How to stop a Boxer puppy from chewing furniture

Look, I’ve been around a lot of dogs—rescues, purebreds, street-smart mutts—you name it. But if there’s one thing Boxer puppies all have in common? They chew like it’s their full-time job.

And if you don’t get ahead of it, your couch, coffee table, and maybe even your walls are gonna pay the price.

Don’t wait. Let’s stop the destruction before your living room looks like a crime scene.

And if you don’t get ahead of it, your couch, coffee table, and maybe even your walls are gonna pay the price.

Don’t wait. Let’s stop the destruction before your living room looks like a crime scene.

Understand the Chewing Instinct—But Don’t Excuse It

Boxer puppies don’t chew furniture because they’re bad or trying to make you mad. They chew because:

They’re teething
They’re bored
They’re anxious
They’re exploring

I get it. They’re babies with jaws of steel. But you don’t let a toddler smash the TV with a rattle, right? Same principle. Understand the behavior—then shut it down.

Step One: Remove the Temptation

If your Boxer pup keeps going after the leg of your dining chair, and you keep leaving them alone in the dining room…that’s not a puppy problem. That’s a human mistake.

Do this immediately:

Block off access to problem areas.
Crate train them for short unsupervised moments.
Use baby gates to restrict free-roaming.

Out of sight = out of mouth.

Step Two: Supervise or Contain. Period.

Here’s a rule I teach at my sanctuary:
If the puppy’s not sleeping, training, or outside with supervision—someone better be watching.

Boxers are smart and fast. You leave the room for two minutes, they’ll have a table leg half-eaten.

Use a leash indoors to keep them near you.
Crate or pen them if you’re distracted.
No “free roam” until they earn trust.

You’re the adult in the house. Act like it.

Step Three: Offer the Right Chewing Options

Don’t just tell them what not to chew. Show them what to chew.

Stock up on:

Frozen Kongs stuffed with peanut butter or plain yogurt
Durable chew toys like Nylabones or Benebones
Rope toys soaked in water and frozen for teething relief

Rotate toys every few days so they stay exciting. You want your furniture to be the boring option.

Step Four: Catch It Early and Interrupt

If you walk in and find half a sofa cushion shredded, it’s too late. That correction window closed 30 seconds after it happened.

But if you catch them in the act?

Act immediately—calm but firm.

Sharp verbal cue: “Ah-ah!” or “No chew!”
Redirect to a chew toy: “Here, chew this.”
Praise once they chew the right item.

Correct, redirect, reward. That’s the cycle you live by.

Step Five: Tire Them Out—Mind and Body

A tired Boxer is a good Boxer. Chewing often starts because they’ve got energy to burn and nothing better to do.

Your daily checklist:

One long walk or two brisk ones
Short training sessions (5–10 mins) multiple times a day
Tug games, fetch, flirt pole play
Puzzle feeders or frozen chews for mental work

Boxers aren’t lapdogs. You want them tired when they come inside—not bouncing off your coffee table.

Step Six: Use Deterrents Wisely

If your pup is obsessed with one piece of furniture, and you’ve already done the training, go ahead—add a little extra help.

Use safe deterrents like:

Bitter apple spray
Lemon-scented pet-safe sprays
Aluminum foil or double-sided tape (they hate the texture)

These don’t solve the problem alone—but they help reinforce your rules.

Step Seven: Be Consistent—No Exceptions

Here’s what ruins progress: letting your puppy chew an old slipper and then getting mad when they chew your good shoes. To a puppy, a shoe is a shoe.

No “sacrificial furniture” or “junk items” to chew.
Everyone in the household enforces the same rules.
Praise what’s right. Correct what’s wrong. Every single time.

Boxers are quick learners. But they need consistency to succeed.

Final Word from the Jersey Vet

I’ve raised enough Boxers to tell you this straight—what you allow now becomes permanent later.
Chewing’s not just a phase. It’s a test. Of your leadership. Of your patience. Of your ability to train, redirect, and stay calm when your brand-new recliner looks like a chew toy massacre.

Don’t yell. Don’t give up. Just lead with structure and show your pup what you expect.

Give them the tools to succeed. And if you do it right?
You’ll have a Boxer who knows what’s his and what isn’t—and your furniture stays in one piece.

How to stop a Boxer puppy from chewing furniture