Why is your dog chewing on the walls? Can they get sick from doing this strange behavior? Will they ever grow out of it? Today, we’re going to answer all of the questions you have about this strange and frustrating behavior from your dog.

Even more importantly, we’ll tell you exactly what you need to do to make sure it never happens again. Just think about how nice it will be to not have to worry about this again! Now, let’s not keep you waiting any longer so you can get the info you need. Continue reading for our article “How to Stop My Dog From Biting the Walls.”

How to Stop Your Dog From Biting Walls

To stop your dog from biting walls, immediately give a calm but firm “no” the next time you notice the behavior. You should then put them into time-out in their crate or a closed-off room that doesn’t have any chewable walls for about 10 minutes. You can then let them out, but keep repeating this as many times as necessary.

Ensure that anyone else who spends time with the dog is also following these steps so that your dog is getting consistent feedback. Give them a chew toy to play with so that they have a proper outlet when they feel like chewing on something. And be sure to give them plenty of playtime, because for some dogs this behavior is just due to boredom.

It shouldn’t take long for your dog to realize that biting the walls gets them negative results, and that there are more appropriate ways for them to chew without getting in trouble. But you still need to address what was causing all of this in the first place.

And to do that, we should first discuss quickly what makes dogs function and has for thousands of years. You’ve likely heard before that dogs are pack animals, and that in every pack there is a pack leader.

Well, when your dog is biting the walls, whether it’s due to separation anxiety, boredom, teething, or stress, they’re essentially telling you that they don’t respect you in this role.

If your dog did, they wouldn’t get worried and would stay calm when you weren’t around. They would stop biting the walls. They would not chew on things they shouldn’t just because they’re bored.

Most importantly, they would obey your commands. And they would stop all of the other misbehaviors you’re seeing too because they would trust that you can handle everything, and they would respect your decisions and listen to what you tell them.

Prove to your dog that you are not just their pack leader, but a capable one who deserves to be listened to and respected, and you’ll finally put a stop to all of your dog’s frustrating behaviors.

You’d no longer have to worry about your walls or how your dog’s going to act, and your dog would be better off too because they’d no longer be carrying around all of that stress. Everyone’s better off, so it’s a win-win, right?

“Of course, but how do I do any of this?”

You should watch an excellent free video series which covers this very subject — how to be your dog’s pack leader — by a renowned trainer named Dan. In his series, he shows you everything you need to know in ways that are very simple to understand and teach to your own dog, and he gets right to the point so that you’ll start seeing results in a hurry.

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. And no, you’re not going to have to yell or even be mean to your four-legged friend. You won’t even have to raise your voice. Dan uses only humane and loving methods at all times because it’s the right thing to do and the fastest way to achieve permanent changes from your dog.

Why Is My Dog Chewing the Walls?

Your dog is chewing the walls due to separation anxiety. It could also be boredom, stress in general, teething (if your dog is under six months), or predatory behavior because they hear something in the walls. Dogs have significantly better hearing than we do, so it’s possible for them to notice something you can’t.

Pica (the consumption of non-food substances) is also a smaller possibility, but in most cases, dogs are more likely to go after personal objects with your scent on them when that is occurring.

Of all the reasons we covered, though, separation anxiety is the most likely. Dogs experiencing this have developed an extreme attachment to a person and chewing on things releases natural endorphins which help to soothe them.

For some dogs, this stress is due to feeling like they need to protect this person at all times, while others feel this way because they feel like they need this person to protect them so that they can be safe. In either case, it can’t be allowed to go on because your walls are being destroyed and your dog is going through a lot of painful feelings during these times.

Sprays and other similar solutions should not be used as they are often ineffective, and in some cases will cause the dog to be more interested in the wall. They also fail to get to the root of the problem, so even if you do see some progress the chewing will just progress to other areas.

While your dog may no longer chew on the walls, they’ll start biting the door frame, biting the sofa, or chewing on your nightstand. To put a stop to your dog chewing on the walls and other things for good, you need to address the underlying issue through behavioral training. Go back to the first section now where we’ll tell you how to do that.

Can My Dog Get Sick Chewing the Walls?

Your dog can’t get sick chewing the walls due to the drywall itself, as it doesn’t pose a toxic threat to them. However, most of us have paint or wallpaper that could contain dangerous chemicals for your dog, which could certainly make them sick. This is particularly true in older homes.

It is possible, though, for your dog to choke on drywall, and there are many behavioral reasons to not allow your dog to chew on the walls. Play it safe and never let your dog chew on the walls. You should work to correct the issue immediately through training, which we’ll cover in the last section of this article.

Will My Dog Grow Out of Biting the Walls?

Your dog will not grow out of biting the walls, unless they are a puppy six months old or younger and are still teething. If your dog is older than this, then no, they will not grow out biting on the walls. In either case, you should not allow this to continue and should begin working to correct it immediately through behavioral training.

A puppy who is chewing or biting the walls due to teething needs a proper outlet such as a chew toy, and they also need to learn that they can’t do whatever they want. And there’s also just the obvious factor of not allowing your home to be destroyed.

I’m sure you’re ready to not have to worry about any of this anymore, so I’ll let you get started on things now. Best wishes, and thank you for reading “How to Stop My Dog From Biting the Walls.”