So you’ve brought a new puppy in to your home and she’s already chewed through your sneakers, the cushions, one TV remote, the kid’s homework and now has her sights set firmly on the couch. Is it even possible to stop this little furball of destruction?

To prevent chewing you need to know why puppies do it. There could be a number of reasons, for example they could be trying to ease some discomfort in their mouth or teeth (particularly if they are growing new teeth around 6-8 weeks), out of boredom, out of curiosity or they might even just like the taste of your old slippers! Chewing helps them explore their surroundings, to discover the taste, texture, hardness of an item, just like a toddler might put a small toy in their mouth.

First and foremost, all chewable items need to be stored out of reach. The whole family needs to get involved so that items are not left on the floor and become adept at picking up items to ensure the puppy doesn’t chew.

You can’t stop your puppy from chewing, and being aggressive when you find that she’s just chewed her way through your new shoes is an ineffective way to stop her from doing it again – she’s got no concept of right or wrong, she just needs to learn not to do something. That said, there are two weapons in your arsenal that can help reduce the amount of damage the puppy causes.

You need to have a chewing toy on hand at all times. If you catch the puppy chewing or having the look like she’s about to chew, call her name, get her to come over and give her the toy to chew on. If she does this without question then reward her with affection, but try not to overdo it on the treats. If you catch the puppy in the act of chewing you should give a loud and sharp “No!” before taking away the object and handing her the chew toy. Never substitute a chew toy with an old unwanted shoe.

Another technique taught by some experts is to remove the puppy to a neutral area when you catch them chewing on something. Again, use a loud “No!” before picking them up and taking them to a place with toys which they can chew.

If there is still no improvement, then there are a few ‘last resort’ options, which should only be considered if after several weeks the positive affirmation approach hasn’t worked. This includes confinement to a certain area, for example a spare room where there is nothing but her toys to chew on and anti-chew spray which is a non-toxic solution that you spray on your shoes and furniture and has an unpleasant taste. The problem with these approaches is that it doesn’t have any reward or positive affirmation.

If you see your puppy go for the designated chew toy on their own accord, make sure you praise her with some kind words and affectionate stroking. This positive affirmation tells her that if she needs to chew, going for the chew toy is the right thing to do.