As a dog owner, chances are you have come across a chewed up shoe or a mess on the brand new rug. Dogs provide endless love and friendship, but learning the rules of the household doesn't always come easily. Research shows that the most common reason for giving up a pet is because of a problem their family doesn't know how to solve.  Knowledge is power. It is possible to overcome behavior issues. You just need to learn the hows and whys of the specific problem you are dealing with.

 

A common problem with many dogs is separation anxiety. Dogs with this problem will normally exhibit a fast anxiety response (20-40 minutes) when being left alone. The destruction from this can be devastating on your pocketbook. Dogs have been known to scratch and chew doorways and windows. They may chew up furniture and cherished family items. I have even seen dogs tear up large parts of carpeting and eat holes in the wall.

 

Having a brand new puppy is a special challenge. Housebreaking can be a long, tedious process, but with perserverence, it can be done. So you've potty trained your puppy and now there's a new problem. Chewing!! Puppies are known to want to chew everything in sight. Puppies are teething until they are about 6 months old. Chewing not only facilitates this, but helps sore gums feel better. Unfortunately puppies will not grow out of this behavior. They must be taught by their owners which behaviors are acceptable and which are not.