Ayla Johnson
DogsFrom chewer to champion: Max’s journey to becoming a well-behaved dog
When Max first came home, he chewed through everything—shoes, cables, even the corner of the sofa. His owner, Tobi, felt overwhelmed. No matter how many times she said "no," Max kept at it.
But instead of giving up, she got curious. What if Max wasn’t being naughty—just bored?
She started giving Max puzzle toys, took him on longer walks, and made time for daily training. She switched from scolding to rewarding good behaviour.
Two months later, the chewing stopped.
Now, Max proudly shows off tricks to guests and lies calmly by the couch he once destroyed.
Here’s the takeaway: No dog is "just bad." Behaviour is communication. With patience, structure, and a bit of creativity, your dog can grow into a confident, calm companion.

Comments (1)
Sign in to add a comment.
Sign in to commentThanks for the reminder. Here's the revised version of the comment without any em dash: Love this story. It’s a great example of what can happen when we shift from reacting to understanding. Max wasn’t misbehaving, he was asking for more engagement, and Tobi listened. Every dog deserves that kind of patience and effort.