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There are many reason why dogs chew. The most common are:
instinctual
teething
jaw settlement
frustration
too much energy (diet, exercise)
The first thing you must do is determine the reason for the destructive behavior. This will help you understand your dogs motivations. Diet is a major consideration. Refer to the “What your dog eats affects his behavior” section. Just like in children, food does affect behavior. The next thing is to purchase a crate or confine him in an area where there isn’t anything for him to destroy. The “Crate Training” section is your best bet. You need to reset his behavior patterns. Discipline has little to do with it. He needs to find a new outlet for his energy/needs. By crating him with a select bone or toy, you force him to play with his own things and you teach him to entertain himself quietly.
High Activity Level Dog:
"I have a one year old Border Collie. We’ve put a lot of training into him because of his activity level. I walk him for an hour or two a day to help keep him under control, but it seems I have no peace in the house. He’s always demanding my attention and doesn’t seem to nap much during the day. Help! I can’t get anything done."
You are on the right track. Exercise and obedience training are the two key factors to surviving a high activity level dog. The next step is behavior modification. You need to set his body clock. This is the same body clock that wakes you up, makes you hungry and makes you sleepy. Dogs have a body clock too. They know what time you get up, what time he eats and what time you get home.
The tool of choice is the crate. First, you must crate train your dog (see the chapter on crate training). Now set your schedule. Instead of dealing with him all day following you around, put him down for naps. Yup, just like a child. Choose two 2-3 hour blocks of time that you would prefer to spend without your canine counterpart. Make them at the same times everyday. Consistency is the key. Give him his favorite bone or toy and put him in his crate. Let him work our how to amuse himself with his own devises. Up until now, you have been his source of amusement. It’s time he learned to play on his own. This is his personal time too. Eventually, he will start to get into a routine where he gets tired at these now designated times and will put himself to bed or go play quietly. Voila, now you can read and relax without a stinky wet ball being dropped in your lap every 10 seconds.
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Crate Training / Barking / Urinating / Running Away / Chasing / Digging / Jumping / Children and Training / Instincts / Getting on Furniture / Chewing & Destructive Behavior / Pulling on the Lead / Unruly in Car / Car Sickness / Dislikes Children / Nervous Dog / Aggression