It's not a rare thing. All puppies do it

Their teeth start coming in, and they look for something to chew on. No surprise here, even human babies do it. Teething can be painful for your pup, and it's natural that he'll look for something to relieve the pain. Problems occur when your full-grown dog is still chewing everything in sight. If this is the case, then it's time to pinpoint the problem and implement a solution.

First thing is first:

it's inevitable. Whether your puppy chews on your shoe or your adult dog chews on your furniture, you will at some point lose a valuable item to chewing. If an item is important to you, then don't leave it lying around in the reach of a dog. He doesn't know how important it is; he just knows it look like fun. Pups chew on things to relieve the pain of their new teeth. Teething is natural and should not be discouraged. Keep plenty of chew toys around the house for your puppy. To help soothe his irritated gums, wet a couple of wash clothes and keep them in the freezer. If you see him chewing on an object, then replace that object with one of the frozen wash clothes. He'll love the cool relief.

Obedience training

Obedience Training for dogs can prevent them from chewing on your things. If your dog is trained and is still gnawing, then this could be a sign of other problems. Dogs will chew because of boredom, social isolation, anxiety, fears, or just to get attention. It is very important that your dog gets physical stimulation throughout the day. If a dog is cooped up in a house for long periods of time, then he will look for things to do that will provide some sort of interaction. Often, dogs experience separation anxiety and chew out of nervousness. Don't make a big deal out of leaving your dog home alone. Simply say bye and leave. The extra fuss and attentions only causes more anxiety. Dogs also gnaw out of fear. Loud noises, storms, or fireworks can startle your dog. In this case, chewing is a habit the dog has formed to handle his fears, and the situation should be handled differently than the others.

No matter what

It is the cause of your dog's chewing, it is important that you handle the situation appropriately. If you get home from work and find that your favorite tennis shoes are destroyed, then do not punish your dog. He does not understand that you are getting angry about something he did as soon as you left the house this morning. He just sees your expression and hears your loud voice, causing him to run or hide in fear. Train your dog to respond to "drop it" commands. When you catch him in the act, command him to drop whatever it is he is chewing. Instead of punishing him, give him a toy that is okay for him to chew and praise him for his good behavior. Never give him chew toys that resemble your household or personal items. Giving him an old shoe will only encourage him to chew on other shoes.

Never play tug-of-war with your dog

If you find him chewing on something and try to pull it from his mouth, then he will just see this as a game. As an alternative to punishment, find a suitable chew toy to defer his attention away from the non-chewable item. Once again, praise him for playing with the appropriate toy.

If your dog notices that chewing on items gets him more attention than being a good dog, then he will resort to this behavior as a way to get your attention. Always give your dog plenty of positive attention every day. That way, he doesn't pick up on destructive behaviors. Let him release anxieties and extra energy by taking him on daily runs and long walks, and play with him outside as much as possible.

Communication

When your dog is chewing on something in your home, he is communicating to you more than just bad behavior. Analyze the situation, and try to figure out why your pet is acting a certain way. More than likely, he just needs more physical stimulation or attention from you. Never punish him for chewing on off-limit items. Instead, praise him for chewing on chew toys. Don't get discouraged. Destructive chewing is nothing that a little time and attention can't handle.

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