Behavior/Training

Chewing and Other Destructive Behavior

Dogs need and like to chew. As puppies, they chew when they are cutting new teeth, but adult dogs enjoy chewing, too. Chewing releases boredom, frustration, and anxiety. If your dog is chewing destructively, please consider:

• Does your dog have plenty of appropriate chew toys?
• If your dog chews destructively all the time, is he/she getting plenty of exercise and attention?
• Have you tried obedience training?
• If your dog chews destructively only when left alone, have you tried crate training? If destructive behavior occurs in your absence, crating your pet can be very helpful in eliminating these problems. When properly trained, the crate becomes a “den-like” place for your pet and will provide a safe and comfortable place for him/her while you are away. For more information, see https://richmondspca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Crate-Training-Your-Dog.pdf.

Click on the following links for free resources on working with destructive behavior: 

• Separation Anxiety - Richmond SPCA
• Separation Anxiety - ASPCA
• Destructive Dog Behavior - Richmond SPCA
• Destructive Dog Behavior - ASPCA

Housetraining

House training takes patience and consistency. Here are some tips on training your dog:

• A young puppy needs to relieve himself/herself every couple of hours. Be sure to give your dog plenty of chances to go outside and relieve himself/herself. 
• Take your dog outside, and praise him/her when the dog relieves himself/herself outside. Give him/her verbal praise, a pat on the head, and/or a treat. 
• Let your dog go outside immediately if you see signs that he/she needs to go to the restroom, including whining, sniffing, going to the door, and turning in circles. 
• Are you leaving your dog alone for too long? If so, consider getting someone to take your dog outside for you. You can also consider crate training, as dogs will not typically use the restroom in their own crates. 
• Is your dog neutered? This may cut down on your dog urinating in the house. 
• When there is an accident, clean the area thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner, such as Nature’s Miracle. Otherwise, the dog will just return to the same spot. 
• If soiling the house is a new behavior, please consider taking your dog to a veterinarian to rule out medical problems.
• Check out information from the ASPCA about House Training Your Dog or Puppy
• Check out information from the Humane Society of the United States about How to House Train Your Dog or Puppy