What kind of wood is bad for dogs? Surprising Answer

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Why Do Dogs Chew on Things?

It is best to first understand why your dog is finding something to chew on in the first place.

Dogs trace their ancestry back to an ancient breed of wolves, Canis Lupis, who transported their prey with their mouths.

With food not being in as high of supply as a modern dog’s, these animals most likely took every bit of meat they could off of the bones, constantly chewing and sucking on them until they were clean.

This tendency, like other memories, is able to be passed down through genetics.

Dogs who are particularly anxious might pick up the habit of chewing on things, especially those who have separation anxiety.

The act of chewing on something gives the dog a way to distract themselves if they are feeling tense or scared.

And it may even be a way for them to focus on something other than pain.

Either way, it is in dog’s nature to want to chew on objects, whether it be from genetics or a habit they pick up on their own.

While there is no inherent need to discourage this, responsible owners should regulate what they allow their dogs to chew on.

Non-Toxic Wood Types

  • Acacia
  • Apple (Pesticide residue likely)
  • Ailanthus – Tree of Heaven
  • Almond
  • Aralia/Fatsia japonica
  • Ash – Fraxinus
  • Aspen – Populus
  • Bamboo
  • Barberry
  • Birch
  • Beech
  • Bois D’Arc – Horse Apple Tree
  • Bottle Brush
  • Butterfly Bush
  • Camellia
  • Citrus (lime, kumquat, grapefruit, orange, lemon)
  • Cork (not wood from the cork oak, but cork)
  • Corn Plants
  • Cottonwood – Populus
  • Crabapple – Malus
  • Crape Myrtle (not the same as Myrtle
  • Date
  • Dogwood – Comus
  • Douglas Fir – Pseudotsuga
  • Dracaena
  • Madrona/Madrone – Arbutus
  • Magnolia
  • Maple – Acer
  • Manzanita – Arctostaphylos
  • Mesquite – remove sharp parts
  • Mimosa
  • Mock Orange – Philadelphus
  • Mountain Ash – Sorbus
  • Mulberry – Morus
  • Nandina (Heavenly Bamboo)
  • Nectarine
  • Norfolk Island Pine – Araucaria
  • Nut Trees – excluding chestnut and oak
  • Orange – several sources lean toward safe
  • Oregon Grape – Mahonia
  • Palm
  • Papaya
  • Peach
  • Pecan
  • Pine – Pinus
  • Photinia
  • Plum
  • Poplar – Populus
  • Pussy Willow – Salix
  • Raphiolepsis – Indian Hawthorn
  • Ribbonwood
  • Rose – Rosa
  • Rubber Plant – Ficus elastica
  • Russian Olive
  • Sassafras
  • Silk Tree
  • Spiraea
  • Spruce – Picea
  • Staghorn Sumac – Rhus not Toxicodendron
  • Strawberry Tree – Arbutus like Madrone
  • Sweet Gum – Liquidambar
  • Sycamore
  • Weeping Willow – Salix (Goat, Pussy, & Weeping)
  • White Alder
  • Weigela

    • It’s quite the list, most of these will be somewhat difficult to get in quantity as they are considered exotic. Consequently, these exotic woods are also quite costly and so can make your dog house quite expensive to build. However, there are many on this list that you can special order or even find regularly available. Leave me a comment and let me know what type of wood you like to work with. Feel free to bookmark our site for easy reference. Now for the darker, more sinister side of the wood. NOT for use on your dog house, coming up next it’s…

    What kind of wood is bad for dogs?

    Furniture

    Again, if a dog learns they can chew on any wood they find, this might encourage them to chew on furniture and ruin it, as well as their teeth.

    SAFE & TOXIC Wood Perches for Birds

    Dogs chew on wood because they like chewing on things. That’s why you see dogs play with chew toys and why bones and treats are so popular. But can dogs eat wood? While it’s fairly common for a dog to chew on wood (especially if you use sticks or small logs to throw to them when you’re playing fetch), your dog will thank you if you help them lay off the wood. Why? Table Of Contents