Chewing: Why It Matters More Than You Think for Your Dog’s Behaviour and Wellbeing

Reviewed by Nico Joiner

Written by the Omni Editorial Team

Chewing is often framed as a problem to solve. Often what is mentioned is that shoes get destroyed, furniture gets damaged or post gets ripped up.

Chewing is a natural, biologically normal behaviour for dogs - and when we understand why dogs chew, it becomes one of the most powerful tools we have for supporting emotional regulation, calm behaviour, and overall welfare.

When dogs don’t have appropriate opportunities to chew, that behaviour won’t just disappear, it’s more likely that it shows up somewhere else.

A natural, self-soothing behaviour

From a behavioural perspective, chewing functions as a self-regulating activity. It helps shift dogs out of high arousal and into a calmer state.

This is supported by science! Research into canine enrichment shows that access to appropriate chewing opportunities is associated with reduced stress-related behaviours and increased relaxation. “Enrichment strategies that allow dogs to express species-typical behaviours, including chewing, are consistently linked to improved welfare and reduced abnormal behaviour.” (Wells, 2004). In simple terms: chewing helps dogs calm their own nervous system.

Ensuring they have an outlet

When dogs don’t have appropriate outlets for natural behaviours, frustration builds. This can be expressed as:

• destructive chewing
• grabbing at leads or clothing
• pacing or restlessness
• increased reactivity

Chewing gives dogs a safe, appropriate release for emotional and physical tension.
A study examining enrichment during stressful events found that providing opportunities for chewing and oral other engagement - significantly reduced stress behaviours in dogs during challenging situations (Dare et al., 2023). Stating that chewing is “a practical method of reducing behavioural indicators of stress during periods of heightened arousal.”

Ensure your dogs have an outlet during occasions such as:

• busy household moments
• visitors arriving
• post-walk decompression
• fireworks or noise exposure
• changes in routine

Chewing Supports Focus, Calm and the Ability to Settle

Many dogs are very good at being active. Far fewer are good at being calm. Chewing engages the brain in a steady way that encourages stillness and helps dogs practise calm behaviour. This is particularly valuable for:

• adolescent dogs
• dogs prone to high arousal
• anxious dogs
• dogs struggling with 'switching off'

Hunt et al. (2022) found that dogs provided with appropriate enrichment such as chewing showed a “significant increase in relaxation behaviours and a reduction in alert or stress-related behaviours.” When used intentionally, chewing becomes part of teaching a dog how to settle - not just telling them they should.

Predictability Matters: Chewing as Part of Routine

Dogs cope best when their world is predictable.

Using chewing as part of a reliable routine helps dogs anticipate calm periods and feel more secure. For example:

• a chew after walks
• a chew when people sit down to eat
• a chew as part of a “wind-down” routine

Research into stress and learning consistently shows that animals learn and cope better when they have control and predictability in their environment. As McEwen & Sapolsky (1995) explain, “chronic stress impairs behavioural flexibility and emotional regulation, particularly in unpredictable environments.”

Chewing helps restore a sense of control.

The Behavioural and Emotional Impact of Poor Dental Health

Dental health doesn’t just affect a dog’s mouth - it affects their behaviour and emotional wellbeing.

Chronic dental discomfort or pain can:

• lower frustration tolerance
• increase irritability
• reduce engagement with training
• cause avoidance of handling
• worsen anxiety or reactivity

Pain and discomfort puts the body under ongoing stress, which directly impacts learning and emotional regulation. As Overall (2013) states in clinical behavioural medicine, “pain and discomfort are frequently under-recognised contributors to behavioural change and reduced coping ability.”

If chewing suddenly changes - becoming frantic, avoided, or asymmetrical - dental health should always be considered as part of the picture.

Supporting oral health is therefore not just about hygiene. It’s a behaviour and welfare issue.

The Take-Home Message

Chewing is not a bad habit to be eliminated.

It’s a biological need.

When used appropriately, chewing:

• supports emotional regulation
• reduces stress and frustration
• improves the ability to settle
• supports dental and behavioural health

Supporting dogs means supporting the whole system - not just managing the behaviour we see.

Research references embedded in this article:

Wells, D. L. (2004) – Environmental enrichment and welfare in dogs
Hunt, K. et al. (2022) – Effects of enrichment on relaxation and stress behaviours
Dare, C. et al. (2023) – Enrichment during acute stress in dogs
McEwen, B. S. & Sapolsky, R. M. (1995) – Stress, predictability and behavioural flexibility