dog is a given for most pet owners. If you join in at playtime, the dog is less apt to destroy their toys. Whether it’s playing tug of war with a durable rope or fetch with the tennis ball at the dog park, playing with your pet is also a great way to bond and help your pet burn off that excess energy.

Once playtime is over, take the toys and put them up where the dog can’t reach them for the best results.

6. Training

To keep boredom at bay, work in short 3- to 5-minute training sessions several times a day. This will stave off boredom and reinforce behaviors that you want your dog to master. Practicing sit-to-stand, middle, wait, stay and walking at your side will only take a couple of minutes a few times a day.

Conclusion

Dogs are going to play. However, the last thing you want is your dog to become injured over destroying the toy he’s supposed to be having fun playing with. It’s also quite expensive to keep replacing the toys as your dog destroys them.

Try the methods above to teach your dog not to destroy his toys. If these methods don’t work, then it’s time to consult your vet to see if there’s an underlying cause for the problem. Do you have tricks and tips for teaching dogs not to destroy their toys that aren’t on our list? Tell us what they are in the comments below.

• See also: Bichon Frise vs Havanese: Which One Is Right for Me?

Featured Image Credit: Przemek Iciak, Shutterstock