If you have a puppy, you want to instill in him good chewing habits. If you have an older dog, you want to make sure he will not literally eat you out of house and home. Rather than investing in a case of Bitter Apple spray, you want to teach your dog what is and is not appropriate to chew on.
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Supply Chew Toys
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Do not give your puppy or dog an old shoe to chew on if you do not want her to assume all of your shoes are chew toys. There are aisles and aisles of items for your dog to chew on at any pet supply store. You can get her hard rubber bones, hollow rubber toys full of treats, animal bones, braided rope toys and raw hides. Many stores will even let you bring your dog along to help you pick out her chew toys. Regardless of what the two of you decide on, you need to supply her with some appropriate toys that she is encouraged to and praised for chewing on. Make sure you get chew toys that are safe for her to be left alone with. Treats where pieces can be pulled off, like with raw hides and Greenies, can be choking hazards and should only be given when you are with her.
Prevent Inappropriate Chewing
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Especially while your dog is young and still learning, you need to put away anything you do not want him to interpret as a chew toy. Crating your dog with his own chew toys is one option, but when you decide you want to let him roam, you need to make sure he will not find anything inappropriate to chew. Children's toys, shoes--anything that looks like a dog toy and anything that smells yummy to your dog--are all items that should be put away in order to set your dog up for success. If he does decide to chew on something he should not, firmly tell him, "No," and redirect him to one of his chew toys. You can even teach him to go get his own toy with a command such as, "Find your bone." This game makes it easier to distract him from something inappropriate while rewarding him for chewing on his own toy.
Address Other Issues
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If your dog is chewing up everything in sight, make sure there is no other issue contributing to her behavior. If she is less than a year old, she could still be teething. When you cannot supervise her, confine her to a crate and supply her with a variety of chew toys while she finishes this phase of her puppy hood.
Some dogs chew out of boredom. If you think your dog is bored, it is important to make sure she is getting enough physical and mental stimulation. Take her jogging. Play a game of fetch. Get her lots of exercise so she is not so easily bored when she is left alone. Also consider brain-teaser chew toys, such as hard rubber toys stuffed with treats or frozen peanut butter, to keep her busy when you are away.
If your dog is missing something in her diet, she may be chewing inappropriately in an attempt to get the missing nutrients. Make sure you are feeding her an adequate and healthy diet. Ask your veterinarian for advice.
Separation anxiety is an issue in dogs that can be very serious. One of the symptoms is chewing. Dogs with separation anxiety will often chew on barriers like their crates, window sills or door frames. If you suspect your dog has separation anxiety, talk to your veterinarian or a professional trainer for advice.
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