Using a toy box to teach proper chewing ettiquette

Every puppy should have his or her own toy box. This can be a basket, a box, or any container that is open and easy to access for the puppy. Store all the play and chewy things in this box or basket, and keep it in one spot.

When you are training the puppy to the toy box, keep a small container of cheez whiz, or peanut butter nearby the box. Periodically (at least twice a day) put a small smear of the goody on each toy. Also bait the box with well hidden tiny treats.

When your puppy is out under your supervision (NEVER have your puppy out if he is under 6 months of age unless you are going to be DIRECTLY supervising him. Unsupervised puppies learn bad habits), wait until he looks at, sniffs, or tries to put his mouth on something he should not chew. The INSTANT this happens, make a grunting AH AH sound to distract the puppy. Then take him REALLY HAPPILY and briskly to the toy box, all the while as you are saying "where is your TOY? Let's go to the TOY BOX!"

When you get to the box, make sure he finds an especially cool toy, and make SURE he finds a treat. Praise him soundly for selecting a toy from the box. Play a little tug or toss game with the puppy. Make going to that toy box the MOST fun and wonderful and delicious happening of the day.

Do this each and EVERY time your puppy LOOKS AT, SNIFFS, or PUTS HIS MOUTH on anything he should not have.

I do not allow looking up at table tops, countertops, stove tops, etc. There is nothing up there that is any business of that puppy. Looking or sniffing up at these areas, gets an AH AH!! and a VERY pleasant trip to the toy box.

As you read this you may get a little better understanding of why direct supervision is so important. You are MOLDING your puppy's future behaviors. If you are VIGILANT, and if you supervise REALLY CAREFULLY, you will catch the pup the majority of the time when he is LOOKING or SNIFFING things that he should not. You can then interrupt this behavior, and replace it with a really cool trip to the toy box. You can NOT, however, use the wonderful training and redirection opportunity if you are NOT WATCHING.

:D

So, make a TOY BOX for your puppy, and keep your eyes open all the time!

My 11 month old dog had a toy box since she was a young puppy. It looks so cute when she goes to it to get the toy she wants, sometimes she will go to it and pick out her toys one by one and scatter them all over the house. Anyone have any suggestions on how to teach her to pick up her toys and put them back in the box? I think that would be a really cool command to teach a dog, that way I wouldn't have to go picking up after her, lol.
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My dog (3.5 year old red heeler mix) has a toy box. I don't think I ever read that dogs should have one, we just got tired of all the toys being all over the place (which they usualy are anyway=) We havn't yet taught her to put things away, but she's accualy being trained as a service dog and we've trained her to pick up things and hand them to us. We use the command "get it" to thell her to pick something up and "give it to me" for her to put it in our hand/let us take it from her mouth willingly. =) As with most tricks/commands tell them the command as they are doing the action, such as as they are reaching their head down to pick up their toy say the command in a incuraging way, and praise them when they pick up their toy. And so on. =) =) =)