Why Your Dog Destroys Toys (And What You Can Actually Do About It)
If your dog destroys toys in minutes, welcome to the club. Some dogs are power chewers by nature, and with the wrong type of toy, they’ll shred, rip, or crush anything that fits in their mouth. We have two Staffies, and both went through that exact phase. You can’t stop the chewing completely, but you can stop the constant destruction with the right approach.
Different toys serve different needs, and there’s a time and place for each one.
Our Staffies have had squeakers, rope toys, KONGs, nylon chews, and even a buffalo horn (always supervised). When they were pups, they each had a small soft comforter— basically a face cloth with a little teddy stitched into the corner.
Surprisingly, that lasted a few months, mostly because it acted as a comforter with the scent of the litter. Once teething started, that was removed, and that’s when the toy-destroying phase really kicked in.
If your pup or dog has reached that destruction phase, it’s kind of imperative that you know what’s behind the behaviour, and also how to manage it.
What to Know about dogs destroying toys
Why Dogs Destroy Toys (And Why It’s Normal)
Most toy destruction comes down to instinct, boredom, stress, or simple lack of direction. None of it is “bad behaviour.”
Any one of several reasons could be the driving force behind the destruction:
Instinctive behaviour
Dogs shake, rip, and tear because that’s what their ancestors did to break down prey. I used to think this was a myth until I read what two veterinary behaviourists told Lauren Katims @ Chewy.com. Squeakers, soft fabric, and stuffing all trigger that instinct.
Boredom or excess energy
A dog with energy to burn is far more likely to take a toy apart simply because they’ve got nothing else to do.
Stress and self-soothing
Chewing helps some dogs cope with anxiety, crate time, or being left alone.
Teething (for puppies)
Once teething kicks in, soft items become targets. Anything with seams or a “give” to it gets shredded first.
This behaviour is natural. What matters is teaching your dog what’s OK to gnaw on and what isn’t.
Why Some Toys Get Destroyed Faster Than Others
Dogs don’t destroy toys at random. The toys that disappear quickest usually have something in common: they’re soft, easy to grip, or have weak points your dog can pull apart. The texture, shape, and construction all affect how long a toy lasts.
This goes for beds too. The label is often a single point of failure.
Soft toys trigger natural ripping behaviour.
Anything plush, squeaky, or stuffed encourages tearing. The resistance and the ripping sound make dogs want to keep going until it’s in pieces.
Weak seams give your dog an easy starting point.
If a toy has stitching, glued-on parts, or multiple layers, most dogs will work at those areas first. Once they get a small tear going, the rest follows quickly.
Some textures feel “right” to shred.
Rope toys, faux fur, and fleece all offer the kind of pull-and-tear feedback that’s fun for dogs who enjoy dismantling things.
Toy size matters.
A toy that’s too small can be crushed or split quickly, especially by power chewers. Oversized toys often get ignored because they don’t feel as satisfying to grip.
Different chew styles destroy different toys.
Some dogs crush toys with their back teeth. Others shred them with their front teeth. Some just nibble at edges until they open a seam. The wrong toy for the wrong chew style won’t last long.
Is It Good for Dogs to Destroy Toys?
In many cases, yes — as long as the toy is safe.
The destruction happens when chewing gets taken to the extreme. Chewing is great for dogs, you just have to manage it so it remains beneficial.
Shredding, ripping and shaking can:
- release stress
- burn mental energy
- satisfy instinct
- prevent boredom
- act as enrichment
What’s not OK:
- eating stuffing
- swallowing rope threads
- chewing off rubber chunks
- destroying toys out of anxiety or frustration
Destruction is fine when supervised and when the toy is meant for it. It’s dangerous when the materials aren’t safe or the behaviour is stress-driven.
How to Stop Your Dog Destroying Toys (By Using the Right Toy at the Right Time)
You can’t stop a dog from chewing, but you can stop toys turning into a safety risk or a 30-second fluff explosion. The real trick is understanding that different toys serve different purposes. Some are for ripping, some are for focused chewing, and some are safe for crate time. Mixing these up is where most problems start.
1. Use durable materials for solo chewing
When your dog is alone — even briefly — stick to toys made from solid, reliable materials.
The safest options are usually:
- dense rubber (one-piece designs)
- hard nylon chews (these are the ones we keep in their toy basket)
- specialist rubber composites designed for power chewers
I avoid anything marketed as “indestructible.” Toys that truly don’t give way tend to damage teeth long before the toy breaks.
These tougher designs don’t have seams, stitching, or soft layers that can be pulled apart. That matters, because dogs can end up with abdominal obstructions from swallowing rope strands, stuffing, or broken bits of plastic.
If you’re choosing leave-alone toys for crate time, have a read of this:
What to Put in a Dog Crate
2. Save soft toys and rope toys for supervised play
Plush toys, rope toys, and squeakers all trigger that “shake and kill” behaviour — the instinct to rip, tear, and dismantle. That’s normal and healthy, but these toys aren’t built for solo time.
Use them when you’re in the room and can intervene if they start chewing off pieces.
3. Expect some toys to be ‘sacrificial’
Some toys are simply meant to be destroyed.
I find that our dogs enjoy the ripping sensation, the resistance, and the sound of the tear. That’s fine — as long as:
- you’re watching
- the toy is safe to shred
- they aren’t swallowing stuffing or rope
Think of these toys as short-term entertainment, not long-term chews.
