Why does my dog chew the fence and bark? What can I do to stop it?

Poor Milo! It sounds like he's lonely and bored outside by himself. Dogs are social animals, and don't do well with living outside alone. I would either consider making Milo an inside dog so that he can spend time with you and your family, or work harder at getting him an appropriate amount of exercise and mental stimulation - things like going for long walks or hikes, taking him to training classes, playing with him for at least 30 minutes each day, etc.

I would recommend only letting her in the back yard when you can supervise her and stop the behaviors. Some people use an extended leash to prevent dogs from getting out HOWEVER that carries some very serious risks such as strangulation if she gets wrapped around something or jumps over a fence, so I don't like that idea. It may also be worthwhile to work with a good trainer or even veterinary behaviorist to find some alternative behaviors to teach her.

It is possible he has a touch of separation anxiety. It may stress him a bit when you leave the house. Mild cases can be remedied by desensitizing him to your absence. This is done by leaving him along for ever increasing periods of time. Prepare to leave the house multiple times daily. Leave sometimes and other times stay. Do not make a big deal about leaving or returning. Ignore him for 15 minutes or until he settles down upon your return. A special toy or treat can be used to distract him just before you leave. Pick up the toy as soon as you get home. A pheromone product, such is the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser, may help decrease any anxiety. There are also oral supplements that can calming him down some.

This can be a problem. As Karma is a young dog I recommend taking her to an obedience training class. As she learns to obey commands that will help. If she's food motivated you can work with her in the yard on a leash and ask her to sit when you see a person or dog coming. When she watches you praise her and give her lots of treats for the good behavior. Offering an appropriate thing to do that you can praise her for is more effective than yelling at her or physical punishment. Also taking her for long walks or playing ball until she's tired will reduce the behavior. I'm sure part of it is from having excess energy which will improve as she ages. I would put her in the yard at times when there is less distraction so this doesn't become a habit. If you need help please talk with a local dog training who can work with you to prevent this behavior. Be patient it takes time to develop a well behaved dog. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Karma.

It sounds like Onyx is having some separation anxiety. If he can see you, but can't get to you, he might not understand why he can't. Is there a reason he needs to be tied up? Are you able to just let him lose to spend time with you? If you can't keep an eye on him, keeping him in a pen or crate while you are gone may help him feel more comfortable in a sort of "den" rather than being tied up (and is safer). If you are home, having him stay by your side may help reduce his anxiety. Looking up separation anxiety treatment online may also help give you some ideas on how to make him more comfortable, or you can speak with a local trainer that can observe the situation. If Onyx must be tied up, giving him a puzzle toy filled with a favorite treat may provide enough distraction to help him calm down.

You need to acclimate Chewie gradually to your not being at home. Start by going to the door with a treat. Open the door and step outside, giving him the treat. Come back in. Repeat this a few times; then go out, treat, and shut the door for a second or two. Return and, if he's been quiet, praise and treat. Very gradually increase the time you are outdoors, and the distance from the house you go. Get him a Kong toy that you can fill with peanut butter (freeze overnight to make it last longer). Give that to him and leave, but be sure to return before he has finished his goodie. You should find that he is comfortable by himself for longer and longer periods. Good luck with this! If you need additional help, you can click on the prompt to initiate a consult.

How frustrating for you! I'm afraid it's hard to say why he might be doing this without more information to go on - sometimes it takes a bit of detective work to figure these things out, since he can't tell us why he is doing this :) If your dog isn't neutered, one possibility is that there may be a female dog in heat somewhere nearby - this is a very common cause of male dogs acting restless and unhappy, shivering, and attempting to escape their yard. If he is neutered, then it's possible that he is anxious about being in the yard for some reason, or that he may have some type of medical problem making him feel ill - some dogs prefer to be off by themselves when they don't feel well. You could try a DAP pheromone collar or a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure to see if this helps, or ask his veterinarian if they can think of any reason why he might be doing this, since he/she would have access to your dog's medical history and may know more about what might be bothering him.