Chewing, digging, jumping
How do I stop my dog chewing electrical cords?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Electrical cord chewing is a genuine safety risk, not just a mess. Cover cords with hard plastic cable protectors, unplug and tuck away what you can, and use a pen or closed door to block rooms with exposed wiring until your dog reliably chooses a chew toy over a cord.
Treat this as urgent, not routine
Unlike a chewed shoe, a bitten live cord can cause burns or worse. Cover every accessible cord with a hard plastic conduit or route them along baseboards using cable clips out of jaw reach, especially behind the television and near desks.
Block the room until the habit is solid
A baby gate or closed door on rooms with the most wiring, like a home office, removes the risk entirely while you build a reliable 'leave it' response elsewhere with lower stakes items.
Offer a stronger alternative nearby
Keep a durable chew toy in every room with cords so there is always an immediate, appealing substitute within reach, and praise your dog any time you notice them choosing the toy near a cord unprompted.
Key takeaways
- Cord chewing carries a burn risk that makes it more urgent than typical furniture chewing.
- Hard cable protectors and clips remove access more reliably than spray alone.
- Keep a chew toy in every room with wiring as a constant substitute.