Chewing?  Barking?  Digging?  Stealing?  Jumping Up?   Is your dog driving you crazy? Here is some insight into your dog’s misbehavior.  Once you understand why Fido does what he does, you’ll be better equipped to change the situation and make living with your dog much more to your liking!

                ~ Dogs are like children when it comes to the need for attention.  They would rather be praised than punished.  And they’d rather be punished than ignored.  Catch your dog in the act of doing something RIGHT, like chewing on his bone instead of your shoe, and praise him for the GOOD behavior.

                ~ Dogs misbehave more often when they are bored, either physically or mentally.   Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise every day, regardless of the weather.   Exercise, for your particular dog, may mean more than just going for a casual stroll or walk around the block.

                ~ Dogs love to learn new things.   They are instinctively intelligent, creative problem solvers.  Spend a few minutes every day challenging your dog’s mind.  Play hide and seek.  Teach tricks.  Work on obedience.

                ~ Think PREVENTION rather than correction.  It would be unthinkable to leave an infant alone in a room for even a few minutes.  Young puppies need supervision at all times to prevent accidents in the house and other behavior problems.  Crate training is recommended for those times when your attention is divided.

                ~ Think REDIRECTION before correction.  If you catch your dog in the act of misbehaving, REDIRECT the negative behavior to a positive alternative.   When you find your dog chewing on your slippers, take him to his toy box and play with one of his toys with him for a few minutes.  If your dog is digging in the yard, stop and play a quick game of Frisbee to tire him out.

                In summary, consistency is the key to owning a well-mannered dog.  It’s not fair to your dog if you occasionally allow misbehavior (such as begging at the dinner table or lying on the couch).   Your dog will become very confused at your unpredictability.

                Before allowing your puppy to do something that might be temporarily considered “cute” ask yourself if you’ll still think him “cute” doing that behavior a year from now, when he’s bigger, stronger and more set in his ways!