Thank you for adopting Cooper. This is just a rough patch but it will get better. You need to tell Cooper that you are disappointed in him and let him know that you are upset. Don't get mad and yell or anything. Any dog - especially a rescued one - will be hurt much worse knowing that you are not happy and that his act has disappointed you.
Take a wild guess how I know this after doing Boxer Rescue for 19 years. [wink] Just talk to him like he is a child that needs direction. I will bet you anything that he will figure out quickly what NOT to do to keep mommy happy.
EDITED TO ADD - The destroying will end fairly quickly. But the 'let me see how far I can push before mommy pushes back' will probably last forever. My girl worships her daddy but that didn't stop her from taking the butter stick off the counter while he was cooking 18" away. Just remember - they are basically perpetual 3 year olds.
Last edited by jrhboxers; 01-23-2012 at 09:41 AM.
Reason: Addition