Does this mean I should keep border collie puppies locked up until they are over their chewing phase?  Absolutely not!  This is not only cruel; it will only make the problem worse.  Hence, what will happen is instead of having an out-of-control chomping puppy, you’ll have a fully grown destructive dog.  However, this doesn’t mean that you should let your pooch have free reign of your home either.  There is an effective way to control this behavior without being unfair to your pet and without losing every item you own.  Below are some helpful hints:

•    Provide your pooch with mental and physical stimulation.  One of the main reasons border-collies chew so much is because they are bored.  This is a very smart dog that has high energy.  Don’t forget they were originally bred for herding.  You must provide him with a good run, playtime, training and walks.

•    Give him teething toys.  You won’t be able to stop border collie puppies from chewing because part of the reason they do it is for comfort.   As their adult teeth begin to develop they will lose their baby teeth, which can cause their gums great discomfort.  Make sure you give them a variety of their own items to chew on.

•    Constructive discipline.  Only scold your fury friend when you catch him in the act of biting on something that isn’t his.  If you happen across a previously destroyed object, you can’t reprimand him because he won’t understand why you are upset.  Dogs associate your reactions to the last action they committed.  When you catch him tearing apart something that isn’t his, tell him “no” firmly and then give him one of his toys.  When he takes and begins to chew it, praise him to let him know this is acceptable.

•    Border collie puppies should be kept in a limited space when they are home alone.  Put him in a proper sized crate or board him up in an area of the house or in a room when he cannot be watched.  Make sure he has his own play things but keep all other objects safely out of the way.

•    Ensure you and your family members keep your items off the floor and room doors closed.  The last thing you want to do is unnecessarily tempt your buddy or risk his safety.

Remember, the more control you have over border collie puppies, the more tolerable the chewing phase will be.  Don’t get mad at your pup for being a dog.  Not every characteristic is pleasant, so to enjoy the good you need to manage the bad and accept natural canine behaviors.

Your primary goal is to create a positive experience for the border collie puppy.  This can be achieved by teaching him a car ride is a normal event.    Your pooch may panic the first time you place him in the backseat of your automobile.  This is only a natural reaction because he doesn’t know what is going on nor does he recognize any of the smells.

Although he may whine and look at you with pitiful eyes, you need to ignore his behavior and remain calm.  You don’t want to start petting, fussing over or coddling your pup because this will only encourage his behavior.  If he seems really upset you can have someone sit in the back with him but don’t allow him upfront with you because this can be dangerous for driving.  Furthermore, he could be seriously injured should you abruptly stop or can be launched though the windshield if you are ever in an accident.  The backseat helps to keep him safe.

You will want to wait until your border collie puppy has settled in the seat before you begin your ride.  Turn on the engine once he is calmer and wait for a minute until he has been able to process the new feeling.  Then, slowly begin your drive.  Keep the trip slow and short.  You might find driving around the block to be sufficient.  When you return, park the car and then after a minute shut off the engine, praise your dog and provide him with a treat.  Next, step out of the vehicle and remove your pet and go into the house or the backyard for a good play as an extra reward.

You will want to keep up this process with your collie, prolonging the drive each time.  Moreover, you need to practice leaving your dog alone in the car for a few minutes to get him used to your absence should it ever occur that during your travels you will need to go somewhere an animal is not allowed.

Here are some final border collie puppy car-ride tips to remember:

• Consider buying a seatbelt harness for your pal to keep him strapped in.
• Don’t leave him in the car for a long period of time and never keep him locked in a vehicle in hot or freezing weather.  Also, make sure the windows are rolled down a crack to allow for fresh air.
• Take him on trips with different destinations.  The last thing you want to do is only take your four-legged friend to the vet because he’ll begin associating rides with a place he dreads going.
• Don’t let him stick his head out the window because this can lead to eye and ear infections.

It shouldn’t take long for a border collie puppy to enjoy traveling in cars, because the more places he’s allowed to travel with you, the happier he will be.