The Superchewer Myth: What Your Dog is Really Trying to Tell You When They Destroy Every Toy
Let's talk about one of the most profitable myths in the pet industry: the 'superchewer.' You've heard it before - 'My dog destroys everything, we need indestructible toys!'
But here's a truth that might surprise you: unless your dog is teething (chewing is 100% normal for teething puppies) or the item contains food, chewing isn't actually a play behavior at all. When dogs persistently destroy non-edible items, they're usually telling us one of two things: 'I'm bored and this is my only way to self-soothe' or 'I'm experiencing discomfort' (often dental or gum-related). Nine times out of ten, the discomfort is emotional in nature: boredom or anxiety.
Ask any professional dog trainer how many times their clients have gotten upset when they bust this commercial myth. Because what trainers hear when someone says 'My dog is a superchewer' is actually 'My dog is bored out of their mind, or severely understimulated.'
If you've ruled out gum disease in senior and adult dogs, or your puppy has grown out of their teething stage, you've just determined that their cause of chewing is emotional in nature.
The Real Problem
In our busy modern lives, where work, fitness, family, and screens compete for our attention, it's easy to forget that our dogs are 100% dependent on us for entertainment. They can't binge-watch Netflix while you're at work, or scroll through Instagram to pass time. They can't text their friends when they're bored, or drive themselves to the dog park for a brunch with the crew. To make matters worse, for many "superchewers," the boredom doesn't end when their owners come home from work. There is dinner to be made, there is laundry to be folded, there are text messages & social media posts to catch up on, and sometimes we're just too tired to do anything else after that.
So what happens? Dogs find ways to cure their boredom using the tools they have - their teeth. And when all they're given are things to chew on, they eventually come to believe their purpose in life is to chew everything up. Chewing becomes their go-to behavior for self-soothing.
Play Imitates Life
Did you know that all dog play is based on their natural predatory & social behaviors? In basic terms, play is a fun, pacified version of real-life, that builds physical skills, social skills, and satisfies the dog's natural instincts.
When dogs play with other dogs, even as puppies, you'll observe things like taking turns chasing each other (one is predator and one is prey), stalking each other (stalking prey), wrestling (fighting off an outsider), playing "keepaway" with toys or sticks (resource guarding), etc. There is a whole section of dog behavior studies that focuses on these innate behaviors, and we'll talk more about those in future posts. But for now it's important to understand that just like playing with their own kind is based on their natural instincts, play with their humans & their toys is based on their natural instincts as well.
Luckily for us and our canine companions, there are different categories of dog toys that satisfy different natural instincts. Based on their breed, and their upbringing, some dogs will enjoy all of them, some dogs will prefer certain types of toys over others, and some dogs will be very hesitant to play at all (we'll cover this topic in a separate post). Tearribles, for example, are designed to satisfy dog's natural instinct to dismember their prey, and their need for social interaction with their humans.
Now that we have established that we no longer need to fall for the "superchewer" marketing narrative, we can dive into how different categories of toys can help you satisfy your dog's needs.
Breaking Down the Five Types of Dog Toys
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Chew Toys. Solo “play.” We like to call these "boredom busters" more than play toys because, as we established, chewing is actually not something that dogs do for fun. These toys are usually made of rubber, nylon, or natural materials like wood, and are built to withstand hours and hours of gnawing.
Chew toys are toys that you give to your dog when you want to keep them busy while you do something else. Think of them like fidget spinners for humans- it gives them something to do for a short period of time. After about 10-15 minutes, most dogs will usually lose interest and will need another source of entertainment. Chewing is good for cleaning their teeth and keeping them busy, but it does not provide them with any form of enrichment, or mental stimulation, and it is not playtime.
How to use: When it comes to chewing, we personally prefer associating chewing with edible chews, like Yak chews, Collagen Sticks, Bully braids, etc. But if your dog cannot have edible chews for health reasons (missing teeth, can’t have too much protein, allergies, etc.) or it's not in the budget, then an artificial chew alternative is a great way to go.
