Why Chewing Might Be the Missing Piece in Your Dog’s Learning, Recovery, and Emotional Wellbeing

Chewing is one of the most natural and beneficial behaviours dogs can engage in. It offers more than just a way to pass the time or keep teeth clean. Chewing can support a dog’s emotional state, aid learning and the processing of experiences, and contribute to their overall sense of wellbeing.

Yet chewing is sometimes overlooked or misunderstood as just a way to manage 'boredom'. Some dogs may not immediately find chewing engaging or accessible, especially if they’ve had limited opportunities. But with the right support and environment, it can become a valuable part of helping them feel safe and make sense of the world.

Let’s take a closer look at the science of chewing, and how we can use it thoughtfully to support dogs, especially those who are anxious, fearful, or sensitive.

What Makes Chewing So Powerful?

When a dog chews, they engage not only their jaw muscles, but also key areas of the brain involved in emotional regulation and sensory processing. Chewing activates the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system, which promotes physiological calm and emotional regulation.

Research in dogs now shows that chewing does more than simply occupy them. It supports learning, recovery, and emotional regulation. In one study, dogs given a long-lasting chew after a discrimination task reached the learning criteria in fewer sessions and showed physiological signs of reduced arousal (Moesta et al., 2025). Other research has shown that chews can also support calmer emotional states during separation, even more effectively than treat dispensing toys (Flint et al., 2023).

Although any food based activity can offer short term distraction, only dogs with chews showed more sustained low arousal and positive emotional states across the session. This suggests that chewing may have a uniquely longer lasting calming effect compared to other types of food based enrichment.

These findings align with research in other mammals. Studies in humans and rodents show that chewing influences stress hormones, heart rate variability, and activity in parts of the brain linked to emotional regulation. Because these biological pathways are similar across species, we can draw on this research to support chewing as a behaviour that promotes emotional wellbeing in dogs.

This shift isn’t just comforting — it creates the conditions dogs need to feel safe, connect, and process the world around them. When dogs feel safer in their body, they are more able to process information, engage socially, and respond to supportive learning opportunities.

Chewing Helps Dogs Process the World

Another fascinating aspect of chewing is its potential role in how dogs process experiences. You may have observed this in your own dog: after a challenging situation, a period of chewing is often followed by a more settled state. Dogs may spontaneously choose to chew after new or intense experiences, and in doing so, they are likely helping their nervous system integrate and digest what has just occurred.

This concept aligns with findings from both human and animal studies showing that repetitive oral behaviours can support recovery from stress and improve learning retention. For example, chewing gum has been shown to reduce stress hormone levels in humans following cognitive tasks (Abe et al., 2011). The canine learning study mentioned earlier (Moesta et al., 2025) further supports this: chewing after learning enhanced memory consolidation and performance, suggesting a clear link between chewing and cognitive emotional processing.

In my experience, many dogs choose to chew during or after ACE Free Work sessions. It is not unusual to see a dog pause mid exploration to engage with a chew, as if they are processing what they have just encountered. This is one reason I build opportunities for chewing into Free Work setups, not just as enrichment, but as a way to support emotional integration. Chewing can offer a moment of organisation, grounding, and self regulation — a way for the dog to process and integrate what just happened.

Observing How Your Dog Chews

Observation of chewing can also give you valuable insight into your dog’s current emotional and physical state. Here are some things to observe:

Jaw movement: Is the chewing slow and deliberate, or fast and intense? Does your dog switch sides, or consistently chew on one side of their mouth? A consistent pattern of chewing to one side may offer useful information about their physical comfort or sensory preferences.
Body organisation: Is your dog standing tensely, sitting, or lying down in a more organised, relaxed posture while chewing?
Focus and gaze: Does your dog settle fully into the activity, or are they scanning the environment while chewing?
Transitions: After a period of chewing, does your dog show changes in body language, for example softer muscles, slower breathing, or more socially available behaviours?

Over time, you may start to recognise patterns in how and when your dog chooses to chew, and what this tells you about their inner experience.

Practical Tips for Using Chewing Supportively

Offer choice: If possible provide a range of appropriate chews so your dog can select what they need in the moment. Some dogs prefer hard chews, others softer textures, depending on their sensory preferences and jaw comfort.
Prioritise safety and function: A chew should be physically safe and offer a meaningful opportunity for your dog to chew in a way that suits their jaw, teeth, and individual preferences. Watch out for chews that are too hard (which may risk dental injury) or too small (posing a choking hazard). What is safe and satisfying for one dog might not be suitable for another. If in doubt, softer, edible chews can provide gentler sensory feedback while still supporting their need to chew. Safe, meaningful chewing is about offering choice and considering how the chew enables the dog to organise their body and sensory experience.
Build it into routines: Include opportunities for chewing in contexts where your dog may benefit from processing or regulation — after training, after walks in stimulating environments, during and after Free Work, or following exposure to new experiences.
Observe and adapt: Watch how your dog responds to different chew items and situations. If chewing helps them settle and regulate, consider making it a valued part of their emotional support toolkit.

Why Chewing Deserves a Place in Every Support Plan

Chewing is so much more than a pastime — it is a behaviour that supports the nervous system, aids the processing of experiences, promotes emotional wellbeing, and even enhances learning. With research now supporting what many of us have observed in practice, we can confidently include chewing opportunities in our dogs' daily lives and behaviour support plans.

This is one reason I include opportunities for chewing in ACE Free Work and many behaviour support programmes. Observing how, when, and why dogs choose to chew gives us another window into their emotional life and another way to help them feel safe, supported, and able to process their world.

Looking for more ways to support your dog’s wellbeing and behaviour?

Inside the Confident Canine Hub, we explore real life strategies and behaviours like chewing that support safety, regulation, and learning in everyday situations. Whether your dog is anxious, reactive, or simply navigating a world that sometimes feels too much, the Hub offers practical, science based support to help you and your dog build safety, trust, and progress that lasts.