How to stop your French Bulldog from chewing everything
How to stop your French Bulldog from chewing everything
Shredded shoes, chewed table legs, a sofa cushion with a new hole — chewing isn't your Frenchie being "bad." It's almost always a signal. Figure out what it's telling you, and the fix gets a lot easier.
Chewing is always about something
Before changing the behavior, figure out which of these is driving it.
Teething
Normal between 2–6 months old, as new teeth push through sore gums. It usually eases up once adult teeth are fully in.
Boredom & energy
Frenchies are small but sharp, and a quick potty break isn't real exercise. Unspent energy has to go somewhere.
Separation anxiety
If the chewing only happens while you're out, it's likely a stress response rather than boredom or teething.
Exploration
Dogs learn about textures and objects with their mouths — chewing is often just how a Frenchie investigates something new.
Skip the scolding
Punishing a dog after the fact doesn't connect to the chewed shoe in their mind — it just teaches them you're unpredictable, which can make anxiety-driven chewing worse. The goal isn't to stop chewing altogether (that's not realistic); it's to redirect it toward something that's actually meant to be chewed.
Give them something better to chew
A durable, high-interest toy makes it much easier for your Frenchie to choose the right thing on their own.
Rope Sneaker Chew Toy
A sturdy canvas-and-rope toy shaped like a sneaker — tough enough for enthusiastic chewers, with knotted rope that helps clean teeth as they gnaw. A go-to for redirecting attention away from your actual shoes.
Shop FrenchieHub →Habits that make it stick
Actually tire them out
A 10-minute potty break isn't exercise. Aim for 20–30 minutes of real walking plus a play session — a tired Frenchie is a calmer one.
Rotate the toy box
Swap toys every few days instead of leaving all of them out — a "new" toy gets more interest than one that's been sitting there for weeks.
Puppy-proof the space
Pick up shoes, tuck away cords, and use baby gates to limit access to rooms you can't supervise — it removes the temptation before it starts.
Praise the right choice
When you catch your Frenchie chewing their own toy, reward it — positive reinforcement teaches the habit faster than correcting the wrong one.
Watch for an anxiety pattern
If chewing is isolated to when you're gone, gradual alone-time training — or a chat with your vet or a trainer — helps more than toys alone.
A few things owners ask
Most Frenchie puppies have their adult teeth in by around 7–8 months, and chewing driven purely by teething usually eases up around then.
It's common, but it usually points to boredom, excess energy, or anxiety rather than teething. Look at exercise levels and routine first before assuming it's just "how they are."
They can help on specific items like furniture legs, but they work best paired with — not instead of — giving your dog appropriate things to chew.