Training
How to Keep Your Dog From Chewing Furniture
Your couch is expensive. To a bored or teething dog, it is also a large stationary chew toy you left in the living room.
Why dogs chew
Chewing is normal dog behavior. Puppies explore and teethe; adults chew for enjoyment, stimulation, or stress relief. Destruction can increase when a dog has too much unsupervised freedom, too little enrichment, or difficulty being left alone.
Stop paying tuition to the couch
Use gates, a pen, closed doors, or a dog-safe room when active supervision is impossible. Remove tempting items and block access to favorite furniture corners. Every successful furniture-chewing session strengthens the habit, so prevention matters while training catches up.
Offer better legal options
Choose chews appropriate for the dog’s size and chewing style, supervise new items, and remove pieces that can be swallowed. Rotate options instead of leaving everything out. Food-stuffed toys and sniffing activities can meet mental needs that another lap around the block may not.
Red flags
Sudden destructive chewing, swallowing non-food material, broken teeth, mouth pain, vomiting, or damage focused around exits should be discussed with a veterinarian. Destruction that happens only during absences can be separation-related and needs a different plan than ordinary boredom.
Sources and standards
What this guide is based on
This article translates established veterinary and reward-based behavior guidance into practical household steps. Sources are provided for transparency; this page is educational and does not replace care from your veterinarian.
Reviewed September 2026. Informational only; not veterinary diagnosis or treatment.