That doesn’t mean go buy them things to destroy intentionally. The best ours get is like a low-priced squeaky snake that has multiple squeakers in it, but it’s left out of their toy basket and given for short periods.
For the most part though, we give ours the odd “sacrificial item” like an empty crisp wrapper — they get the scent, the crinkling noise, and the satisfaction of ripping it up. I just accept the clean-up afterwards. It beats spending on toys that won’t last long.
4. Use puzzle toys to reduce destructive chewing
Puzzle toys, lick mats, and food-stuffed toys give dogs something to work on, not just chew on. They slow them down, redirect their energy, and reduce the urge to destroy softer toys out of boredom or frustration.
5. Know your dog’s chewing style
Some dogs crush toys with sheer force.
Some shred.
Some nibble at seams.
The wrong toy for their chewing style won’t last minutes. Once you know how your dog destroys toys, choosing the right materials becomes much easier.
6. Rotate toys to prevent boredom destruction
Many dogs destroy toys simply because they’ve been chewing the same one for too long. Rotating toys every few days keeps them more interesting and far less likely to be ripped apart instantly.
Once you understand what triggers toy destruction and the type of materials that survive it, the next step is choosing toys built for power chewers. If you want to see which ones actually held up with our two Staffies, here’s the breakdown of the best durable dog toys for aggressive chewers.
Once you’ve got the right type of toys in place, the next part is handling the moments when your dog chews things they shouldn’t. That’s where training and redirection come in.
How to Discipline a Dog for Destroying Things (The Right Way)
Short answer: you don’t discipline them at all.
Punishment doesn’t work because chewing is instinctive, and dogs don’t connect the dots after the fact.
Here’s what does work:
- Redirect calmly (swap, don’t scold)
If they pick up something they shouldn’t — a sock, slipper, or anything you don’t want destroyed — use your leave it command and redirect them to their toy box. If you don’t have a box, simply hand them a chew they are allowed to have.
Over time, they learn what’s appropriate without creating any stress or anxiety around toys.
If you’re still working on leave it, this guide may help:
11 Of The Most Essential Commands To Teach Your Dog
It’s #4 on the list, and for good reason. You can reinforce it indoors, but you’ll need it even more outdoors — especially around rubbish, poisonous plants, animal droppings, or anything your dog instinctively wants to investigate before you’ve had time to think.
- Reward when they pick up the right item on their own
- Keep a chew basket accessible (massively reduces household casualties)
- Only give free access to toys you know are safe. Anything that needs supervision should be kept out of reach — we keep those in a cupboard with the rest of the dog gear so they’re only brought out when we’re in the room.
- Address the cause: boredom, lack of stimulation, anxiety, teething or frustration
Stopping destruction is about management and guidance, not discipline.
Wrapping Things Up
Toy destruction isn’t a sign your dog is being difficult. It’s normal behaviour, especially for power chewers like Staffies. Once you understand why they do it and match the right type of toy to the right situation, most of the constant shredding starts to calm down.
The real difference comes from three things:
- choosing toys made from materials your dog can safely chew
- keeping the softer, rip-able toys for supervised sessions
- giving them enough exercise and mental work so they aren’t chewing out of frustration
If your dog still struggles to settle after a walk or goes straight into zoomies, this post about how to handle hyperactive dogs may help.
Every dog has their own chewing style and every household has its own routine, so it might take a bit of trial and error. But with a safer mix of toys and a few small changes to how and when you use them, you can reduce the destruction massively while still letting your dog enjoy the chewing they need.
What’s really happening is this:
Most owners assume toy destruction means their dog is being bold or acting out, but it’s usually just the wrong type of toy at the wrong moment. Once you spot why your dog destroys certain toys, things click into place.
What’s the one toy your dog destroys without fail — and what do you think triggers it now that you’ve read this?
Drop it in the comments. Your experience might help someone else figure out what’s really going on with their own dog.
If you still have questions, these FAQs should help clear up the common ones that haven’t been included above.
FAQs you may relate to
How do I stop my dog from destroying my stuff?
Dogs mainly chew household items out of boredom, frustration, or because they haven’t learned what is and isn’t theirs. The most effective approach is calm redirection.
Use your leave it command, take the item away, and guide them to something they are allowed to chew — a toy box makes this much easier.
Over time, they learn to choose their own toys rather than going for shoes, socks, or anything left lying around.
Why is my dog suddenly aggressive about toys?
Sudden aggression around toys is usually resource guarding — when a dog becomes possessive over something they value.
We’ve had this happen with specific chews in the past. Short training sessions using food lures, practising drop it, and removing the toy briefly can help reduce the behaviour.
Most dogs improve once they realise you’re not trying to take things off them permanently.
Are there any toys dogs can’t destroy?
No toy is truly indestructible. Some materials — like dense rubber and hard nylon — last far longer, but anything that’s advertised as “indestructible” usually means your dog’s teeth will lose before the toy does.
Our senior Staffy ground one of his canines right down to the gum from chewing a hard toy we’d assumed was safe to leave with him. He normally just ran around the garden with it, but that one day of focused chewing was enough to cause lasting damage.
For safety, it’s always better to match the toy to your dog’s chewing style and avoid anything rock-hard or brittle.