You wake up in the morning, give a good stretch and reach for your slippers. Your slippers? They were right next to the bed last night. As you glance over the side of the bed you notice one slipper. It's mate is nowhere to be found. One slipper on and a trip to through the house find what is left of the mate. Oh my! Pieces strewn from the living room, into the kitchen and some still being designed by your dog.
Why do dogs chew? Puppies explore with their mouths, just as small children and babies do. This can go on for about 6 months. Puppies, like children, have some discomfort when they go through this period of their lives. Adults may chew for a variety of reasons. Separation anxiety and boredom are just two of them.
It is your responsibility to manage the situation. It's a basic technique. Don't leave your belongings available to your dog if you do not want them chewed. If your dog loves shoes or slippers, think back to the possibility that you gave him one to chew on when he was a pup. He grew up not knowing the difference between yours and his.
Teach your dog your very own house rules starting at a very young age. You may have to keep him leashed to your side until he can be trusted. If you need to go to another room that he isn't allowed in, you should attach the leash to an immovable piece of furniture. When you need to leave the house, confine him to a secure area and provide safe toys and fresh water. A baby gate comes in very handy in this situation.
In the event that you catch your dog chewing on contraband, interrupt the behavior with a loud clap or voice command. Replace that item with a toy that is acceptable. Do not reprimand if you find items already destroyed. A dogs memory just isn't that great. He'll think he's being punished for what he is doing when the scolding begins. These can lead to fear, which can lead to more chewing.
Teething puppies can get some relief from a frozen wash cloth. It eases the gums very well. Just be sure it doesn't become a meal. Supervision is vital with every phase of puppy training.
There are substances that are available in the pet aisle or pet store to put on your furniture or other unacceptable items for them to chew. These make the items unappealing. They don't always work, but may be worth the attempt. Some must be reapplied frequently, so be sure to read the directions on the bottle.
Another option is offering a treat as a trade for the item they are chewing on. He will like that idea and adding a command such as "give" will eventually lead to just the command for your valuables to be relinquished.
If that frisky pup takes off with something in the mouth, do not chase him. This is giving him exactly what he is looking for, attention. Just call him to you, offer a treat or other toy and again use a verbal command. Don't talk in sentences. One or two words are all you need.References
Teach Your Dog to Stop Chewing by Adam G. Katz http://access.dogproblems.com/chewing.cfm?affID=dogsse
Stop Dog Chewing http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/stop-dog-chewing.html
Stopping A Dog From Chewing http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/how-to-solve-dog-behavioral-problems4.htm
Solving Destructive Chewing Problems in Dogs by Daniel Estep, Ph.D. and Suzanne Hetts, Ph.D.,http://www.animalbehaviorassociates.com/pdf/RMN_solving_dog_chewing.pdf
Chewing: The Whys and Hows of Stopping a Gnawing Problem, by The Humane Society of the US, http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/destructive_chewing.html
Dog Destructive Chewing by Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB andGary Landsberg, DVM, DACVB, http://www.animalbehavior.net/LIBRARY/Authors/Landsberg/DogDestructiveChewingQA.htm