Shaping Chewing Choices
 To the teething puppy, or adolescent who hasn't been taught otherwise, pretty much anything makes for a tempting chew toy.
In fact, dogs seem to have an innate sense of where to find the most expensive item in the house - and an overwhelming desire to sink their teeth into it.
So your job is to teach your dog just what is and what isn't appropriate to chew, and then reward her for making "good chewing choices." Here's what we mean:
1. Provide plenty of appealing, durable chew toys, and praise your pup when she actively chews on or plays with them. (You may have to pique her interest by tossing the toy in the air or batting it around yourself.) Also, be sure to rotate toys in and out on a regular basis to keep things exciting. 2. Feed your pup her meals in Kongs not doggie bowls. This not only satisfies her urge to chew, it reinforces the notion that these funny looking rubber things are excellent chewing choices. Plus, the "hunt" for food keeps her physically and mentally busy. 3. Set her up for success. Don't leave expensive shoes in the middle of the living room. Don't stow the remote control behind her favorite napping cushion. Don't dip the curtains in barbeque sauce (you get the idea...).
If you've already got a chewer on your hands, don't despair. Do, however, take extra care to limit your pup's chewing options. Put away your Manolo Blahniks and toss your favorite throw pillow in the closet when you're away. If she's chewing on something you can't keep out of reach, the side of the couch for example, redirect her as soon as you see the behavior and confine her safely when you can't supervise. You can retrain her by following the steps above.
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Dude, Where's My Chew Toy?
 So, how do you convince your dog that toys are truly more fun to chew than curtains?
The easiest way is by pairing something she naturally chews - like treats or kibble - with a toy. Premier's Busy Buddy series is an entire line of chew toys designed expressly for this purpose: Pop a treat (or two or three) into the toy, and let your pup work out the goods. The Squirrel Dude is one of our favorites and the perfect receptacle for plain, dry kibble. Just remember to start easy - smaller treats that can be coaxed out fairly readily - until she gets the hang of it.
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