How to Teach Your Dog Not to Destroy Toys

Teaching your dog not to destroy their toys is so important! You want to make sure that they don't get bored or frustrated. Teach them through positive reinforcement by giving them treats when they play nicely with the toy, praise them when you see them being gentle, and keep on trying. Consistency is key because dogs respond better to consistent training than to sporadic training sessions.

How to Teach Your Dog Not to Destroy Toys

Dogs are some of the most loyal and beloved pets in the world, and it’s no wonder why. They’re always happy to see us, they love spending time with us, and they make us laugh with their silly antics. But dogs can also be a lot of work, especially when it comes to training them not to destroy their toys.

It is believed that the reason dogs are drawn to destructible dog toys has to do with their biological disposition. They’re scavengers, hunting machines who are descended from wolves - unlike the cats who became domesticated because they liked humans. Wolves developed an instinct for survival, including quickly pigging out on all of a carcass's yummiest bits. This genetic trait can manifest today in any number of ways - sometimes it takes the form of my dog taking every last bite out of my sandwich…

Dogs destroying their toys can be a big problem because it can lead to them becoming bored or frustrated. It's important to teach them not to do this because it can prevent them from getting injured and keep your home clean.

You can teach your dog not to destroy their toys by using positive reinforcement, which is rewarding the behavior that you want with treats and praise.

1. Introduce the toy

Start with a stuffed (but unstuffed) toy that you don't mind losing if they destroy it. Show them what they can do with the toy (chew on it, play with it, etc.) and give them treats when they do something good.

2. Introduce another toy

Once your dog has gotten used to the first toy, introduce another one that is unstuffed or has stuffing that will come out if they chew on it or play with it. Make sure to give them treats only when they play nicely with the toy and praise them for playing with it.

3. Ask them not to touch the stuffed toy

Once your dog has become comfortable playing with both of their toys, let them know that you don't want them to touch the stuffed toy. You can do this by saying a word like "no" before they get to the stuffed toy or by physically moving them away from it.

4. Repeat step 3 with another unstuffed toy

Once your dog has mastered not touching the unstuffed toy, repeat step 3 again with a different unstuffed toy, and keep going until they have mastered all of their toys.

5. Remove a toy at a time

Now that your dog has become a master at not touching the stuffed toy, remove one of the unstuffed toys and see how they do with just one toy. You can gradually add in more once they are comfortable playing with only one.

6. Add a stuffed toy back in

Once your dog has mastered playing with one unstuffed toy, you can add another stuffed toy back into the mix. Only do this once they are comfortable playing with two unstuffed toys.

7. Ask them not to touch the new stuffed toy after adding it in

Repeat step 8 until your dog is comfortable playing with all three of their toys. Once they are, ask them not to touch the new stuffed toy you have added in until they are comfortable. Then start this process over again for each additional toy that you add in.

8. Don't take it personally

While positive reinforcement works great for training dogs not to destroy their toys, it can take a lot of time and patience. Try not to get frustrated if your dog does destroy one of their toys along the way. You can find unstuffed alternatives or ask them not to touch certain parts of the toy (like the squeaker).

9. Keep on trying

Remember that dogs respond better to consistent training than to sporadic training sessions. So be patient and positive and you will see good results.

Teaching your dog not to destroy their toys is so important! You want to make sure that they don't get bored or frustrated. Dogs respond better to consistent training than sporadic training sessions, so be patient and positive while trying to teach them this behavior.