The importance of chewing for adult dogs

Chewing is often seen as something puppies do while they’re teething, but for adult dogs, it remains an essential and highly beneficial behaviour throughout their lives. Chewing is a deeply enriching activity that supports mental health, emotional regulation, and overall wellbeing.

A Natural Need

Dogs are born to chew. It’s a hardwired behaviour that stems from their ancestry - used for consuming food, exploring their environment, oral health and boredom busting. While the nutritional need to chew bones may have faded for many of our domestic dogs, the behavioural need remains strong. When adult dogs are given appropriate outlets for chewing, they engage in a natural activity that helps them feel fulfilled and calm.

Chewing as a Stress-Reliever

Chewing is one of the most effective natural ways dogs manage stress. The repetitive motion of gnawing helps lower the heart rate and releases feel-good chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin. This makes it an excellent tool for emotional regulation, especially in dogs that struggle with anxiety or overstimulation.

Whether your dog is coping with a change in routine, environmental stressors or just the everyday hustle and bustle of life, a good chewing session can help them to decompress. It’s comparable to the way we might unwind with a hot bath, deep breathing, or listening to calming music.

Decompression Through Chewing

Decompression is the process of helping a dog come down from heightened arousal or stress and return to a state of calm. Giving a dog something safe and satisfying to chew, like a natural chew, can be an excellent way to promote decompression after a walk, a busy day, or exposure to stressful stimuli (like visitors, noisy environments, or training sessions).

Incorporating regular chewing opportunities into a dog’s daily routine can significantly support their progress. It helps them reset emotionally, reducing the likelihood of tension building up over time.

Reducing Anxiety and Preventing Behavioural Issues

Regular chewing can be a vital component in managing anxiety. It provides structure, predictability, and comfort - three things that anxious dogs crave.

When dogs are denied opportunities to chew, they often find their own outlets - like furniture, shoes, or their own body. These behaviours aren’t naughty; they’re signs of unmet needs. Even if your dog does not show any outward signs, by proactively offering appropriate chews, we can meet those needs in a way that’s satisfying for the dog.

Supporting Enrichment and Routine

Incorporating chewing into a daily routine is also a great way to provide mental enrichment. This is not just for dogs who may not tolerate high levels of physical exercise or who are recovering from injury. It gives the brain a job to do, helping to prevent boredom and frustration, which can so easily spill over into unwanted behaviours.

In Summary

Chewing is not just a leftover puppy behaviour - it’s a vital, enriching activity that helps adult dogs decompress, regulate stress, and feel calm and secure. Regular access to appropriate chews is one of the simplest yet most powerful tools we have for supporting a dog’s emotional wellbeing.

If you’re unsure which chews are best for your dog or how to build a decompression routine into your day, just let me know. Your dog’s need to chew is not just natural—it’s essential!