I have a male husky who suffers from seperation anxiety. I already have another husky to occupy him but he still has issues. He is an angel when we are home but if we leave he goes ballistic. We have hundreds of toys for them and are exercised well but we can not break this bad habit. I have spent hundreds in replacing the things that he has destroyed. He managed to get in our cupboard and eat a huge box of chocolates wrappers & all. I am thinking of getting a shock collar and setting up the web cam. Any other ideas?
2006-10-27 09:16:37 · 14 answers · asked by live4logan 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Crate training is going to be a last resort. He is a very big enegetic dog and we are away for about eight-ten hours a day, a little too long to leave a dog crated up. I thought about the muzzle but that will not help in the summer. He is a husky and will over heat easily. He is actually the second dog. I have had about ten different dogs since I was a youg girl I have never ran into this before.
2006-10-27 09:31:35 · update #1
We have a huge fenced in yard, but my dear loved husky is an escape artist. He has taken our fence apart to get out and must be checked on every half hour while in the kennel. We have a cat and our husky is great with the cat. The issue is things that are up. If I put his bag of treats on the floor fully opened he would not touch it, if he has to work to get though it is his for the taking.
2006-10-29 09:00:17 · update #2
Muzzle?, Crate?, shock collar? doesn't sound like these ideas are addressing his anxiety, just trying to protect your stuff. I would think the best approach is to help him with his issue. First simple tip - exercise him before you leave. Second simple tip (and I have had personal experience with this working amazingly although im sure its different for every dog) -Completely ignore the dog (and i mean completely, no eye contact, talking, etc.)for a half an hour before you leave and a half an hour when you get back. This is usually tough for people to do, but if you follow though I found the results to be incredible.
2006-10-27 09:26:20 · answer #1 · answered by Matt O 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This might sound mean. But for awhile i had to do this with my dog. Teach your dog the command settle. When you say this your dog should sit and bequite. if you wish for me to tell you how to teach your dog to settle email me at nanimalhaven@yahoo.com Continued- When you leave the house either put him in the bathroom,utility room, or even a kennel until you get back. Your best choice is a large kennel. So lets say you go with the kennel right. put the kennel in the back of the house or in a place to where when you come inside you can walk into the house without him being able to see you. When you come home, do not go and rush to meet him and let him out of the kennel. Take your time and let him hear you. Once he hears you he will probably start barking and wining. This is when you use the command settle. Your dog should stop the wining and be still. After he gets used to the idea you can put him in the bathroom/utility room and do that for a few days. if your dog is improving then you can let him free. Hope it helps!
2006-10-27 16:29:24 · answer #2 · answered by Nicole 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Crating is the best thing you can do for your Husky. I hated putting my dogs in the crate but in the long run it turned out to be the best thing for them. They really do feel secure in there. Its like a den......Also I read that when you leave you are not suppose to make a big deal about it. Be very calm put him or her in and give him or her a little treat. Thats what I do and it works.
Good luck.
2006-10-27 16:39:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My dog has the same problem... We crate trained him and that did the trick. Now Rudy (our dog) spends the time we're not at home in his crate where he can feel safe and secure... Also, now that it's been a couple years he's mellowed out a bit and he can be left out of his crate for short periods while we're away... I would suggest buying a very large crate (he needs to be able to stand, sit, and strech while inside) and putting him in it while you're out of the house... this will keep him from damaging your posessions and give him a "den" where he can feel secure.
Best Wishes!
2006-10-27 16:27:27 · answer #4 · answered by annathespian 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When my mixed breed dog developed this my vet recommended that she be crate trained and also he said leaving the TV / Radio on so there is noise could distract them. With Robin, it helped a lot to specifically spend time with her when I got home like going for a long walk or giving her a tug of war game. She has a blast and she doesnt shred anything but her rawhides now.
2006-10-27 17:10:08 · answer #5 · answered by beh_sab2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put your dog in a huge crate when you're not there. seek professional advice immediately.
i don't believe in shock colloars, to me that is cruel when there are other alternatives.
never expect one dog to occupy another, especially if the first dog has issues to begin with.
keep him AWAY from chocolate...it can kill dogs.
anyway, i think the crate and a strong chew toy should work when you cannot be there with him
good luck
2006-10-27 16:20:50 · answer #6 · answered by Lilypie99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My pup was like that, she chewed everything up or peed on it. Crate training was the best thing we ever did. She likes it now, she goes in her crate and naps. We just stick her in there when no one is home. We didn't have to resort to shock collars or anything.
2006-10-27 16:29:31 · answer #7 · answered by emmadropit 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would crate train him. Muzzling him probably won't help, except he won't be able to tear things with his teeth. I think there is a book ... "when good dogs do bad things" or something like that. It might help, or go on-line for suggestions ... somewhere besides here.
2006-10-27 16:23:39 · answer #8 · answered by sherirenee1954 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have two rot/dobbies who are angels when we are home but are destructive when we leave....it took 3 carpet holes, one leather natuzzi sofa, love seat and chair and all my shoes for me to run to PetsMart and buy a crate. They love their crate now. They know that when mommy and daddy are leaving to go in there and when we get home they come out. Some people I know leave water and food in there....I just leave their pet bed, two toys and two bones....They are as happy as can be.
2006-10-27 16:25:11 · answer #9 · answered by kimberlylroderick 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try obedience school and crate him while you are not home. Crate training is wonderful. it keeps your pets in one area of your home. You would not have to worry about anything then
2006-10-27 16:27:12 · answer #10 · answered by Sara 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