Have you come home after several hours away from home to find that your puppy has been chewing on your favorite pair of shoes or even the leg of your table? It's not necessarily a behavioral problem, it's likely your puppy is teething. The process of puppy teeth being replaced by their adult teeth starts at about 3-4 months of age and can be uncomfortable and painful, just like how when children are teething. Chewing and gnawing can be self-soothing and also help urge the adult tooth to emerge.
There are great chew toys and biscuits available specifically for this transition period, from the hard rubber bones to flavored nylon treats, there are even toys that you can freeze so your pup gets extra relief when gnawing. Make sure whatever you get is size appropriate for your puppy so they don't quickly lose interest in it. Also make sure that it doesn't look like the items in your home you don't want them to chew on. For example, stay away from rubber shoe-shaped toys.
Get down on your knees and crawl around your home at puppy level. Are there cords visible and easily accessible by your puppy? If so, you'll want to either remove the cord or consider getting a dog gate to block access to a specific area in your home.
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