Ace keeps ripping up newspaper...

Question
My Puppy Ace is about 20 weeks old. He's a shitzu x maltese! I brought him home 1st May 07, so he's been in our family for 2-3 mths... He is a very smart puppy, knows all the little tricks already, and was toilet trainned by the first couple of weeks... He's not over weight according to the vet, but he is very heavy... should be 5-6kgs by now(heavy-boned apparently)!! He loves to eat, and cleans up anything i put in his bowl within 3-5mins!! So i guess u could say, he has a great appetite!! He's been really well behaved since we brought him home, but for the last 5 days... he's been ripping up he's soiled and wet newspaper??? I've come home 3 nights this week after work, to find newspaper everywhere!! He has plenty of toys to play with, so I don't understand why he's just started doing that this week??? I usually have work every second day,(tue/thu) 8am-8pm... but this week, i had to go 3 consecutive days, but he ripped up the newspaper on the first night, so I cant figure it out!! Yesterday and this morning he ripped them up for me to find in the morning... so he only does it when My boyfriend or myself aren't around to watch him...It's driving me crazy, please help me asap!!

Answer
Hi Mandy, Do you live in a flat and have him trained to go on piddle pads? Here is what I would suggest. Get a newspaper and put an elastic around it. Teach him to "TAKE IT", "HOLD IT", and "GIVE" (it to you), then praise him and give him a treat. Progress so that he will go "RETREIVE (or GET) THE PAPER, and  "BRING IT TO MUM". Praise.... Then move on to "LEAVE IT", so you can put it down anywhere and say "LEAVE IT" and praise him when he ignores it. These are the fundamentals that I teach all of my assistance/disability dogs. They love learning it, and you can teach him to bring you other items as well. Now if Ace continues to shred the paper, correct him by saying "SHAME" or "THIS IS BAD" while showing it right in his face, then immediately give him a toy or something good and tell him "THIS is GOOD". Put all of his Good toys in a box or bucket for him and when he goes for anything that he should not touch, "SHAME" him and walk him over to the GOOD things. Ace sounds smart enough to pick up on these commands quite quickly. If not, write back and I can give you more advice. If you could find the time to take him to Obedience class that would help alot as well. But homeschooling is not so bad as long as you are doing it properly.  Be sure he gets out for walks and plenty of play time as well. Please leave me some feedback, nominations if you wish, and let me know how things go. The only rewards we get for volunteering so many hours a day at this site is to know we have made a difference in the lives of people and their pets. Keep me posted please, you can simply repost a follow up. I would really appreciate it. I really care about how the two of you make out. Thanks. Regards, Susan