How Do I Stop My Dog From Chewing on My Stuff?

First of all, it is best to dog-proof your home, just as you would for a child in a way. Do not leave anything out that you do not want to end up in your dogs mouth. Dog's explore with their mouths and you need to take into account how big your dog is so you know what she can or cannot reach. Some dog's will surprise you with their uncanny ability to find that one thing you left out that you did not want them to chew on.
Secondly, do not let your dog get used to chewing on the items that are taboo. If you dog gets accustomed to chewing on your shoes then it will be even more difficult to get her to stop. This is why is it important to constantly be giving your dog a chew toy, or several chew toys, so she can learn that these are acceptable things to chew on and learn proper habits.
Third, don't confuse her by giving her some socks that ARE acceptable to chew on and then yell at her when she chews on your brand new socks. You are setting her up for failure if you do this and will just end up confusing your dog. If you are consistent with your dog, she will learn much quicker what is good and what is bad to chew on. Try not to blur those lines.
Fourth, again give her a variety of things to chew on, especially when you are gone. Dogs need to chew. It is healthy for them. I would suggest some dental chew toys to help prevent tartar and keep her teeth clean. With a variety of chew toys, your dog will not have a need to find something else to chew on. If your dog is chewing on your coffee table leg all the time, it may be that she either does not have many other chew toys that she enjoys, or she just got too used to the idea of chewing on the furniture. Until your dog can stop chewing on your furniture, it is important to confine her if she is not supervised and keep her away from any furniture so she can eventually break the habit. And in that mean time give her tasty and flavorful chew toys that she cannot resist to chew on.
And last, if you see your dog starting to chew on something unacceptable, stop her right away with a clap or sound that will break her concentration and replace what she was chewing on with a chew toy. When she begins to chew on the toy, praise her with a higher toned voice and give her a treat. She will soon learn that chewing on these new chew toys is much better than chewing on your new shirt, and will eventually stop altogether.
Your dog will have a much better relationship with you if she understands the boundaries. Some dogs chew out of nervousness and some out of sheer boredom. I cannot stress enough how important it is to keep your dog supervised until she learns the right habits. Otherwise, those old temptations to chew on the furniture and things in the house will be too hard to resist.
For a review of the best dog training program I have found check out http://www.squidoo.com/what-is-the-best-dog-training-book
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Souza