How can I break my 25lb dog from tearing up everything when I am not home? (other than crating her)?

Answer 1

The first action you should take is to go out and buy a Nylabone or a Kong a treat ball/puzzle ball, a jar of peanut butter to fill the Kong with and a box of the proper sized dry dog treats to fill the treat ball/puzzle ball. Next as soon as you get home pick up everything you think he might chew and put it away somewhere, shoes in the closet, pens pencil put up high, EVERYTHING that he can pick up in his mouth put it behind a closed door. Then fill the Kong with peanut butter (actually they also sell kong brand aerosol cans of flavoured filling, but PB is cheaper) fill the treat ball with treats and also hide treats in obvious places around the room if you can. Then make him lay down on his blanket or in his crate (open door) give him the toys and then say good bye or whatever and say "Be good" and leave for 3-5 minutes.
When you come home and he has destroyed anything at all dont even look at him, make it a routine that when you come home you do a complete inspection while ignoring the dog and if you find all is well praise him abundantly with petting and lots of talking to him, but if you do find something destroyed be absolutely stone cold to him pretend you cant even see him. Repeat this every day leaving for progressively longer periods of time each time praising him for chewing on the toys and ignoring him for any other destructive activity.
The first rule in dealing with separation anxiety is that Negative attention is still attention. Your dog is acting out to get your attention because he misses you. By doing like I have suggested above you will be showing him what the acceptable behaviour is (chewing his toy) and you will be denying him the attention he seeks from you by destroying things while you are gone, in that way he will learn that bad behaviour gets him no attention(positive or negative) at all but good behaviour gets him all the attention he wants. Also by leaving for short periods of time at first and then gradually increasing to longer periods will reassure him that you will not abandon him, and that you will always return. Really this is all the dog wants to know and be reassured of to help him overcome his separation anxiety.


Here are some examples of the toys you should use... http://www.dogtoys.com/foodcubesballs.html
http://www.kongcompany.com/worlds_best.html
http://www.nylabone.com/default.aspx?pageid=106&subcat=8

Answer 2

You need to give her her own special room, when youre gone. You also need to spend less time giving in to her every whim, and put her in the room when youre HOME, so she will get used to it more.

Youre dog, no offense, is an attention hog. What happens, is about 20 minutes after you leave, the attention hog goes hog wild and gets sad, and tears all your stuff up. This is why you have to stop giving your dog attention every time he wants it. Try using time outs, even when the dog is being good, and leave the house for 15 minutes to go outside for the first week, daily, to get your dog used to the idea that you are coming home.
Another good thing you can do is to put a video on TV when you leave. Make sure it has 10 minute black out periods, and that it loops, like on DVD or something. That might help ease your dogs transition to emotional independance.

Answer 3

You'll have to either crate the dog or close her in a room where there's nothing to tear up.

If you see her trying to chew on anything other than her toys, tell her 'No!' in a loud, firm voice. A rolled-up newspaper is a good reinforcer if you need one.

Get her plenty of chew toys, and praise her when she chews on them. A greyhound I know used to be proud of her bones and would show them to us.

If you don't want to close her up, put her outside on a cable with a dog house for shade and plenty of water.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Your gonna have to crate her....she is upset because your gone and it wont stop. There is stuff call Bitter Apple sold at pet stores....you can spray it on things that will give her a bad taste in her mouth and she wont chew anymore, but sounds like she get anxious....crating might be the best for her at this point....and when she is in the crate give her things to chew on like chew toys and some of her other toys some rawhide ect.....see how that helps. The crate will be like her own den and she will learn to calm down when she is in her own place.

Answer 5

As an addition to the calls for baby-gating I just have to add that EXCERSISE is a wonderful tool. A tired dog will not tear things up. Take that dog out for a looooooong walk or run or take her to the park to play but get her moving until she has not interest in tearing things up.

Answer 6

coming from experience crate training is the best solution until she learns not to tear stuff up. But if you are totally against it, try buying her tons of toys, and also buy a repellent at like petsmart and spray everything that she is tearing up with the spray.

Answer 7

It's called Separation Anxiety. Keep her in a crate until you get home. She will feel safe and secure in her cozy "cave," so it's not mean. When you get home, greet her with enthusiasm, and she will be glad to see you. She is just bored and worried when you leave her, and she doesn't speak enough English to tell you that....

Answer 8

your going to have to crate them. many dogs do it out of revenge for being left alone. they will destroy everything. you can put them in the laundry room with a heavy duty gate, if they don't eat through it or tear it down. you can buy tons of chew toys but once you go off to wirk, they get mad and even for leaving them alone. many friends i know had this problem with all types and sizes of dogs. they had to buy large cages and if they bark alot, put a muzzle on them. after awhile they get the point and behave themselves.

Answer 9

you can't. it's acting out because you're not at home. i would say get another friend but that might be twice the trouble. how about putting it in a room without a lot of stuff, just food water and newspaper for poop. oh, add a radio or t.v. for company.

Answer 10

how about using a baby gate and keeping her in one room like the kitchen or laundry room.