With dogs, as with kids, responsible parenting requires patience in getting to the root of a problem. Reflexively throwing negative disciplinary measures at a symptom is shortsighted and sure to backfire.

For example, puppies, like babies, teethe. Yet nowhere in the lexicon of child rearing will you find advice suggesting: hold the child's mouth closed and say "no teeth."

If your puppy is teething, he's probably nipping. Nipping is a symptom of the painful teething process. Nipping can also lead to chewing if not properly handled. Chewing — on furniture, shoes, carpeting, walls, doors, floorboards, fences, tires, even people — can quickly become the most expensive problem you could have easily avoided.

Puppies teethe at anywhere from 5 weeks to 6 months of age. It's normal and unavoidable, and there are plenty of effective remedies that don't involve yelling or the word "no."

My favorite low-cost, no-fuss remedy for teething? Keep a battery of frozen washcloths in the freezer. Wet them down, roll them up and toss them in with the frozen enchiladas. Whenever your pup starts nipping, gently replace whatever he's nipping with one of the washcloths. He'll gratefully switch over, as he'll appreciate the cold sensation against his sore and tender gums.

Ice cubes work well, too, as does natural, sterilized cow bone. Avoid rawhide, though, as sharp fragments tend to break loose and may cause damage during the digestive process.

Limiting the nipping to those items will ameliorate your pup's discomfort, and it will also achieve the worthy goal of preventing destructive chewing down the line. You're setting boundaries. With dogs, as with kids, boundaries are a must.

If your puppy is already a chewer, nip it in the bud.

To do so, when you aren't home, puppy should be confined to his safe and cozy wire crate, where he can see everything he would be chewing if you hadn't confined him.

Set him up with a blanket and a safe chew toy, and he'll be quite comfortable until you return. Golden Rule of dog ownership: No dog should have the run of the house for the first two years.

When you are home, keep him in sight and on a leash. The instant you witness him wrap his little jaws around the leg of your antique chair, gently but firmly say "no" while issuing a short corrective jerk to the leash. Then, replace the chair leg with one of his favorite chew toys. Repeat as necessary. He'll get the message, with no damage to your relationship or his personality.

A word about "no":

Never say "no" in conjunction with your dog's name. Your voice saying your dog's name should conjure only positive associations and good feelings for your pup. "Good boy, Max!" "Atta girl, Sophie!" That way, when you say, "Here, Sophie!" Sophie won't run for the hills.

Rampant myths of doggie discipline, like holding his face over a mess, using your hand to clamp his mouth closed or repeating "No, Max" all the livelong day, yield no good. The yelling is five times louder to his ears than to yours, your hand becomes a weapon in his eyes, and your saying his name now means trouble.

A firm "no," a short corrective jerk and an alternative chew toy or behavior should be enough to keep your pup on the right track.

Woof!

Dog trainer Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis is co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and host of the PBS series "WOOF! It's a Dog's Life!" Read all of Uncle Matty's columns at the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com, and visit him at http://www.unclematty.com. Send your questions to dearuncle.gazette@unclematty.com or by mail to Uncle Matty at P.O. Box 3300, Diamond Springs, CA 95619.

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