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Chewing - What can I do?
Chewing is a natural act. Dogs chew for pleasure and it is a good way to clean excess tartar off those teeth. Dogs just enjoy tearing the stuffing out of a toy and chewing a stick to bits. Puppies get their adult teeth between 4 and 6 months. It is soothing to chew on anything available during this painful time.
Why my slippers?
Dogs particularly like objects that smell like you and chewing them makes it more fun. Never give your dog an old shoe or sock; no dog can distinguish between old shoes and your new shoes.
Other reasons for chewing
Boredom – Dogs look for something to amuse themselves during periods alone. Dogs are social creatures and being left alone is boring. Chewing on the table leg is fun or at least better than nothing. Consider the breed of dog you choose; some breeds are more destructive if left alone for long periods of time. Crate train your dog – it teaches your dog to sleep when you are gone and prevents chewing on inappropriate objects.
Lack of Exercise – Dogs without sufficient exercise get bored. Take it for a walk, play fetch or any activity to exercise their body and mind. Tired dogs are good dogs.
Lack of Good Chew Toys
Hard rubber toys, rubber balls, rawhide bones and commercial bones are great for the chewing. Kong© makes great hard rubber toys which can be stuffed with treats. They also sell liver in a squirt can (like cheese) and provide recipes for stuffing. Aspen and other companies sell a variety of rope bones and latex/vinyl toys and Nylabone© sells many nylon and edible bones for even the most aggressive chewier. If a good chew toy loses favor, rub peanut butter or cheese on the toy and it will have new interest.
Anxiety
Anxious or nervous dogs need to release the energy and chewing is a common response.
 Prevention
If you discover Barbie© as a chew toy, interrupt with a loud noise and replace Barbie with a rawhide bone or other acceptable and better chew toy. Punishment is usually counter-productive and may encourage a possession aggressive response now or in the future. Always replace with a better chew toy or you are punishing the dog for the natural behavior of chewing. By always taking the toys, your dog will believe he must protect its toys or it must hide to chew on it. Another solution is to spray a product like Bitter Apple© on a favorite, but inappropriate chew toy. Spray regularly until the habit is broken.
If you come home to find your house destroyed, you the human made the error, not the dog. Why was the dog not in the crate?
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