Puppies are obviously adorable! And thankfully so, because when they accidentally bite us or chew something they shouldn’t, it takes every bit of our patience to not get mad. Chewing is a natural, normal behaviour for dogs of all ages and breeds. Puppies need to be watched at all times to prevent them from chewing things they are not supposed to. When we can’t be supervising them, we need to crate them or limit their options of things to chew so they are not a danger to themselves or your property. The most important thing to teach your puppy is to share. Share their toys, food dish, socks, treats, bed area and their “people”. This is essential to prevention of resource guarding (guarding something of value to the dog). With a lot of patience, you can begin to change the dog’s attitude from “Get away from my stuff” to “Would you like a toy?”

Shalin Hustad
www.grassrootscanine.com