Constant chewing is one of the problems faced by many dog owners around the world. Chewing is a normal and healthy activity of every dog. Dogs chew because of the following reasons:
(a) The dog is trying to sooth sore teething gums.
(b) The dog is bored and is chewing to expend some energy.
(c) The dog is trying to relieve tension and anxiety.
The first step in addressing constant chewing is to put items you don't want destroyed far from the reach of the animal, similar to baby-proofing your house.
Keep in mind that anything the dog cannot see, he will likely not touch. Get a small cabinet to serve as storage for shoes and remind guests to deposit their footwear.
Another technique in preventing a dog chewing on household items is to give it items that it can actually chew without causing damage. Some of the most popular "dog chewing" items are:
- Stuffed Kongs
- Nylabones
Kongs are very durable and can be stuffed with delicious food such as peanut butter, bananas, pumpkin and cream cheese. A kong can also be filled with frozen items.
Nylabones comes in different styles, colors and textures. Praise the dog or give treats if it chews on these items.
Praise the dog when it stops chewing
Constantly monitor your dog and if you see that he is approaching an item he should not touch immediately say NO! Give the dog his chew toys. You will constantly become more conscious and understanding of your dog's behaviour if you spend more time with him.
Using the word NO! repeatedly will give him the idea that his actions are inappropriate.
In summary, differentiating what should and should not be chewed by a dog is not impossible. Dogs always aim to please their masters and they will stop any undesirable behaviour.
To learn more tips for
correcting dog behavior problems, please go to
http://www.dog-training-techniques.info/ 
