Destructive puppy
in the past, he has chewed holes in the wall (the middle of the wall mind you, about the size of a softball, even though we keep fixing it), eaten the baseboard, dug up and eaten my landscaping, destroyed any number of small objects, etc. Most of it while I was at home. Basic stuff, I could live with it. Puppies chew after all. He has a plethora of chew toys, from bones with filling (I fill with peanut butter every am), kongs, dental dinos, nylabones, soft rubber chews, basically everything you can imagine (I work at a pet store after all). He is NOT a big chewer on the stuff he SHOULD chew on (of course!). He goes and runs around the yard, has three other dogs to play with (one a very sturdy five month old corgi he adores), wades in his pool, chases the sprinkler, goes for walks... He was in doggie daycare once a week until about a month ago because I simply can't afford it anymore. I stopped crating him probably six to eight weeks ago, and at first he was very good. But now... I leave for work at about 7:40am everyday, my roommate gets home at 2pm. EVERYDAY this week and part of last, roofus had destroyed something. Things you wouldn't even normally think about! Rugs, my roommate's dog's bed, towels, paper, and today, the cases of the Blockbuster rentals! (How am I going to explain THAT?) My roommate is sick and tired of coming home to destruction and I don't blame him. He wants me to crate Roo again which I REALLY hate to do even though the only thing he does when I'm not home is sleep (and apparently destroy). He is just so hyperactive after being crated all day, that is why I had him in daycare once a week when I could afford it. And I'm not going to be able afford it ever again, most likely, unless I can find a new job. I should add that Roofus is the type of dog who could go to daycare all day, barely drag himself back into the house from the car, and he would slither into the backyard and dig himself a hole. Heck, he chews on the tv trays while we are watching tv!! and not necessarily when there is food around. He seems like a very typical oes - the "duh" attitude, stubborn, but the nicest dog on the planet, seems very happy. So I'm not quite sure what to do. Am I going to have to crate him for the rest of his life? Or just a little longer? Any other suggestions? I love my dog more than anything else so there isn't anything I wouldn't do if I could. |
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| I have had multiple dogs all my adult life, and some would just snooze while I was away, and some would leave the house looking like a hurricane went through. Therefore, a few of my dogs were crated in my absence well into their adulthood.
My Ben is six months old and he is crated when we are not home. I suspect he will continue to be crated for quite some time. When I first heard about people using crates years ago, I thought it was very cruel. The president of our local AKC club wised me up. She said, "isn't it better to know your dog is safe rather than getting into something that could harm her?" Roo could easily decide to chew an electric cord or choke on something he decided to eat while you are not there to help him. So my advice is, continue to crate him until he is trustworthy. Chances are, he's doing a lot of napping while you are gone. Just make sure to let him out and give him plenty of attention when you are home. |
| Samantha is 14 months old and we keep her crated both at night and while we aren't home. For one thing, no one wants to sleep with a 70 lb dog! She has slept in my bed a few times when DH is away, but she usually ends up in the crate by 3 am (her choice). She doesn't appear to be destuctive by nature, she has taken a few shoes outside (but not to chew only to play "chase"). I also feel bad about the crate, but she goes in without a problem. |
| Tasker was crated whenever I wasn't home until just the last year (he is eight). His crate is quite large and he is very comfortable in it. He has never destroyed anything or chewed on anything but his toys. As long as the crate is big enough for them to stand up, turn around and lay full out they can be quite comfortable and happy for many hours a day. It is not unkind to keep them in the crate, it helps them to behave. Just give him lots of love and attention when you are home. Maybe a dog walker would be a good alternative to day care and might be cheaper. Especially with summer coming. There might be a teenager in your neighborhood that you could get to stop in once during the day to take him for a walk and then you won't feel so guilty. |
| My other dog Lucy(Beardie/Briard mix) had never even seen a crate until Clyde came along. Lucy is better than a roommate in the house and has never been gated or crated. Never had a single incident as long as we've had her-- no accidents or destruction, even when garbage is accidentally left out. Clyde, my OES, on the other hand...
With him, we started with the crate when we got him. He did not like it, and to be honest, neither did I. I was, and still am not, crazy about the idea of him being in there all day. But, you made a really good point-- he's only really sleeps when you aren't around. From that perspective, staying in the crate isn't too bad since it does keep him safe and he's doing the same thing he'd be doing anywhere else. Clyde is only 8 months old and nowhere near ready to be left out when we're not around. He stays upstairs with us at night because nothing major can happen, and hasn't yet for the month or so that we've uncrated him at night. Ironically, for the first time ever, today, before I left for work, I just said the word crate to him and reared up for our morning "I don't wanna, Mom!" fight and, instead, he just walked in and laid down. I was shocked, I guess it's not so bad after all! My other reasoning for not leaving him out is becuase he'd deprive poor Lucy of the few hours of relaxation and "no Clyde" time that she gets while we're at work! My poor girl never gets a quiet moment with him around! |
Goodboy Clyde!!!! When we tell Tasker to "go to your room" he trots off to his crate and flops! Wish my kids had been that good  |
Tasker's Mom wrote: Goodboy Clyde!!!! When we tell Tasker to "go to your room" he trots off to his crate and flops! Wish my kids had been that good
I couldn't believe it myself. I started yelling at James "Did you see that?! Did you see that?!" I probably scared Clyde right out of ever doing it again! |
| LOL! Just keep it up he'll get it down pat! |
Tasker's Mom wrote: LOL! Just keep it up he'll get it down pat! I figure it'll be right around the time thhat he doesn't need to be in there anymore. Then he'll want to be in there all the time! The easiest way to get him in there is to get Lucy to look interested in it-- he doesn't like her touching any of his stuff! |
| I would suggest you continue crating him, I had to crate my first oes till she was 4 at least before I could really trust her, and even then, if I forgot to put tempting garbage outside she would make the biggest mess.
