Bad chewing habit, Golden Retriever trait?

There's a product called 'Bitter Apple', a liquid you can spray on most items without harming them. My golden is 11 months now; when she was a young puppy, everything had to go in her mouth, but she learned very quickly to avoid things that had been sprayed with Bitter Apple, and continues to be well-behaved. Bitter Apple doesn't stain and I used it on shoes, socks, jacket sleeves, gloves, handbags, table and chair legs, etc. It's important to make sure your dog always has a choice of 'proper' things to chew, and until you figure out his preferences, it's wise to have a variety ranging from soft/spongy (like stuffed animals, fleecy tug-o-war toys) to durable-chewey (Nylobone, animal tendon but not rawhide) to hard (bones). It's also good to give him positive reinforcement with the 'proper' chew-toys (this can be as easy as slathering peanut butter on the toy, but it's also good to give him praise and recognition for "right chewing") Is it possible your golden is just bored? Goldens are high-energy dogs and need a lot of activity to feel satisfied. If he's not getting at least an hour per day of walking/running, try increasing your activity level. Does he chase balls or sticks? A game of fetch is a good way to give your dog a good workout without tiring yourself.

our golden retriever used to chew too. try to make sure it always has something to chew on like a toy or chew toy, etc. he will eventually outgrow this. our golden never chews anymore. I guess its a puppy thing. I think all puppies like to chew. good luck with your puppy.

Goldens are great dogs but they can be very destructive if not exercised. Trust me, I know!!!

I'm not certain about Goldens, but our Lhasa was like that and it was very hard to break. In our case I suspect it was because he was taken away from his mother and littermates too early. They say this could contribute to over biting and chewing. Here is a website on breed info. I'm not certain, but it might be able to help answer your question. Good lucks! http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/goldenretriever.htm

My Golden Retriever LOVES to chew! We've been pretty lucky so far because she hasn't chewed on furniture. She has chewed up a couple cords in the past, but nothing too major. What I would suggest is for her to ALWAYS have a bone. Whenever our dog has a bone, she'll chew on it for hours. It's their instinct to chew, and it's really good for their teeth. I've noticed if she doesn't have a bone around, that's when she'll find something else to chew on (something she's not supposed to have!!):) Good luck!!