Dogs chew for many reasons. Puppies explore with their mouths. Everything and anything that can go in their mouth will go in their mouth! When puppies begin teething, chewing eases discomfort and helps their puppy teeth work their way out. Adult dogs chew for a variety of reasons. They chew for fun, to alleviate boredom and because it feels good. Chewing is natural and to be expected, so your job as a dog owner is to teach your dog to chew only appropriate items. When allowing your dog to play with their toys, have a variety of toys and rotate every day or two so there are always "new" toys out. This way, your dog has a variety of toys that are "rotated" and keep them interested Do not physically punish your dog, as this will only cause more anxiety, and most likely increase his chewing. - Do not play tug of war or wrestling games with your dog. This will only encourage him to bite and chew - not a good thing! - Never try to pull a toy from your dogs mouth. Instead, distract him with a treat, and remove the object once he has dropped it. You can also teach him the "Leave" command. - Ensure that he has plenty of toys to keep him occupied while you are out. You may want to rotate them, for added interest www.dog-answers.com