Getting a new puppy is a fun and interesting time. You probably

went to a breeder or pet store or maybe just saw an ad on the

Internet or the newspaper, for puppies, and decided just to check it

out. Before you knew it those little eyes and fluffy puppy fur had

your heart melting and you were headed home with him or her in

your arms. If you are like most new pet owners you had visions of

playing fetch with your dog, of watching him frolic at the lake, and

of cuddling up on cold nights.

However, you probably failed to realize that the behaviors you

dream of in a dog do not come naturally. In fact, the more natural

behaviors for most puppies include lovely little things like chewing

up your favorite shoes, barking every second of the day, and

peeing wherever they are when the mood strikes them. These

behaviors might seem cute at first, or even manageable but, if left

unchecked they can lead to a very bad adult dog.