Dogs 101: We try to change behavior that is normal to dogs.
Your dog naturally chews, jumps, barks, urinates, and defends himself when he feels threatened. These are the exact habits that we don’t like. Imagine that we weren’t allowed to do something natural to us, like using our hands. That wouldn’t make any sense to us, and we would need help learning another way. That is your job with your dog. First, you should try to prevent your dog’s unwanted behavior by managing his environment. Put your bedroom belongings in the closet, a bureau, or high shelf, or just close the door. If, however, your dog does something natural to him but inappropriate to you, teach him an alternative that will be rewarded. He can urinate outside, not inside, and he can chew on the chew toy, not your shoe.
