I have a 7 year old part lab/beagle who hates to be left alone. If I leave her in the house she will break out (she's smart) or tear up stuff. If I tie her up outside, sometimes she gets loose. What should I do?

Many dogs suffer from separation anxiety. When our dogs start tearing up our homes, we think they are being naughty but the truth is, they are just trying to tell you they aren’t coping with being alone.

First, you need to make sure that you are exercising your dog enough. Labs are high energy dogs, so yours could need up to 1.4 hours of exercise each day. If your dog isn't getting this exercise, they will keep tearing up your home and trying to escape.

Secondly, you can start improving the problem by making it easier on your dog when you leave the house. Make those times more positive by giving your animal a treat every single time you leave.

This allows your dog to enter into a more relaxed state when you leave, so they don’t start tearing up the house the moment you’re gone.

Lastly, be patient and loving - your dog isn't trying to be bad - they're just trying to show you that something is wrong.

For more training tips, visit http://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-health-and-care/how-much-exercise-does-a-labrador-need/.