Being on Puppy Duty is VERY hard work, demanding constant supervision. It’s like having a naked toddler running around the house. So confine the puppy to a manageable area that you can watch him in, clearing it first of any items puppy will find too tempting to ignore, just like “child-proofing” an area. Use baby gates, etc. as needed to confine him to an acceptable area.

     CET Chews are a safe alternative to the  chewies you will usually find in the pet stores. They will pass through the intestines safely if swallowed. Throw them away once they have gotten small enough to pose a choking hazard.

     Kong toys are a wonderful way to keep puppy busy – a smear of peanut butter, a piece of hard cheese, or even unsweetened banana chips can be stuffed inside- and the puppy will have a great time trying to get the “goodies’ out of the Kong.

     Exercise- the equivalent of one city block per ten pounds once or twice a day will tire him out so that he will sleep. Chasing a tennis ball back and forth across the yard for 10-15 minutes at a time, playing “Come” with two people at opposite ends of the yard or house will also make a nice game to tire out the puppy.

     Stress Relief- dogs have stress in their lives too. Some things that can cause stress in your dog’s life are:

1. lack of exercise
2. lack of companionship
3. fleas, other parasites, or any medical condition
4. rivalry, real or perceived:

   • new dog in neighborhood

   • dog barking in the neighborhood

   • new baby

   • new scent in the house

5. change of people’s work schedule
6. change in dog’s feeding schedule
7. someone raised their voice
8. unclear or inconsistent leadership
9. owner or pack member gone too long (in the dog’s opinion)

     Symptoms of stress in dogs:

1. overeating
2. anorexia
3. aggression
4. excessive barking
5. excessive digging
6. excessive licking
7. excessive salivation
8. destructive chewing
9. inappropriate elimination  (urination or defecation)

     How dogs release their stress compared to people:

1. Oral stress relievers-People smoke, bite their nails, or overeat.                                         Dogs become destructive chewers.
2. Vocal stress relievers-People yell and curse.                                                               Dogs bark, whine and howl.
3. Physical stress relievers- People pace, tap their fingers, squirm, crack their knuckles.   Dogs pull on the leash, escape.
4. Aggression stress relievers- People become aggressive or violent.                                Dogs become aggressive.

     The healthiest stress release for people and dogs is regular physical exercise. The second best stress release for dogs is chewing on an approved chew toy.