During my several years of working with dogs and dog owners, I have found that the vast majority of questions I encounter start with, Why does my dog (fill in the blank). I have found the most popular to be; why does my dog chew up everything in the house? So lets explore some answers to this question.
First lets explore the easiest answer, he likes the way it tastes. Although this is probably the most uncommon reason it is the easiest to understand. There are times when they find a particular smell or taste on an unusual item that just tingles their taste buds. In these cases avoidance is the best answer, since asking them about their tastes will get you nowhere.
The more common possibility is that he has discovered chewing as a viable release of pent up energy. To start from the beginning the easiest way to avoid this problem is to first do your research before getting your new dog. Breed can play a big role in determining what energy level your dog is going to have, however every personality in dogs is different, much like humans. To make it simple if your dog was genetically wired to herd sheep, and the closest thing to sheep in your house is your favorite wool sweater, then your furry friend is going to need a substitute release for that energy. Walks are great, but for them to be effective they must be regular and fairly long. Agility classes are another great release for some pent up energy, they not only act as a release but can also help you and your pet become more in-tune to each other. Possibly the most enjoyable solution for you both is to find activities that you can do together, like hiking, biking, running, or even Frisbee tossing. In some extreme cases you may consider putting your dog on the treadmill, however please seek professional assistance to train you and your dog to safely use the treadmill.
Lastly, if your pet is still a puppy it is likely that he/she may be teething. If this is the case then your best bet is to provide them with suitable toys of their own to chew on. If you happen to catch them chewing on something they shouldn't be get their attention and then direct them to one of their toys.
Please remember dogs live in the moment, they are not chewing on your stuff to get back at you for leaving them at home or scolding them. Along those same lines punishing them after the fact will not accomplish anything either. If they are not corrected while they are in the act then they will not make the association. Sometimes the easiest thing for us to do is keep the nice stuff out of reach!!!
