Why Ripping and Shredding is Good for your Dog

Sylvia Koczerzuk Koczerzuk Author

Oct 17, 2025 |

Let your dog shred! Learn why ripping and tearing are natural, stress-relieving, and essential for your dog’s emotional and behavioural health.

🐾 Why Ripping and Shredding Is Good for Your Dog

When “Destruction” Is Actually Therapy

If you’ve ever sighed while watching your dog gleefully shred a cardboard box into confetti, take a deep breath and smile — that’s not mischief; that’s biology in action.
Dogs are wired to dissect, tear, and deconstruct. It’s part of the predatory sequence that sits deep in their instincts: search, stalk, chase, grab, shake, tear, dissect, consume. While our companion dogs no longer need to hunt for survival, the desire to perform parts of that sequence still exists.

When we deny those outlets, the need doesn’t disappear — it finds another path, often showing up as frustration, hyper-arousal, or destructive behaviour directed at furniture, shoes, or pillows. But when we give our dogs appropriate ways to rip, shred, and tear, we’re offering them a healthy outlet for deeply satisfying work.

The Hidden Benefits of Shredding Activities

🧠 1. Mental Enrichment
Ripping apart boxes or paper challenges your dog’s brain. They must manipulate materials, use their paws, teeth, and problem-solving skills to “deconstruct” the object. It’s their version of a complex puzzle toy — one that taps into both their body and their brain.

💪 2. Builds Confidence and Emotional Resilience
For anxious or cautious dogs, being allowed to tear something apart can feel incredibly empowering. It’s an activity they can control completely. That sense of agency — of “I can do this myself!” — boosts confidence and helps dogs learn to regulate their emotions.

😌 3. Releases Stress and Frustration
Just as we humans might decompress by squeezing a stress ball or ripping open mail, dogs find relief through physical actions like shredding. The rhythmic tearing helps discharge pent-up energy and promotes relaxation afterwards. Many dogs will naturally lie down for a nap after a good ripping session — that’s emotional regulation at work.

💤 4. Encourages Calmness Through Fulfilment
When your dog’s natural needs are met, their arousal levels drop. Shredding provides sensory satisfaction, mental engagement, and physical release, setting the stage for calmness. It’s one of the simplest ways to prevent problem behaviours caused by boredom or unmet instincts.

How to Offer Safe and Satisfying Shredding

Start by creating a simple “Shred Box.”

• Use clean cardboard boxes or paper bags.

• Remove staples, tape, and any plastic.

• Add a few treats or pieces of kibble inside for your dog to “hunt.”

• You can even layer crumpled paper between treats to add scent and texture variety.
  Always supervise — the goal is engagement, not ingestion. When the fun is over, recycle what’s left, praise your dog for their hard work, and offer a long-lasting chew or quiet rest time.

This activity pairs beautifully with foraging and free work, giving your dog a complete sensory workout. You might notice improved focus, easier settling, and even reduced demand behaviours once shredding becomes a regular outlet.

Rethinking the Mess: From Destruction to Decompression

To the untrained eye, it might look like chaos. But to a behaviour consultant, that shredded pile of cardboard represents a dog who’s meeting core needs, lowering stress hormones, and building emotional resilience.

When we label natural behaviours as “bad,” we risk taking away key coping mechanisms. Instead, let’s reframe it: shredding isn’t destruction — it’s decompression.

Your dog isn’t trying to ruin your day; they’re trying to regulate theirs.

So next time your dog dives into a box like it’s the best gift in the world, grab your camera, cheer them on, and enjoy the show. The clean-up takes five minutes. The wellbeing benefits last a lifetime.