This weekend a new dog owner asked me for advice on dog food. She recently enriched her life with two beautiful cute Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback originated in Southern Africa and they are often called African Lion Hound because they are believed to be able to hold a lion at bay. You can recognize this dog breed by the ridge of hair on its back that runs in the opposite direction to the rest of their coat.

The problem here with these new puppies was that they are chewing everything that they can could a grip on. The new dog owner wondered whether they were hungry.

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The most common complaint with young dogs is destructive behavior. Destructive behavior is usually an easy problem to solve because it is directly related to supervision. When a dog is with you, he’ll consistently be reprimanded when he picks up your belongings and SHOULD be consistently rewarded for playing with his own toys. When you dog is not with you, he can be safely confined in a puppy proof area of your home or yard. If you are gone for long periods of time you may have difficulty confining the dog adequately while still providing sufficient exercise and enrichment. Consider having a dog walker come during the day or installing a dog run or enrolling your dog in day care at a kennel that can provide a stimulating environment for a growing dog.

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