Dog with behavior problems?

Question

My family and I adopted a mix breed dog about 3 weeks ago and I have been having problems with him having anxiety issues when left alone... He digs holes in the back yard, has multiple accidents when left alone in the house and goes nuts. He is aprox. 10 mo. old. The prev. owners said they didn't have time for him and gave him to the pound. We are getting frusterated. I have had other dogs in obediance class in my past and have carried over the training with him and he is very smart but still has issues. What should I do? He still will not stop digging and tearing things up when left alone. For example he distroyed my son's new pool this past weekend when left outside for less than an hour while I ran to the store.

Answer 1

He's been abandoned before, so frets this will happen again. When left on his own, he thinks no one will come back for him. The digging/chewing are simply a stress reaction. You need to reassure him and help him change the beahviour.

Try to leave him for short periods at the time, first time 5 minutes, second time 10, third time 15 and so forth. Before leaving him, make sure he has water, some treats (A kong filled with treats proves an excellent substitute for earth/gates/furnitures etc), also a soothing blanket and something (Old T shirt maybe) with your scent. Pat your dog, then tell him to stay.

Reward good behaviour when your dog has not dug a hole, praise him and make him feel good about it. Ignore bad behaviour. i know it's easy said than done but your dog will soon realise that he is better off respecting your garden as at least! He gets a treat and a cuddle when you return rather than the silent treatment!

Should say 15 minutes prove too much then stick to 10 minutes for a couple of days, then increase to 15. It might take a while but the more you practice, the more he'll understand that you are not abandoning him, only popping out. And as time goes ... You'll be able to leave him for a lot longer.

This dog's already been pretty traumatised so please bear with him! If you do! You see and sadly, other people failed him so he needs to learn that he can trust you! When he does ... You'll have made the best friend ever.

Best wishes

Answer 2

You've adopted someone else's problems - that's why they got rid of the dog. Once a puppy has been ruined by neglectful owners, it often takes lots of expensive professional help to rehabilitate them. If you're not up to the task, do the poor dog a favor and have him put to sleep.

If you are, get a sturdy airline crate. When you're home, you have to teach him what to chew and what not to chew. When you're out, he needs to be in a confined space like an outdoor kennel or inside in a crate. Dogs are social animals and they hate to be left alone. They have to gradually become accustomed to it or they will develop a lot of destructive behaviors that can quickly become their permanent way of dealing with stress, anxiety and boredom.

He needs daily obedience training lessons and strenuous exercise. You should read some great books on training. (Try not to pick books randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also!) These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com

Dog Problems - Benjamin
What All Good Dogs Should Know - Volhard
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan

Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.

Answer 3

I would recommen starting with crate training no matter how hard it is. The crate is a safe place for your dog to stay when you are not there. Then he will eventually learn that when you come back from the store he will get to play.

It sounds like he is looking for attention, destructive dogs often are. So in addition to crate training (NO matter how hard it is because the whine when they first learn) You should be playing with him every day and walking him, giving him treats when he is good and talking to him in a soft tone.

Because he has been passed around it will take sometime for him to come around but I am sure he will. I have rescued many dogs one of which I have now had for 11 years and is the loyalist dog anyone could ever ask for. I also have a lovely one year old crate trained puppy. The crate was a Godsend when I was working and he was learning the rule of the house.

Answer 4

Well I had a blue heeler and we also got her from somebody
else who could not cope with her pulling clothes from the line
digging holes and chewing shoes. But your dog is still young
and will in time with good discipline drop some of these bad
habits. I gave up the idea of having a nice garden in the backyard and concentrated on the front yard.

When I couldn't spend time with my dog I gave the dog more dog toys and bones to play with and this kept her away from other things.

Prevention is better than cure, so keep your shoes and precious
things inside or away from the dog.

When our dog would chew on shoes I would make a disapproving sound and the dog eventually picked up on the
tone of voice and left the shoes alone but not until she was
well over 1 year old.

Answer 5

You failed to say however i'm guessing you and the pal are living collectively? Honestly the very first thing that comes to mind is that the dog desires to be fixed.As for the humping a sprig bottle as a rule works well...However as you say this is not your canine. You have got to take a seat down and have heart to heart with your buddy and provide an explanation for your issues over the mounting and the aggression issues. Maybe the canine could be kenneled for a element of time to allow the pup some freedom of action. If it's not as I feel and you don't live with the pal invite him over to your condo and with politeness explain that his K9 buddy just isn't invited and why. Confidently if he's a just right ample friend he'll realize why and work on correcting the hindrance or work on prevent an uncomfortable predicament.

Answer 6

For one thing didn't you say your dog was appx 10 months old? That is a little old (for a dog) to be trying to train a dog especially if your expecting a perfect dog. It sounds like maybe a 10 wk old dog instead of 10 months. It is doing the puppy stuff not dog stuff?? I would try being patient with it maybe time/training will get better.

Answer 7

try bonding with him alot more. when you go out leave him more toys to play with. if that doesnt work you can buy this spray collar. put him out side and make him think you have gone out and hes alone. when he starts to dig something up or ditsroys something then press the botton to make the collar spray. it is harmful to the dog and will distract it. keep doing it until he stops. remeber that he must never no whos doing it.

but before you go on to the collar idea remeber that he is still only a puppy and in a new home. he may just grew out of it.

Answer 8

A dog like this that has been passed around has trust issues and does not know how to act. It takes a lot of love, time and patience to bring a dog around that has not known a loving home. I hope you will give him time and not give up on him. Too many people have already done that to him.

Answer 9

Small breed dogs tend to be hyper like mine just work with him and it will be okay just take him to obediance classes.

Answer 10

Do not worry.....this is a natural phenomenon for a dog....it will take some time for him/her to stop this habit....i suggest that you buy for him/her a chewable bone of toy in order to turn his/her concerntration from unwanted activities that he/her is being doing.......