Has your dog ever chewed on furniture, shoes, or—heaven forbid—important documents in the past?
If you’ve raised your hand to that question, you’re not alone! Unsurprisingly, chewing is a completely normal and widespread behaviour for our canine companions.
Dogs of all ages instinctively chew on a wide variety of objects. It’s their unique way of exploring and understanding the world around them.
While many dog owners may attribute chewing as destructive and unwanted behaviour, there are ways to channel healthy chewing in your dogs to help them enjoy themselves and reap the benefits of chewing.
And yes, you read that right—there are benefits to be had when your dog goes on a chewing spree. And in many ways, their health is supported by the act of chewing.
Let’s look into some benefits of dog chewing in more detail.
1. Relieves Pain in Teeth
Dental pain is a common occurrence in young pups and older dogs, but for different reasons. During a pup’s earlier years, their new teeth will start to emerge and erupt from their gums, which can be quite an uncomfortable experience for them.
Chewing helps keep the pup’s mind away from the distressing experience by massaging the gums and facilitating the emergence of new teeth. This not only helps make their day-to-day experience more bearable, but it also promotes the development of strong adult teeth in the young dog.
For adult dogs experiencing dental pain, regular chewing also helps them maintain jaw strength and keeps their mind away from the pain in their mouths.
That said, you’d need to provide them a suitable chew item to ensure that you’re not worsening the problem. A large and tough toys for dogs with raised textures can help enhance the sensory experience and aid in dental hygiene.
2. Increases Your Dog’s Pleasure
Dogs, like humans and other animals, can get bored if left unstimulated for a long time. They may seek out ways to entertain themselves, and chewing is one of their go-to activities if they happen to have a toy or chewable object within their vicinity.
Providing your dog with a chew toy not only helps them stay happy and preoccupied, but it also satisfies their natural instincts and helps them relax.
The act of chewing also releases feel-good hormones into their system, helping them manage their stresses and making them more likely to be at ease and engaged with their surroundings. Plus, seeing the emotional joy or content of your dog doing the things it loves can be heartwarming, to say the least.
On top of that, when your dog feels happy, they’ll have the mental headspace to bond with their owners more willingly. This can strengthen your bond with them, especially if you play a role in their joy through giving them an appropriate chew toy and reinforcing playtime with them with it.
3. Reduces Bad Breath
Dogs can develop a foul odour in their mouths, which can be distressing for owners who’ve formed a close bond with their furry pal. Let’s face it, no one wants to take a whiff of bad breath when they snuggle close or are simply within arm’s length with their dog.
Chewing the right objects or treats can help mitigate the foul odour in dogs’ mouths by naturally dislodging food particles stuck in the canine’s teeth. Chewing also helps reduce plaque build-up by scraping away plaque and stimulating saliva production, which both help in getting the dog to restore a passable-smelling breath.
It’s important to note that a major source of stinky dog breath is their diet. Refrain from feeding your dog carbohydrate sugars as their saliva doesn’t have the enzyme compounds to break it down, thus leading to bacterial growth in their mouths.
The act of chewing helps promote healthy gums in dogs, which can ensure that your dog’s dental hygiene is on the right track. That said, the object your dog decides to chew on matters, so be sure to give it the right item like a dental stick, a big bone, or an approved raw cowhide to keep their mouth fresh and healthy.
4. Gets Their Mind Off of Destroying Things
When dogs have nothing to do in their immediate environment, they can get bored and engage in destructive behaviour, like chewing on furniture, barking, whining, and pushing aggression to their owners or strangers. This can be distressing for any household, but a dog’s energy is not something you can easily ignore.
It’s your responsibility to help your dog find ways to appropriately channel their boundless energy, and one such way is by providing them the right chew toys to satisfy their natural instincts.
With a proper durable chew toy, you can keep your dog preoccupied and content. Instead of chewing on shoes or furniture, they’ll be chewing on an appropriate outlet, which makes for a more peaceful and harmonious home environment where both dog and owner stay happy.
5. Removes Their Anxiety
Dogs can experience anxiety for a wide variety of reasons, like separating from their owners or being in an unfamiliar environment. Some experience it more intensely than others, and they could act out inappropriately in response to their fears and stresses.
For instance, they could escape or tuck themselves in a corner, or bark relentlessly at the sight of new strangers around their house.
Having a comfort item can help your dog feel calm and at ease. Some dogs may prefer a plush toy to keep them company, while others may prefer a chew toy to manage their nervous energy.
It’s important to test different toys on your dogs and see what they gravitate towards. Knowing their comforting behaviours can help you more effectively alleviate their anxiety, which can make them more content and mentally at ease in their lives.
And in some cases, a chew toy can be just the item to help foster that sense of peace amidst a stressful situation.
6. Provides Mental Stimulation
Dogs are curious creatures, and they primarily use their nose and mouth to sense the world around them—sniffing and chewing on objects as they please.
There’s a wide range of chew toys that have a wide range of textures and properties that may satisfy your dog’s curious mind. These toys have the capacity to exercise their brain and encourage mental engagement, increasing their sense of contentment and happiness. Some chew toys even have distinct smell properties that can rouse your dog’s senses even more.
With mental well-being closely tied to a dog’s well-being, encouraging play with a set of chew toys can help your furry companion have a more healthy and active mind. In turn, this can make them more likely to engage with the world around them in a more optimistic light.
7. Prevents Gum and Teeth Disease
Regularly chewing a toy can also help prevent your dog from acquiring gum disease. As previously mentioned, the mechanical action of chewing removes food particles and plaque from building up in the teeth and gums.
This, in turn, lowers the risk of gum diseases like gingivitis from affecting your dogs—which is a concerning medical condition that would need intervention from veterinarians to fix.
By chewing, the dog will have more blood flowing through the mouth and gums, thus strengthening the oral areas. That said, incorporating dental cleaning with regular chew toy activities is essential to ensure that your dog’s overall oral health stays at safe levels.
