Hello!...Help!!! My dog is a beautiful little Chow/Shepard/Lab mix and she is about 6-7 months old. When I first brought her home she was a little angel, but she has since become a demon everytime I leave her alone.My boyfriend and I have been following this idea, to yell at her when we come home and find the garbage everywhere. Sometimes he yells so much that she pees herself. I know that this isn't good. We've tried using a crate, but she somehow kept getting outof it, and would scream (and I really do mean SCREAM) until she found a way out of it. I live in NY and can't have my dog irritating the neighbors, and I hate that she's so upset about being alone. She'll chew absolutely anything, EAT anything (we've already been to the hospital once with her because of something she ate), and get into anything that isn't bolted shut as well as barks and howls. All within the 1 or 2 hours a day that she's left alone. I love my dog more than anything, what do I do now?

First off, most 6-7 month old pups WILL cause problems when left alone to run about the home. They WILL chew whatever they may (because they can) and, not knowing or caring about the health consequences, WILL also eat anything they may (again, because they can).

Next, yelling at the dog AFTER it has done something is useless and counterproductive. A dog is all about STIMULUS + Response = Reinforcement - all in about one-second. For example: stimulus = BORED (substitute lonely, excited, confused); response = CHEWS THE COUCH (rips rug, claws through door); reinforcement = FUN (excitement, instant gratification). Inversely, stimulus = you coming home; response = (initially) dog wags its tail (happiness); reinforcement = you yell and scream (fear, intimidation). Because they live in the moment, dogs can't rationalize that you are scolding them for something they already have gotten away with.

The first thing I look at with a problem such as this is EXERCISE. Make it a point to tire out the pup ANY and EVERY way you can. Next, give it lots of ever-changing, interesting chew things. Have them available to the dog at all times.

Try feeding your pup in its crate when you are home. Put it in the crate for only a few moments at a time and build up the time as the dog gets used to it. A viable alternative to a crate is an X-pen.

Whenever you leave the home, don't say a word to the dog, just slip out. Every now and then, just get up and leave the home for a minute or two. If you have a set "going out" ritual, try changing one or two things (like putting cologne or perfume on OUTSIDE), or start and finish you preparations 10 - 15 minutes earlier than normal, hang out for a bit, and then slip out quietly.

Explain to your neighbors that you are trying to remedy the situation and ask for their continued patience (just for a little longer).

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