One of the first things you need to do as a new dog owner, is doggie proof your house.
Until a dog or puppy has been taught to only chew on and/or eat certain things, they will want to chew on and/or eat everything they see.
From TV remotes to shoes to plants, your dog will see something that looks fun or interesting and want to take a bite out of it.
  For his safety and your sanity, you must keep everything out of reach until your dog learns what he can and cannot chew and eat.
(And even some items must never be accessible, such as poisonous plants and cleaning supplies).
Dogs can get into some dangerous things and sometimes immediate, and expensive, medical attention is required.
And until you completely trust your dog not to get into anything that he shouldn't, you should keep your home dog proofed.
  If your new dog is 2-3 years old, removing tempting chewing items isn't as important.
This part of dog proofing is much more important with dogs under 2, and especially puppies 9-10 months and younger.
If you have an older dog and you discover he is chewing on things, this might be a sign of separation anxiety or even boredom.
You can talk to your veterinarian about how to combat separation anxiety and you can simply exercise and play with your dog more if he is chewing out of boredom.
  Make sure you empty your trash cans daily.
Dogs love to get into any kind of trash, but especially the kitchen trash where food is discarded.
Since there are numerous human foods that are dangerous and even deadly to your dog, it is very important to make sure there isn't anything in there to tempt him to knock it over and check it out.
Even garbage cans with lids can be gotten into by clever dogs so, if at all possible, keep your trash in a cabinet.
  You should get rid of all poisonous houseplants or put them in a high place unreachable by your dog.
You can find lists of dangerous plants online or you can speak to your veterinarian.
  Many household cleaning items and supplies are very dangerous to dogs.
Any type of detergent, bleach, soap, insecticides, pest poison -- and even batteries -- can be deadly so make sure there is no way your dog can get to them.
  Electrical cords are very, very dangerous and if your dog decides to chew on one, he could be electrocuted.
If the cord is for something on a platform or shelf, he could pull the cord and the item could fall on your dog and injure him.
Make sure that all cords are out of your dog's reach, or covered with some type of steel conduit.
  If you, like a lot of pet owners, are going to allow your dog to get up on furniture, it might be a good idea to cover it with blankets or some type of throw to protect it from dirt and possible claw marks.
  An exercised and stimulated dog, is a happy and tired dog.
If you ensure that your pup gets enough exercise on a daily basis, that right there is half the battle sometimes with dogs who might be tempted to chew on things.
  If you keep in mind that a new dog is much like a toddler, you are likely to think of all the things in your home that need to be protected and kept away from your dog until he is older and has learned the rules.