How to Stop Dogs from Chewing Pet Door Flaps

Picture this: You’ve spent weeks selecting the perfect pet door for your home—choosing the right brand, measuring your pet—the whole nine yards. You finally decide on the perfect door and have it shipped and installed, ready to be put to use. But just a few days after installing your pet door, you come home to find the brand new doggie door flap chewed to pieces! 

To a dog that chews on everything, a dog door flap can look like another chew toy. We’re here to help with some pet door suggestions for dogs who love to chew on everything.

But first, let’s consider reasons why your dog is chewing on the flap: 

Boredom:

While a pet door is a great way to let your dog come and go as they please, it is not a substitute for regular exercise. So make sure your dog is getting out for lots of walks! Check out how to keep your pet’s lifestyle engaging.

Seeking Attention: 

Some dogs will go to great lengths to get the attention of their owner! This is often a bigger issue with puppies who are not yet fully trained. If this behavior doesn’t improve with age, you might consider seeking help from a dog behaviorist.    

Separation Anxiety:  

A dog suffering from separation anxiety will often display destructive behavior like chewing up the furniture (or the pet door!) while you’re away. Here are some tips on how to help your pet cope with separation anxiety.

No matter what’s got your dog drooling over that pricey pet door flap, here are some tips on how to stop a dog from chewing the pet door flap: 

Tip #1: Bitter Apple Spray

Dog door flap material probably doesn’t taste good to begin with, but you can make it even worse! Try spritzing a little bitter apple spray on the flap to make it less appetizing to your dog. We recommend Grannick’s Bitter Apple Spray. 

Tip #2: Distract with Toys

Providing your pooch with lots and lots of toys to keep them busy might divert them from the chewy pet door flap. If you catch your pup chewing on the flap, try offering them their favorite toy instead as a diversion.

Tip #3: Correct Chewing Behavior Right When it Happens  

Use verbal correction only when you catch your dog in the act. As frustrated as you may be coming home to a pet door flap in plastic shreds on the floor, your dog won’t understand why you’re yelling if it's after the fact. If you do catch them chewing, try interrupting the behavior with a loud noise, or spritzing water from a spray bottle in their direction.

At the end of the day, some dogs love to chew so much that nothing will stop them from chewing up the pet door. If your dog has a hankering for plastic, an ordinary pet door flap might not make the cut. 

Most pet doors are made of flexible plastic, which can look and feel an awful lot like a brand-new chew toy to your dog. For a completely “Chew-Proof” Dog Door, you’ll need a Rigid Flap Pet Door. We’ve listed some pet door recommendations below.

Gun Dog Heavy Duty Dog Door:  

• Chew-proof acrylic flap perfect for hyper dogs
• Great for installation in kennels

Ideal Aluminum “Draft Stopper” Dog Door:

• Thick flap to prevent chewing
• Increased energy efficiency

Dog Mate 215 & 216 Dog Doors:

• Hard plastic flap diverts chewing
• Cost-effective option

 For more chew-proof flap options see our full list of pet doors with rigid flaps. Still have some questions about the best flap for your dog who loves to chew? Don't hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-826-2871 or email us at customerservice@petdoors.com and out team of pet door experts will help you out.