How many times have you come home from a night out and found your furniture or other belongings chewed beyond recognition? Dogs instinctively chew – sometimes out of anxiety, sometimes out of curiosity or boredom.

As an owner, you can use some safe and effective deterrent measures to overcome your dog’s chewing habit. The first step is to understand the root of your pet’s destructive nature. Young dogs primarily chew during the painful teething process, and they will chew virtually anything within reach. For dogs of all ages, boredom and not enough exercise or playtime contribute to chewing. If you let your dog’s chewing get out of hand, he could become a danger to himself (obsessively chewing his own limbs) or his surroundings. Always consult a veterinarian to rule out any underlying health problems.

So, what can you do to curb your pup’s chewing habit? Try some of these helpful techniques:

Train your dog with commands like “drop it.” This training process requires a lot of patience. Repetition is key. If you can calmly and firmly tell your dog to drop something he shouldn’t be chewing, and reward his good behavior with some dog cookies, he’ll eventually learn not to chew. However, this only works when you’re watching him. To curb chewing when you’re away from home, try some of these other methods.

Reduce your dog’s anxiety. This may fall into the “easier said than done” category, but many dogs suffer from separation anxiety. You may need to spend time training your dog so he can adjust to your leaving. Crate training can be particularly helpful in these situations. Leave your dog alone for short periods of time, to start. Give him some dog bones to chew on while you’re away. When you return, calmly announce your presence and reward him for chewing his dog bones (not your furniture or door jamb) with a different treat, such as dog cookies. Only reprimand your dog for problematic chewing if you catch him in the act.

Spend plenty of quality time with your dog. Despite your busy schedule, you need to allot a sufficient amount of playtime with your dog each and every day. A well-exercised dog will be less likely to chew than a bored and restless one. Take him for a walk twice a day, or play fetch in the park. When you get home, let him settle down with some dog bones or other acceptable chew toys. If he gets used to this routine, he won’t be in the habit of chewing your belongings. Reward him frequently with dog cookies and positive praise for chewing his toys.

Redirect your dog away from unacceptable chewing. Anytime you catch your dog gnawing on something he shouldn’t, direct his attention to an appropriate chew toy or some dog bones. Frequently changing his toy selection will also eliminate boredom and consequently lessen his desire to chew on your furniture or belongings. If you successfully redirect his attention to a chew toy (meaning he forgets about destructive chewing), reward him with positive praise and some dog cookies.

Lastly, if these tricks don’t solve your dog’s chewing problem, it’s time to take him to the vet. Your vet may be able to prescribe anti-anxiety drugs or tranquilizers, or he may suggest herbal or homeopathic remedies for stress and chewing.

In short, prevention is the fundamental objective in training your dog not to chew. It’s easy to be upset after the fact, but if you pay careful attention and follow these tips, you can avoid severe chewing problems before they start. Keep a supply of safe dog toys (avoid anything that can be torn apart and ingested), dog bones, and dog cookies on hand to divert destructive chewing.