- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Dogs love shredding paper. Why do they do it? What can we do about it? Is it bad for our dogs? If you’ve got paper shredding questions, we’ve got answers.
We spoke with a certified dog trainer to learn more about why dogs love shredding things. With her insight, we discuss why dogs shred (and eat) paper, when to seek help for the behavior, and how to manage it to keep everyone safe and happy.
Why Dogs Love Shredding Paper
Put simply, dogs love shredding paper because it’s rewarding to their prey drive. Specifically, it speaks to the “shredding and dissecting” part of hunting. Dogs with stronger prey drives are more likely to find shredding paper rewarding. It can also be a coping mechanism to release stress or agitation.
Prey drive
“Shredding and dissecting are normal canine behaviors,” explains Sarah Alvarado, CPDT-KA, professional dog trainer and owner of The Classical Canine. “These behaviors are part of the predatory sequence, and some breeds and individuals will exhibit these natural behaviors more frequently than others.”
The predatory sequence is a series of steps that dogs use when hunting for food. They are as follows: orient, eye, stalk, chase, grab/bite, kill, dissect, and consume.
Because humans have bred dogs for specific functions, some breeds only act out part of the sequence, which could impact whether they’re more likely to shred/dissect. For instance, Terriers were originally bred to find and kill small rodents. But herding breeds like Border Collies were bred to stalk and chase livestock without fulfilling the rest of the predatory sequence, which includes biting and dissecting.
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Anxiety and attention
Alvarado also notes that while shredding is a natural behavior and enriching for many dogs, it can sometimes reveal an underlying issue.
“I have also seen dogs who have learned to shred paper or other items as a mechanism for coping with stress such as storm anxiety or pain,” she says. “Some dogs have learned that grabbing a paper item to shred will result in gaining attention from their humans.”
Alvarado says that if shredding becomes unsafe or disruptive, it may be worth consulting with a behavioral professional to understand why your dog is engaging in the behavior. “There may be a variety of recommended interventions depending upon your individual dog’s motivations,” she says.
Why Do Dogs Eat Paper?
A dog may eat paper instead of ripping and shredding it for several reasons. First, they could be eating paper because of a medical issue. For instance, dogs that have pica eat non-edible food, like paper, as well as wood, rock, rubber, and plastic. Dogs with nutritional deficiencies may also lack essential minerals and try eating non-food items to compensate for the missing nutrients.
Alvarado also points out that sometimes eating paper could be a learned behavior, like resource guarding. “Most often in my work, I see dogs who have learned to consume an item, including but not limited to paper items, in order to avoid having the item taken away,” she explains. “When I see this pattern, the dog has experienced having items forcibly removed from their possession.”
To combat this, Alvarado advises teaching your dog that dropping or spitting out the paper item will result in getting something better (high-value treat > paper plate). “Other skills that are helpful are a well-trained recall so that you can reliably call your dog away from a forbidden item or a retrieve so that you can ask your dog to bring the item to you to trade,” she adds.
Is eating paper bad for my dog?
While eating a bit of paper here and there may not seem that bad for your dog (besides the potential upset stomach and confetti poops), Alvarado says it is a behavior you want to prevent. Consuming larger pieces of paper (from sanitary napkins, paper towels, etc.) can cause serious blockages, which may require forced vomiting or even surgery to remove. Alvarado adds that the toxicity from the inks on paper is another concern to consider.
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How To Prevent Your Dog From Shredding or Eating Paper
“If your dog is actually consuming paper, I recommend having a discussion with your veterinarian to rule out potential medical conditions,” says Alvarado. “If medical conditions have been ruled out, good management of your dog’s environment is the most effective way to prevent eating paper.
Along with keeping items your dog may be tempted to eat out of their reach, effective management may include baby gates, exercise pens, and limiting your dog’s access to specific rooms in your home.
Give your dog appropriate outlets
“Along with effective management, and assuming medical conditions have been ruled out, I recommend giving your dog outlets for shredding and consuming that are safe,” says Alvarado. “Consider that your dog may have a need for appropriate outlets for exhibiting these behaviors.”
Though it may seem counterintuitive, giving your dog something you prefer them to shred can meet their natural need and prevent them from finding something else on their own (like a box of tissues).
If your dog isn’t prone to eating the pieces, Alvarado recommends activities such as allowing your dogs to shred your Amazon boxes or junk mail. “You can hide a meal or treats inside a few nested boxes to provide an opportunity to shred and eat,” she adds. For dogs with a history of consuming paper, you can give them edible chews or stuffed puzzle toys like KONGs instead.
“There are almost infinite ways to provide your dog with safe opportunities to shred and eat,” says Alvarado. You just might have to get a little creative. But in the end, it all comes down to refilling instead of emptying your dog’s emotional cup.