Is he neutered? He may be going through hormones raging at that teenage phase.... |
| We crate Zoey if we leave the house for more than 15 minutes (as a guideline). By the time we get home she's banging on the bars like a drunk trying to get out of jail. What makes it worse is that the cat likes to sleep on top of her crate. So there she is, all boxed up, inches away from her herd and unable to do anything. You could see the frustration in her face, and the smirk on the cats face. |
Hi! Just joined this minute.  I'm at my wits-end.
I decided back in Dec. 2008 I would get my 6 yr old dog Angel (lab/pit mix) a sister for her xmas present. First couple of weeks were very trying because Angel wasn't happy that this puppy came into her domain. Anyhoo, I had to keep Pepper (6 mos old) indoors while she was healing from her spaying. I don't like the thought of crates and the fact that she's such a small dog, I just couldn't imagine her being in there for almost 12 hrs a day while I'm a work. I decided that I would set her up in my kitchen bathroom. Bedding, lots of toys, food, water, music and lighting. Kept her that way for 3 weeks in there. Yes, she destroyed everything in sight. Everyday, what a mess I had to clean up after a long day of work. I bought a hexagon pen for her. Cleared the eating area of the kitchen to erect it. Layed thick plastic lining on the floor then set her up with everything and music for comfort. Well, she managed to work that pen so she could start destroying my new kitchen patio blinds, tore up the plastic and puppy mess everywhere. Week 4 I decided that maybe it was time to put her outside with Angel. I was hesitant but set up Angel's crate for her. Tied the crate door so it would not close. I was still in the process of finding a real nice dog house for her. That morning I had second thoughts and decided to put her back in the bathroom. I left at 6:00am that morning for work and had a hr hour appt at 5pm. I told my appointment that I didn't feel comfortable because I wondered what other kind of damage she could do. Well, I pulled up to my complex and as I neared my garage, I could see water running out from underneath the door. First thing I thought was...water heater!! As I opened the door, there was water flowing from the ceiling. I ran upstairs to the kitchen and splashed my way to the bathroom. There was Pepper SOAKED and shaking. I pulled her out and put her outside. Shut the main valve off. After being in that bathroom for 3 weeks then 1 week off, she decided that she hadn't done enough destruction to piss me off. So, she decided to chew through the water supply line to the toilet. Found out from my neighbors that the water had been running for almost 12 hrs. Real nice of them to tell me after all that time passed instead of contacting me when they first saw it. Needless to say, My garage, kitchen and dining room were damaged. Now, I sit and wait for the insurance co. to get off their A$$es. I was so ready to give her back to the shelter. I was besides myself. After I calmed down, I knew that she didn't know what she was doing and she's sleeping in her bed right now. I started leaving her outside with Angel. Now, she destroys EVERYTHING. From tearing up Angel's bedding, to her bedding, chewing up planks on my deck, my plants, etc. I don't want to do it but I'm going to break down and get her a crate. I know that she will dump her food and water and piss and deficate in the crate. I really don't know what else to do with her. I kept asking myself, "what did I do to deserve all this destruction?" I don't remember Angel being anything like this when she was 6 mos old. Here, I save this puppy and all I've endured is just day-after-day of grief. I guess I should have gotten a hint when I changed her original name (Enid) to Pepper. See, back in June 2008, a few of my motorcycle sisters and I decided to ride cross-country to Memphis and back to San Diego. When we were on our way back to San Diego, we stopped in Enid, OK. That's where big poop happened and our group split up. Lot of bad feelings. So, Enid wasn't a good place as far as we were concerned. I told the girlz my pup's original name and they just laughed. Thanks for letting me vent. -Renee |
| A few nights ago I questioned "weaning" Win from his crate... He had been doing well overall. Minimal accidents and no chewing. He has been out all night with free roam of the house until....
Well I leave for work yesterday morning at 6am and Win is laying quietly in the kitchen. After driving almost 30miles one way and putting up with traffic, I receive a call at 7:30am with an "emegency" at home. My youngest daughter is crying hysterically on the phone screaming "I need you mommy- you need to come home now" in between sobs. She was inconsolable. I can barely figure out what has transpired - only my daughter is hysterical and screaming she needs me now. So chalk one up for mother guilt... I pack up my stuff and head back home lo and behold to find that Winston decided to eat my daughter's favorite stuffed animal that she has has since the day she was born and essentially is her life line! She has taken this animal everywhere for the last 10 and 1/2 years and she did not take lightly to Win chewing off his leg. After I realized is was ONLY a leg and the stuffed animal was not completely destroyed was I able to calm her down... but needless to say if my daughter had her way - Win would be crated for life!!  |
Whoops, naughty boy Win, that is NOT the way to win (pardon the pun) friends and influence people, except in the negative. Maybe he was jealous.  |
I read if a pup chewes a wall, it needs more calcium. Other things - probably some microelements. One of my dogs liked pine tree branches. One of members of this forum told me that noughty behavior is a mean to draw attention, it is like with kids - let it be scalding but still attention. Well, if one has a pup one has to put up with some destruction  . I have never had any of my dogs crated or locked somewhere and they were on their own all my working hours. I just didn't leave any valuable things ( like my new shoes) around. Actually, I had more damage from my cat than from all my dogs together. Lucky I am |
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