How to Stop Your Dog from Chewing, Digging, and Barking

Chewing, digging, and barking are all natural dog behaviors that you cannot stop entirely. That said, you can address each of them with various approaches that don’t involve punishment or even specific training methods. Instead, solving all three problems requires you to understand your dog’s instinct toward each one. Once you understand why your dog chews, digs, and barks, you can take steps to help him do all three in a nondestructive manner.

Dogs have a natural chewing instinct that begins when they’re puppies going through the teething process. If you supply your dog with a host of chewable toys that are more appealing than the nearest pair of shoes, you’ll sate his need to chew and avoid additional damage to your possessions. The best chew toys to buy are bully sticks, which you can buy at pet stores for just a few dollars each.

Dogs dig for a variety of reasons, from hiding bones to excavating dens in which to rear their young. They may also start digging out of boredom or frustration. All dogs dig, even if they’ve been spayed or neutered, though not all dogs dig extensively enough to cause damage. If your dog routinely digs up your grass or garden, don’t allow him to roam freely in your yard without supervision.

It’s perfectly natural for your dog to bark occasionally in response to a visitor at the door or a squirrel in the yard. But if he seems to bark excessively in response to these stimuli, or barks for long periods of time for no reason, he may be suffering from a psychological stress, such as fear or separation anxiety. Rather than subject your dog to an anti-barking collar, which delivers a jolt of electricity or a spray of unpleasant liquid whenever he barks, consider contacting a professional trainer—ask your vet for a referral.