Why does my puppy get upset and chew when left alone in the basement?

Raising a puppy can definitely be frustrating at times! Dogs don't understand "bad" behavior the way that we do - they just do what makes sense to them at the time. He may know that you're angry when you come home, so he runs and hides in his bed - but he doesn't understand that his behavior earlier in the day was the problem. So I would recommend not scolding him anymore when you come home - it won't help the problem, and just creates additional stress and anxiety which can actually make things worse. If he's still having some issues with destructive chewing and housetraining accidents when he's home alone, then he's not ready to be left loose in the house just yet. Many dogs need to be crated or confined to a puppy-proofed room when you're gone until they're 1.5 - 2 years old, or even longer - this is perfectly normal. So my recommendation would be to simply not give him this much freedom yet. Another possibility to consider, if he's only having accidents and destroying things when you're gone, is that he may have separation anxiety. If you're unsure, try videotaping him one day when you're away to see if he seems upset or just bored. If he does have separation anxiety, you will need to talk with your vet as well as a good reward-based trainer who can help you work through this.

Poor Diesel! This sounds like fairly severe separation anxiety, especially if he's too distressed to eat food or treats while you're gone. I would strongly recommend talking with your veterinarian about the problem, as most dogs with this degree of anxiety will need prescription medication (at least for a while) in order to make any headway. If your veterinarian isn't comfortable dealing with behavior cases, you can ask for referral to a veterinary behaviorist who can discuss a training plan to work on this issue as well as medication options to help your puppy. In the meantime, you can try a DAP pheromone diffuser as well as a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure to help a bit with his anxiety. It's not likely that these measures will be enough to resolve the problem on their own, but they may help to make him a little more comfortable until you are able to see your vet for a more comprehensive plan.

Chewing up things can be due to several reasons including boredom, lack of exercise or anxiety. I recommend crate training until this is under control. Here are some links with good, general information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/chewing-in-puppies-how-to-control-it/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-natural-treatments-for-dog-anxiety/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-crate-train-your-dog/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It is possible he has a touch of separation anxiety. It may stress him a bit when you leave the house. Mild cases can be remedied by desensitizing him to your absence. This is done by leaving him along for ever increasing periods of time. Prepare to leave the house multiple times daily. Leave sometimes and other times stay. Do not make a big deal about leaving or returning. Ignore him for 15 minutes or until he settles down upon your return. A special toy or treat can be used to distract him just before you leave. Pick up the toy as soon as you get home. A pheromone product, such is the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser, may help decrease any anxiety. There are also oral supplements that can calming him down some.

I would keep him in his crate when you aren't there to supervise him. If he gets into your closet and decides to eat one of your items of clothing, and it gets stuck in his GI tract, he'll need surgery. Ideally, if someone can come during the time you're gone to take him out to potty and play a bit, it'll go a long way toward making separation easier for him. Getting him a Kong toy you can put some peanut butter in for him to lick and chew on will also help him pass the time and be less anxious. While you are home, make sure he gets loads of time with you. Play with him, go for walks, runs, take him with you wherever you can take him, get him out to play with other dogs, anything and everything you can to make sure he is tired both physically and mentally. A tired dog is a happy dog. Obedience training is another great way for the two of you to bond, and for him to learn how to behave correctly under different circumstances. PetsMart has puppy kindergarten classes that he is at a great age to start.

It's possible Ares has a bit of separation anxiety going on. if he's destroying things even under the supervision of your roommates, it might be time to look into crate training or keeping him housed in a kitchen or laundry room that has few destroyable items in it to prevent him chewing on stuff. If he's feeling anxious, a pheromone collar (they have dog versions of Feliway) can help by releasing a calming pheromone that may help lessen his anxiety while you're gone. Offering chew and puzzle toys that are safe for dogs is also a good distraction to help keep him occupied with that instead of something he shouldn't chew on. If that doesn't help, looking for help from a trainer or veterinary behaviorist in person is a good next step.

If he feels safe and secure under the desk i would allow him in there for now and work hard on socializing him so that he does not feel the need to use it. Banishing him from his secure area will likely heighten his anxiety at this early stage. Consider pheromone products, calming diets or supplements