Why do dogs chew up wires? What is making them want to do this? Beyond the possible damage to your electronics, I’m sure you’re even more worried about your dog getting hurt chewing on the wires or creating a fire risk. Are they ever going to grow out of this or do you need to be doing something if you want it to stop?

Today, we’re going to fill you in on the answers to all of these questions and even more importantly, we’re going to tell you how to stop your dog from biting wires. Before long, you won’t have to worry about your dog getting hurt or damaging your electrical cords! That’ll be nice, won’t it? Of course! So let’s get to our article “How to Stop My Dog From Biting Wires.”

Why Do Dogs Chew Up Wires?

Dogs chew up wires due to anxiety and stress, with boredom, teething, and curiosity also possible. Biting wires or other things (particularly those with a nice soft texture like many are wrapped in), is calming for dogs who are feeling worried because the process of chewing releases endorphins. These would also explain why your dog bites wires if they’re bored or just curious.

If your dog is under six months old, then it’s very possible that they’re chewing on wires because they’re teething. This whole time is uncomfortable for them, and biting, nipping, or gnawing on something chewy relieves pain and helps them feel better.

Any of these explanations will be immediately helped by ensuring that your dog has a proper outlet for their biting, like a chew toy. Praise your dog and give them pets and a small treat when they choose their toy, rather than chewing up wires when they’re going through these feelings.

You shouldn’t consider your job done, however, as you still need to get to the root of their issue, particularly if their chewing is due to anxiety. Left untreated, their problem will only get worse and show itself at other times. Soon, your dog might be destroying and chewing up your nightstand or biting your door frames, or getting so scared they’re hiding under the bed or going under the couch.

To stop your dog from chewing on wires and end all their other anxiety-related problems, you’ll need to address the problem at its root through behavioral training. Skip to the last section now where we’ll go over how you can do that.

Can My Dog Get Hurt Chewing on Wires?

Your dog can get hurt chewing on wires. If they break through the chewy insulation layer, they’re likely to receive a shock which could easily be fatal. Even if you’re lucky enough for that not to happen, they’ll get one heck of a painful jolt. Signs this has happened would be burns around your dog’s mouth, an elevated heart rate, shortness of breath, seizures, and muscle tremors.

Even if your dog makes it through unharmed, exposing the electrical cord from its layer of insulation could cause a house fire. If you notice your dog chewing on wires, calmly but firmly tell them “no” or “stop” immediately and place them into time-out in their crate or a closed-off room for about 10 minutes. Skip to the last section now where we’ll cover this more thoroughly.

Will My Dog Grow Out Of Biting Wires?

Your dog will grow out of biting wires only if they’re under six months old and doing so due to teething. If they’re older than this, then they certainly will not grow out of biting on wires.

But a puppy who is teething should not be waited out, as this is a dangerous habit for your dog and it will also teach them that it’s okay to do as an adult too.

How to Stop Your Dog From Biting Wires

To stop your dog from biting wires:

1. Keep power cords and other wires hidden away or as elevated as possible.
2. Use clamps so that they are snug to walls and don’t hang loose.
3. Ensure your dog always has a proper outlet for biting, like a chew toy.
4. Spray a deterrent, like a 50/50 mix of water and distilled white vinegar, on a cloth, and wipe the cords with it.
5. Give a calm but firm “no” or “stop” immediately when you notice your dog is biting wires.
6. Don’t yell or get angry, because if they’re doing so out of anxiety (which is very likely), this will only make their issues worse.
7. Put them into a brief time-out in their crate or a closed-off room for about 10 minutes.
8. If you notice them start to go for the wires, redirect them to a toy.
9. Give them pets, praise, and a small treat when they choose their toy rather than chewing on wires.
10. Make sure that anyone else in the home is also following these steps.
11. Be patient and consistent.

These should get your dog to stop biting wires, but you’ll still need to address the underlying issue, whether it’s anxiety or just boredom. In either case, when your dog is experiencing these feelings and responds by doing some negative like chewing on wires, they root back to the same problem.

To explain that, we should first quickly go over what makes dogs tick to begin with. You’ve probably heard before that dogs are pack animals, and that in every pack there is a pack leader. Well, when your dog gets anxious or bored and responds in a way like this, they are clearly telling you that they don’t respect you in this role.

If they did, they would trust that you can handle things and there’s nothing to get worried about. They would obey you and only play with their toys. And they wouldn’t exhibit any of the other misbehaviors which ultimately stem back to stress or boredom caused by pack leader issues either.

But once you’ve proven to your dog that you are not just their pack leader, but a capable one who can handle everything and that must be respected, your dog will stop biting wires. They’ll only play with the toys that you’ve given them to enjoy. And they’ll obey your commands at all times, and do so with joy!

You’ll no longer have to worry about your dog getting seriously injured or even burning down the house, and your dog will be freed of all the stress and confusion that pack leader issues cause them which they’ve been carrying around 24/7. Sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it?

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

You should watch an excellent free video series on this exact subject — how to be your dog’s pack leader — by a renowned trainer named Dan. In his series, he’ll explain 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 these critical changes in your dog before anything terrible happens.

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. And don’t stress or get worried, because you’re not going to have to be mean to your four-legged friend. Dan uses only 100% humane and loving methods at all times. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but also because loving teaching techniques are the fastest way to achieve permanent results with your dog.

I’m sure you’re more than 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 Wires.”