Have teeth, will chew, seems to be the unwritten motto of every dog throughout history. Actually chewing is a good thing as it helps to relieve the discomfort of teething puppies and serves to clean plaque and other build up from your dog's teeth. As dogs can't differentiate between what they can chew and what's off limits it's up to you to make the decision for them. Without your intervention your dog may quickly develop the habit of chewing on furniture. There are some different approaches you can take to remedy the situation and preserve the look of your furniture.

DISCIPLINE

This is your most effective tool in correcting any kind of unwanted behavior. Consistency and repetition are essential to achieving a positive outcome. When your dog is caught in the act of indulging in the leg of your antique end table a firm and stern "NO" is in order, accompanied by the offering of a toy which is acceptable to chew on. This must be done every time your dog exhibits a disregard for your furniture. Discipline must be doled out when you catch him in the act. If you discover your sofa cushion shredded to pieces two hours after the fact you're sure to be hopping mad, but your dog will have no idea what the fuss is about. His attention span isn't long enough to realize his actions two hours earlier have caused this displeasure. Reprimanding him now will literally fall upon deaf ears. Being consistent will reinforce acceptable behavior. You can't give your dog an old pair of sneakers to chew on and then become enraged when he helps himself to your five hundred dollar pair of Italian leather boots. Footwear all falls into the same category and has no value to a dog. The only one you should be reprimanding is yourself. Reinforcing good behavior and disciplining for bad behavior is your best solution to curb your dog's appetite for furniture.

TOYS

Provide your dog with plenty of toys he may chew at his leisure. Offer a variety of textures, sizes, one's that make sound and differing degrees of hardness to keep your dog's curiosity peaked. A kong provides my dog with hours of enjoyment. It is hard enough he can't rip it apart and also gives his gums a good workout. Filling it with tiny treats or peanut butter gets him more excited than a kid in a candy store. Squeaky toys are another of his favorites. He delights in throwing them into the air, pouncing on them as they near the ground and quickly chewing to produce a long series of squeaks before sending it airborne

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