Separation anxiety dog problems.....help?

Question

My boyfriends dog is nuts. She was ok for a while when he would leave her in the house while he was gone, but lately she has destroyed the molding on the doors, scratched the inside of the two doors that lead outside, and ruined the locks with her teeth. I said it is seperation anxiety, but he thinks she is just trying to get outside. She is a sweet pit bull and if he leaves her outside all night with him not there, I am worried she will get stolen or escape. Any suggestions on how to safely keep her outside or keep her from destroying the inside of the house?

Answer 1

Your boyfriends dog needs to be crated inside. DO NOT leave her outside to fend for herself. If you leave her out there are just too many possibilities. Buy a good sturdy dog crate. I like the wire ones, but I do have some of the plastic vari kennels too. It is best to put the crate in an area of the house where she feels safe. I know there are a lot of people who think it is cruel to crate dogs but if you think about wild dogs they live in a small den. It's what they like. Sure she will be p*ssed the first few times you leave her in there but she will be safe... good luck

Answer 2

I wouldn't allow it to run free in the house when nobody is there. Kennel her during the time nobody is there or confine her to a spot in the house that she can't get out of and can't destroy too bad. What helped my dog was we started leaving the blinds open so he could see outside - that seemed to be all he wanted because ever since he hasn't ruined anything - he just sits on the couch and looks outside all day while we are gone.

Answer 3

It does sound like separation anxiety. My dog has the same problem. The reason your boyfriend's dog is destroying the doors and locks is because she is trying to follow him out. The best solution is crate training. It will solve both the anxiety and the potty issues. Check out this website. And don't leave a dog outside!

http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html

Answer 4

IVE BEEN DEALING WITH PIT BULLS FOR 11 YEARS AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IT DOES SEEM LIKE SPERATION ANXIETY. GIVE HER A SHIRT WITH THE SMELL OF YOU TWO . THE OTHER THING I FIND THAT WORKS MORE SO IS KENNELING HER WHEN YOU ARE GONE. TRAIN HER TO KENNEL WHEN IN HOME SO SHE WILL BE MORE INCLINED TO DO SO WHEN SHE IS ALONE. MAKE IT HER HOME HER DEN SINCE SHE IS A PACK ANIMAL DECENDANT OF THE WOLF SHE WILL FEELL SAFE AND SECURE AND BE ALRIGHT REWARD HER FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR AND SCOLD WHEN BAD. THIS IS A STRONG WILLED DOG SO SAVE SOME MONEY AND KENNEL HER IN A CRATE.

Answer 5

first see if theres anything going on that scares the dog while your gone. loud noises like thunder or fireworks. our golden retreiver does the same thing if theres a storm or something while we are gone. i finally had to get sedatives from the vet to help him cope. if we are going to leave we don't make a big deal of it. we just leave without a word to the dog. try leaving like that for a few minutes at a time, and when you come back don't make a big deal of it. just speak to the dog once when you come home, like hi, or i'm home. try this a few times and see if it helps. good luck.

Answer 6

The dog needs to be walked a lot. He/she need toys to chew instead of the house. My dog, a Lhasa has messed up the wooden piece right by the door, and that's just a Lhasa, nothing compaired to a pitbull- more aggressive.
Anyway- The dog needs lots of walks, actuall walks, not just allowed to go SIT outside. Also, when on walks, the dog NEEDS to walk with you---not the dog taking YOU for a walk. There needs to be calm, asservate control by you and yr bf. Read up on Cesar, the dog whisperer..

Answer 7

Install a dog flap so she can go in and out as she pleases. also, i doubt she will be stolen because pit bulls growl at those who try to intrude. sometimes they do more that growl!

Answer 8

a crate is your best friend.. without it my dog would steal all the food in the house and pee everywhere