Stop Chewing and Start Housebreaking | Dog Training 101
Updated: 5 hours ago
Dogs explore the world with their mouths. Puppies especially have a habit of chewing things they shouldn't, getting into places they shouldn't, and having accidents inside the house.
These behaviors are common, but that doesn't mean you have to simply live with them.
House manners are part of basic obedience, and they can be taught through structure, supervision, consistency, and repetition.
Why is my dog chewing everything?
Chewing can happen for several reasons.
Puppies may chew because they are exploring or teething. Dogs may also chew because they are bored, have too much freedom, or have learned that certain objects are available to them.
The first step is to manage the environment.
Don't expect a young dog to automatically know which objects are theirs and which objects belong to you.
Keep tempting items out of reach and give your dog appropriate things to chew.
Don't wait until you catch the dog
Training is easier when you prevent the problem rather than constantly reacting to it.
If your dog has a habit of chewing shoes, don't leave shoes around the house.
If they get into trash, secure the trash.
If they chew furniture when unsupervised, limit their access to that area.
Management doesn't replace training, but it prevents your dog from repeatedly practicing the behavior you are trying to eliminate.
Housebreaking requires a routine
Housebreaking becomes much easier when your dog has a predictable schedule.
Take your dog outside:
After waking up
After eating
After drinking
After playing
Before bedtime
At regular intervals throughout the day
When your dog goes to the bathroom in the correct place, reinforce the behavior immediately.
Your dog needs to understand exactly what behavior earned the reward.
Pay attention to the signs
Many dogs show signs that they need to go outside.
Your dog may:
Sniff around
Walk toward a door
Circle
Become restless
Stop playing
Search for a different area of the house
Learning your dog's signals allows you to get ahead of an accident.
The more successful trips outside your dog has, the stronger the habit becomes.
What should I do after an accident?
Accidents happen, especially with puppies.
The important thing is not to turn the accident into a confusing interaction.
Clean the area thoroughly and review what happened.
Did the dog have too much freedom?
Was the dog left alone too long?
Did you miss the signs?
Was the normal schedule interrupted?
Finding the reason helps prevent the next accident.
Give your dog structure
A dog with too much freedom can quickly find opportunities to make bad choices.
Structure doesn't mean your dog can never relax.
It means your dog learns when to play, when to rest, where to go, and what behavior is expected.
Place training, leash work, recall, basic obedience, and house manners can all become part of that structure.
Don't try to teach everything at once
Dog training works best when expectations are clear.
Start with a few fundamental behaviors and build from there.
For example, your dog can learn:
Where to go to the bathroom.
What objects are appropriate to chew.
How to walk on a leash.
How to sit and stay.
How to hold a place.
How to come when called.
Once the fundamentals are reliable, you can introduce more distractions and more freedom.
When should you get professional help?
If your dog continues to destroy things, has frequent accidents, ignores basic commands, or is difficult to manage around the house, professional training can help you identify what is actually causing the problem.
A good training program isn't just about making a dog obey commands during a lesson. It should teach the dog how to behave in the environment where they actually live.
Final thoughts
Chewing and housebreaking problems are frustrating, but they are also part of teaching a dog how to live successfully in a home.
Give your dog structure. Limit opportunities for unwanted behavior. Establish a consistent bathroom routine. Reinforce the behavior you want and gradually give your dog more freedom as they earn it.
If you're looking for help with house manners, obedience, or a broader training plan, Freedom K9 offers private lessons and board and train near Spring, Texas, serving families throughout the greater Houston area.
Author
Darryl Richey has trained dogs for 30+ years. He is a U.S. Army veteran, a PSA Hall of Fame competitor, and he has trained police K9s serving departments across the Greater Houston area. Freedom K9 offers board and train and private lessons near Spring, Texas.
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