Chewing is another bad habit that is easier to prevent than reverse. Proper and early training is the best way to make sure dogs chew on appropriate toys and treats rather than shoes and other off-limits temptations.

• Keep tempting items out of sight
• Like licking, increased chewing can be sign of stress, so it's important to rule out external factors in Spot's destructive behavior
• Give dogs positive reinforcement and provide outlets for their innate desire to chew with a good selection of toys
• Consider anti-chew products to deter dogs from chewing on dangerous items like electrical cords

Give young dogs and puppies a break – they are going to chew no matter what, especially when teething. It's just what they do. With maturity and training, they will likely outgrow the temptation to destroy one-half of your favorite pair of shoes.

See also:
Biting
Aggression