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Comfort Toys. Mainly solo “play.” These are most commonly known as plush toys aka “plushies.” Comfort toys for dogs are made of soft materials like plush and are designed for nothing but cuddling and companionship. They provide dogs with the same type of comfort that babies get when holding their favorite plushie. Sometimes they emit calming scents or sounds, like heartbeat toys for puppies. Comfort toys should not be given to your dog to chew on, or to destroy. These are great for dogs that are a bit on the anxious side, but don’t destroy their toys. They usually just carry their buddy around.
How to use: Introduce the toy during the calm moments and encourage your dog to interact with it whenever they seek comfort, making it a reassuring companion for their emotional well-being.
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Interactive Toys. Together play. These toys are usually every dog's favorite type of toy. They come in various shapes and sizes, can be made of various materials. They are designed for humans and dogs to play with together. Toys that can fall into this category are chase toys, fetch toys, pull-apart toys, & puzzle toys. Dog's all-time favorite toy, the tennis ball, is an interactive toy. Tearribles are also interactive toys. Interactive play for dogs is the equivalent of humans playing team sports, board games, or other social games with their friends. It’s lot’s of fun, and you get to engage your mind, social skills, and your body.
The reason interactive toys are usually dogs' favorites is that
1) dogs get to play (aka spend quality time) with their human, and
2) because they get physical and mental stimulation at the same time
This usually results in a happy, tired dog (and human). Interactive toys are enjoyed by dogs of all breeds and sizes, but are especially great for breeds that enjoy playing/spending time with their humans (like retrievers, poodles, some hunting breeds, and terriers).
How to use: Read the toy’s instructions, then show your dog how the toy works by engaging them in playtime with the toy. Actively participate in the play session and make interactive playtime a part of your daily routine with your dog. -
Puzzle Toys aka Mental Stimulation Toys. Together or solo play. These toys are usually made of plastic, rubber, or wood and come in many shapes and sizes- square, rectangular, round...you name it. They have various types of compartments in which you can hide treats. Once loaded with treats, the puzzle toy is then presented to the dog who gets to solve the mystery: how to get to the treats out of each compartment. Tearribles can be used as a puzzle toy if you hide treats in the pockets and let the pup work to get them out. These are great for extra sharp breeds like Collies, Shepherds, and similar dogs that need extra mental stimulation, and are a phenomenal enrichment game for senior dogs.
How to use: Fill the puzzle with treats and let your pup figure out a way to get them out. Once all treats have been recovered, refill and play again. Bonus points if you can be there to help your pup solve the mysteries and be the cheerleader to celebrate his accomplishment when he solves the puzzle. -
Chase toys.Together play. These toys are remote-controlled, battery-powered, or stick and rope-based. They are the ultimate way to tire out high-energy dogs, engage puppies in play, and play off the instincts of dogs with high chase drive (like greyhounds, sight-hounds, certain terriers, and other breeds that were bred to chase prey).
How to use: Read the toy's instructions, make sure the play area is safe & allow your pup to engage in a game of chase, while exercising their natural instincts to "hunt down their prey."
Tips for Success:
Instead of investing in increasingly 'indestructible' toys, focus on:
• Providing a variety of toy types that satisfy different needs
• Rotating toys to maintain interest
• Engaging in interactive play sessions
• Understanding which natural instincts need more attention
Remember: A dog who's mentally stimulated, physically exercised, and emotionally fulfilled rarely becomes a 'superchewer.' They might still enjoy a good edible chew, or find themselves chomping down on an interesting-smelling stick at the park, but chewing won't become their sole focus of existence, or a coping mechanism.
At the end of the day, the solution isn't finding an indestructible toy - it's understanding what your dog really needs & how to use toys from each category appropriately.
Congratulations on becoming a more empowered dog parent! Next time you're winding down from a busy work week and you see your dog start gnawing on a plush toy, you'll know it's the dog's way of quietly saying 'I'm bored. Let's do something"