I got my puppy a few weeks ago and she's developed a habit of standing up against my bed to bark at me when I'm sleeping. Why does she do that and how do I get her to stop?
She also likes to chew alot, and I'm currently using the close-mouth technique. Is this the most effective way?
Thanks!
Maxy has given exellent advice, I would like to add a point or two.
Is the pup unsupervised while you are sleeping???
Everything to a pup is a chew toy, it is only us that puts a value on things, to dogs/pups it is only something to chew.
Chewing can be stopped by teaching them what they can chew and what they can't, but it does require supervision. The house must also be puppy proofed.
When the pup starts to chew on something that we don't want, distract them for a moment, spray what they were chewing on with Bitter Apple, then allow the pup to go back and try and chew again (don't encourage them to chew it again), when they try and back off because of the taste, then give them an appropriate chew toy/bone etc.
The close mouth method is not effective at best it only surpresses the behaviour for the time being, it does not teach them not to chew or to not bark. As the pup continues, that method can become abusive as owners get more frustrated and angry. How would you like it if someone grabbed your face (and/or twisted) for something that you didn't know wasn't desired???