Why do our dogs rip up their toys?

Have you ever wondered why your dog destroys their dog toys? While not every dog toy gets the same rough treatment, for some dogs it seems like tearing apart that toy is apparently a necessity. But why did they do it?

We are always wondering about the behavior of our dogs. And we especially want to know about the things that they enjoy doing. Thanks to the Chewy blog, we have a better idea about exactly why dogs destroy their toys. And it may not be what you think.

Honestly, there are a few different reasons why a dog might tear apart their dog toy. And perhaps the most obvious reason is that they find it fun. It’s a form of entertainment, and that makes perfect sense. Obviously, they are destroying that toy in the process of playing with it. So it does make sense that this form of destruction is actually them playing.

What are some other reasons why a dog might rip up their toys?

If you have a dog that is from one of the hunting breeds, it’s actually a more instinctual habit. That is because the toy acts like prey. And, of course, your dog is the predator. Them tearing apart the toy is the actions that they would take if they were catching prey in the wild. Of course, we don’t want to think about our dogs as predators, but it does make sense.

It could be as simple as them needing a stronger, more durable toy. We know that there are brands out there that make dogs toys that are harder for them to rip up. Bark for example, offers a line of Super Chewer toys and even has a dedicated box as part of their subscription program. A more aggressive chewer needs a stronger toy.

Perhaps the reason that we see the most often is that they are bored. If your dog is not getting enough stimulation, they are going to get bored. And if they are left to their own devices, for hours on end, they might just tear up their toy. it’s a sign to their owner that they need more. They need more activity. They need more attention. And they also need more mental stimulation.

You may need to pay attention to your dog in order to figure out exactly what the reason they are ripping up their toys might be. Our staff dog loves to fling her toys around. And some of those toys are not meant for that. So what ends up happening is they get ripped up. It’s not intentional, but rather part of her playtime. And since she doesn’t do it often, it’s not a problem that we tend to worry about.

If your dog is consistently ripping up their toys, you may need to figure out what the problem is and put a stop to it. Technically, destructive behavior is not the kind of behavior you want to reinforce. The last thing you want to deal with is your dog destroying something more precious to you. Or, you don’t want them to graduate from their dog toy to shoes, pillows, and other household items.

Do you have a dog that destroys their dog toys? What have you done to stop this behavior?