Many dog owners know the problem: as soon as a new toy is in the dog's bed, it is worked on, taken apart, and in the worst case, completely destroyed within a few minutes.
While some dogs play with the same plush toy for years, others seem to specialize in shredding every toy.
But why do dogs do that at all?
Dog trainer Ellen Marques, owner of the Martin Rütter Dog School Cologne and known from TV formats such as "Der Hundeprofi" and "Die Unvermittelbaren," explains that there is often more behind this behavior than mere playfulness.
Destroying isn't always playing
Many people assume that their dog simply enjoys playing a lot. But tearing up toys often serves a different purpose.
"Often it's not about fun, but about stress relief or frustration," explains Ellen Marques.
This means: The dog uses the behavior to relieve internal tension.
Just as people sometimes bite their fingernails, nervously fidget with their hands, or regulate themselves through movement, dogs also look for ways to deal with their emotions.
Why shredding can have a regulating effect
Chewing, tearing, and destroying are natural behaviors for dogs.
They can help:
- Reduce stress
- Process frustration
- Reduce internal tension
- Regulate the nervous system
From a dog's perspective, the behavior often serves a meaningful purpose.
"Destroying then often replaces missing regulation in everyday life," says Ellen Marques.
Therefore, one should first not only look at the toy but at the dog's entire daily routine.
What everyday life has to do with it
If dogs regularly destroy toys, it's worth taking a look at their living conditions.
Questions might include:
- Does the dog have sufficient opportunities for relaxation?
- Are there many stressful situations?
- Does the dog find it difficult to switch off?
- Is there a lack of calm activities?
The higher a dog's internal tension, the stronger the need for regulating behaviors can become.
Shredding a plush toy is then often just the visible consequence of a deeper underlying issue.
Why punishment is not a solution
Many dog owners understandably react with frustration when expensive toys are destroyed within a very short time.
The problem: merely suppressing the behavior does not solve the cause.
If shredding actually serves as regulation, the dog often seeks other ways to relieve its tension.
Therefore, Ellen Marques recommends first understanding what function the behavior serves.
Only then can suitable alternatives be developed.
Meaningful alternatives for regulation
One possibility is to offer the dog other regulating activities.
These include, for example:
- Lick mats
- Chew items
- Controlled search games
- Calm engagement tasks
- Purposefully used toy training
These activities can have a calming effect and help the dog relieve stress in a controlled way.
Especially licking and chewing have been shown to have a relaxing effect on many dogs.
Can toys still be useful?
Absolutely.
Ellen Marques emphasizes that toys can still be a valuable tool in everyday life.
The crucial factor, however, is the type of use.
If toys:
- are used in a controlled manner
- are part of joint activities
- support search games
- promote calm interactions
then they can even help improve the dog's self-regulation.
In many cases, the need to constantly destroy toys also decreases.
Conclusion: The toy is usually not the problem
When dogs regularly dismantle their toys, there is often more behind it than mere destructiveness.
Often, the behavior serves to relieve stress, frustration, or internal tension.
The most important insight from Ellen Marques' practice is therefore: The broken toy should not be the focus, but the question of why the dog shows this behavior at all.
Those who understand the cause and offer the dog suitable alternatives can ensure more peace in the long run.
And incidentally, the next dog toys might then survive a little longer.
