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Why Your Dog Destroys His Toys & How To Stop It

Dogs of all breeds love to play with toys. However if your dog's playtime ends up in ripped pieces of toys and stuffed animals, you'd probably wanna teach him to not destroy his toys and consider giving him more durable tough dog toys. In this article, we will explain why your dog destroys his toys and how to discourage this behavior.

Is It Bad For Dogs To Eat Toys?

 Destroying toys initially might sound normal to you but it can actually lead to serious health conditions that can even be fatal. Small pieces of the toys can be a choking hazard and lead to intestinal blockage. Many dogs around the world die because of this. 

Why Is Your Dog Destroying His Toys?

It is possible that your dog is naturally a harsh chewer and his playtimes seem more like crime scenes. If your dog has always been like that then there's nothing to worry about. A great way to deal with this is to change his toys. Try giving your dog some tough and durable toys that are almost indestructible.  Some reasons dogs destroy toys:

• Stress
• Boredom
• Separation Anxiety
• Habit

Should I Stop Giving My Dog Toys To Play With?

The first thing that you might think of is to simply stop giving him toys in the first place. This is in fact the worst thing that you can do. Dogs love to play with toys and chewing on them provides medical benefits and mental stimulation.  If your dog doesn't have anything to play with or to chew on, he will get frustrated and bored which will lead to aggressive behaviors. To avoid these behaviors you have to provide your dog with some toys, which will drain out all the energy and your dog will be relaxed throughout the day.  So no, you should never stop giving your dog some toys to play with. Instead, teach him to be more gentle and if your dog is naturally an aggressive chewer then maybe you're giving him the wrong toys. Get some tough toys like indestructible chew toys or something. 

How To Teach A Dog To Not Destroy His Toys?

Teaching a dog to stop destroying his toys is quite simple. Simple change his toys, get him some durable tough toys, and when he starts playing with them aggressively, loudly say "No". If this doesn't work then you can try clapping. Not necessarily to frighten or punish the dog but to discourage the harsh behavior and when he finally stops, you can reward him with a delicious treat. This will encourage your dog to play gently with his toys.