Stop destructive chewing and boredom with this vet-approved scent game hiding treats in different rooms I remember the exact moment I realized I had been doing it all wrong. My Golden Retriever, a three-year-old ball of chaos disguised as a sweet-faced goofball, had just demolished a couch cushion. Not chewed. Demolished . Fluff everywhere. And the worst part? We had just come back from a 45-minute walk. I stood there staring at the mess, thinking, How is this dog still not tired? That's when I started digging deeper. I read through forums, talked to trainers, and watched other owners describe the exact same frustration. One person wrote about their Golden who would destroy rugs in their crate—but only when they were home , not when they left. Another described how their dog had turned every puzzle toy into a five-second snack and was now bored again. The problem wasn't exercise. It was mental exercise. Or rather, the complete lack of it. What I discovered changed ...