Dog Chewing Crate? Fix It With Training & Prevention
Your dog may chew the crate due to anxiety, boredom, or feeling trapped. To stop it: - Prevent access to tempting items and provide safe chew toys. - Redirect chewing with clicker training and positive reinforcement. - Assess crate use—if your dog shows distress, the crate may not be right for them.
Why Dogs Chew Crates
Dogs chew crates for several reasons, but the most common are anxiety, boredom, or feeling trapped. If a dog is left in a crate for long periods—such as 23 of 24 hours per day—they may develop distress behaviors like chewing the crate bars. This can lead to serious physical damage, including gum lesions and broken teeth, especially on the lingual (inner) surfaces of the canines. In some cases, dogs chew so intensely they break their own teeth or nails trying to escape.
Check for Signs of Distress
If your dog seems anxious, panicky, or unhappy in the crate—especially if they don’t go in willingly—this could be a sign they feel entrapped. A crate should never be a source of fear. If your dog is visibly distressed, it’s not safe to force them into it. Always observe your dog’s behavior when the crate is closed. If they show increasing signs of stress, such as pacing, whining, or excessive chewing, the crate may not be the right solution. Videotaping your dog in the crate can help you spot these signs.
Prevent Destructive Chewing
The best way to stop crate chewing is to prevent access to the crate when unsupervised—especially if your dog is showing signs of distress. Keep the crate door open when you’re home so your dog can choose to use it voluntarily. If they do, great. If not, respect their choice. Also, remove tempting items from the crate, like toys or food bowls that might trigger chewing. Instead, provide safe, approved chew toys and keep them accessible when the dog is not being directly supervised.
Redirect with Positive Training
Use clicker training to teach your dog what is acceptable to chew. When you catch your dog chewing the crate, calmly replace it with a safe chew toy. As soon as they show interest in the toy, click and reward with a treat. Repeat this consistently so your dog learns that chewing the toy leads to rewards. Over time, add a cue like “chew” or “toy” to help them associate the behavior with the correct object. This method works best when practiced in short, frequent sessions.
Consider Crate Use & Alternatives
Not every dog needs a crate. If your dog is constantly chewing the crate or showing signs of distress, it may be time to reconsider its use. Some dogs feel more secure in quiet, protected spaces—but not all of them need a crate to feel safe. For dogs with separation anxiety, the crate may worsen their stress. Instead, focus on creating a safe, quiet area with toys and a blanket. If your dog chooses to spend time in a crate with the door open, that’s a good sign. But if they avoid it or panic when closed in, it’s not the right fit.
Frequently asked questions
Can chewing a crate damage my dog’s teeth?
Yes. Chronic chewing on crate bars can cause gum lesions and damage the inner surfaces of the canines, and in extreme cases, dogs may break their teeth or nails trying to escape.
Is it okay to use a bitter spray on the crate?
The passages don’t recommend deterrents like bitter sprays. Instead, they emphasize identifying the root cause—like anxiety or boredom—and using redirection and training to address it.
Sources
- Click and Connect A Real-World Guide to Clicker Training for You and Your Pup · Grant, Pete · Dealing with Common Behavior Issues
- Lucky Dog Lessons · McMillan, Brandon · The Approach
- Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats · Chapter 3, Figure 3-39
- Dog Training Revolution The Complete Guide to Raising the Perfect Pet with Love · Zak George, Dina Roth Port · CHAPTER SEVEN
⚠️ Important: this article is a literature summary, not a case diagnosis. Every dog is different — breed, age, and history all affect the plan. For severe anxiety or aggressive barking, contact a certified behavior trainer or veterinary behaviorist.