Chewing, digging, jumping
How do I stop two dogs egging each other on to chew things?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Two dogs together often escalate each other's excitement well past what either would reach alone, turning a mild chewing habit into a genuinely destructive session. Separate them during unsupervised time until each has solid individual habits, and give each dog their own chew to reduce competition over a single item.
Why pairs escalate faster
Excitement in one dog can visibly ramp up a second dog's arousal, and destructive behavior that might stay mild with a single dog often becomes a bigger, more chaotic session once two dogs are feeding off each other's energy.
Separate first, combine later
Crating, gating, or otherwise separating two dogs during unsupervised time removes the escalation risk while you work on each dog's individual chewing habits, with the goal of reintroducing supervised time together once both are more settled.
One chew each, not one to share
Competition over a single toy or chew can itself trigger excitement and guarding, so giving each dog their own item, placed at a small distance apart, reduces tension and the resulting escalation during chew time.
Key takeaways
- Two dogs together can escalate each other's excitement well beyond what either shows alone.
- Separating dogs during unsupervised time prevents joint destructive sessions while training progresses.
- Giving each dog their own chew, rather than one to share, reduces competition and tension.