Chewing, digging, jumping
How do I redirect my dog from chewing the wrong thing?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Interrupt calmly with a neutral sound rather than shouting, immediately offer an appropriate chew in the same motion, and praise warmly once your dog's teeth land on it. Timing matters more than intensity, since a redirect right as the behavior starts teaches far faster than one that comes after several minutes of chewing.
Interrupt without escalating
A calm, neutral interrupt, a clap or a short verbal cue, works better than shouting, which can add stress or even accidentally reward the behavior with a big dramatic reaction some dogs find exciting rather than unpleasant.
Offer the alternative immediately
The redirect should happen in almost the same motion as the interruption, handing over an appropriate chew right away rather than leaving a gap where your dog might return to the original item out of habit.
Praise the switch generously
The moment your dog's teeth land on the appropriate item instead, genuine praise reinforces that the swap was the right choice, building a stronger pattern over repeated successful redirects than correction alone ever would.
Key takeaways
- A calm, neutral interrupt works better than shouting, which can add stress or excitement.
- Offering the appropriate chew immediately, not after a delay, makes the redirect stick.
- Genuine praise the moment teeth land on the right item builds the pattern fastest.