What a difference a month makes!

[Lynne B]

Beck just turned 6 months old, a month ago I thought he would never be able to be in a room by himself, it seems that he just got into everything. If we couldn't stay in the room with him, we would keep him on a long tether, and he slept in a crate. Well, 2 weeks ago he outgrew his crate so we decided to see if he could handle sleeping in the bedroom without it- he did just fine, sleeps on the floor or the end of our bed without bothering anything in the room. He did so well that we decided to give him more freedom in the house during the day- he now is free to roam around the house all day, and is doing really well. He doesn't get into anything he shouldn't, he's 100% housebroken, and he's just amazingly well behaved. We don't allow the dogs in the kitchen or bathrooms, and he just sits at the door of those rooms, never even stepping inside. I'm so happy, I don't think I was ever able to give a puppy this much freedom at this age, I just hope it continues!

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Lucca started to get the same freedom at about the same age. It's wonderful

[Tricia, Shiloh, Fenway & Tessie]

Fenway is about 7 months old....NO CHANCE I could leave him with that kind of freedom, lol. He is a super chewer and he has a knack for finding just the right thing to chew....you know, that one thing that was important he NOT chew....when there were 10 other nearby items he could have chewed with no big deal, lol

[Lynne B]

It will happen, believe me!

[Kyoko]

Wow! Good job on Beck!
I don't think Charlie is ready for that yet. Last time when my daughter (19) left to go to school, she felt bad and left Charlie out without crating. And Charlie chewed up my other daughter's (17) passport!!! Now 19 year old owes 17 year old $ for the new passport! I just didn't ask why the 17 year old had her passport out on the kitchen table.....

[Kathy Wilson]

I am SO looking forward to adopting one of his new sisters! I LOVE reading Beck stories while I wait!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

This posting gives me hope! LOL :) At almost 14 weeks, I can say Peri is potty trained (2 weeks with no accident), but not chewing the furniture trained! I have to watch her like a hawk. Thanks again for an uplifting post Lynne.

[Lynne B]

One thing that really helped was teaching him 'leave it'. Once he knew that command, he rarely needed to be told twice when he got around something he shouldn't. We also have dog toys, bones and chews in every room that he is in, we keep them in baskets on the floor so he doesn't have far to go to get something appropriate to chew on & I think that has helped too

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Leave It worked for the first two weeks I would say. She kind of ignores us now! We have to physically remove her from the run or furniture and give her a toy. She has a huge basket on the floor filled to the brim with toys too!!! Any other suggestions that you can remember, please do tell! Other than chewing (which is obviously a big one), she is great!

[Lynne B]

Beck just never bothered much with furniture, but when my Australian Shepherd was a puppy we had to use bitter apple on almost all the wood in the house, even the baseboards, it was a pain but she finally started leaving it alone. Maybe if you work on 'leave it' some more, but reintroduce a treat as a reward? I'm sure you did that initially but I know with my dogs, if they learn the command and never get the treat again, they seem to figure 'oh phooey, why bother obeying?" We try to rotate the toys- we move them around from room to room and take some out for a few weeks and then re-introduce them, I think it keeps them interested in them, I usually throw a bully stick or two in one of the toy boxes every week or so, and after the dogs are done with marrow bones, I fill them with yogurt and kibble and freeze them, they love them!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Great tips. You will think I am nuts but I have forgotten to use the apple spray lately - that is a problem and is my fault! I will use the ideas about rewarding with a treat - thank you Lynne!!!