my nearly 11 month old lab has started to chew things when i go out.  She has always been an easy going pup and I haven't had any trouble with chewing up until two weeks ago. I'm never out of the house more than 2-3 hours and she is left with kongs and toys and has a walk before she is left. Today I was out for 20mins while I dropped my son off at school and she chewed everything she could get hold of. She had even been up on the work tops and pulled things down from there. When I came in she was sat in her bed with her head down looking at me as if to say 'it wasn't me mum' so surely she must know that what she is doing is wrong.

So.... my question is... Is this a phase that some dogs go through? My other dogs went through a chewing stage at about 6months so I thought i'd got away with it with her.

And.... Any ideas on how to stop it?

Thanks
Ally

Ally, I first must point out that the reason your dog was looking worried was because she can pick up your body language that you are not happy, not that she thinks she has done anything wrong.  People always make this mistake.  She didn't do it out of badness but probably because she is going through her second phase of teething which happens around 10 months.  Her back molars should be coming through.  I feel your pain as my dog(10 mth old) ate one of our kitchen chairs last week!!  I have cut down on his unsupervised time and if he is to be left alone, he is crated with a chew.  He loves raw bones from the butcher, ragger toys, tied damp towels and rawhide chews.  Instead of fretting about what she's not allowed to chew, give her loads of things she is allowed till she is through this stage.
Off to remove kids shoe for my dogs mouth!!!Argh!

thanks cracar, at least i'm not the only one :)

I dont shout at her when she's chewed something, I just clean up the bits giving a little growling noise as i'm doing it.

I have had to start crating my 10 month old at night as she was chewing the exposed framing in the kennel which had survived 12 years with barely a tooth mark until her mother 2 years ago decided to chew the edging around the weld mesh openings covered outside by shutters (for giving extra ventilation in hot weather).

Hubby now has the job of planing the framing etc and where appropriate replacing,.  Don't want to speak too loud but she hasn't touched the kitchen cupboards (as the dogs are confined to kitchen if we are out), but we loose lots of tea towels, cloths etc if we leave them within reach.