Chewing, digging, jumping
How do I stop my dog chewing the bars of its crate?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Bar chewing usually signals genuine distress rather than simple boredom, especially if it happens right after you leave, so it is worth checking whether crate training has been rushed or whether your dog is anxious about confinement before treating it as a chew toy problem.
Distinguishing distress from boredom
A dog calmly chewing a toy inside the crate is different from one biting repeatedly at the bars themselves, especially paired with drooling, panting, or scrabbling at the door, which points toward anxiety about being confined rather than a simple lack of things to do.
Slowing down crate training
If distress signs are present, go back several steps in crate training, practicing short, calm sessions with the door open before working back up to closed, longer periods, rather than continuing to push through the distress.
Protecting teeth and gums
Bar chewing can chip teeth or injure gums over time, so a chew resistant liner or a switch to a plastic sided carrier style crate for the training period can reduce physical damage while the underlying anxiety is addressed.
Key takeaways
- Chewing the bars specifically often signals distress about confinement, not simple boredom.
- Slowing crate training back to shorter, calmer sessions addresses the root anxiety.
- Bar chewing risks chipped teeth, so consider a liner or alternative crate style meanwhile.