Behavior problems with my dog,help please!?

Question

Okay so here is the problem: Lately,i've noticed that everyday I get home from school something is chewed into pieces....rugs,blankets,etc. His name is Luda,and he's a male. Luda's breed is part black lab/part greyhound,so he is big for his age. (about 2 yrs old.) The problem is that...if he is punished...he will put his head down,and cry. We would be more strict,but the problem is that he's my brother's dog. We are watching him while my brother finds a place to live & a job (due to relationship issues.) Along the way..Luda was abused by someone that he was watched by,because he always puts his head down if you encourage him,and he flinches with the slightist move of anyone.
(moving arm,walking across room,etc) Can you give me some advice to teach him to stop misbehaving,but without being too strict? Thanx.

1.) Yes,I am spending enough time with him....right when I get home from school i let him outside,and then I pet him for awhile,and do my homework. He is very affectionate & he is probably spoild with attention & time-----}

2.) He has NEVER been hit by us,since he has been living with us. 3.) If we do get him toys...it cannot be plastic,because he chews them into shreads,even when we are home to spend time with him.

4.) He DOES have a crate,he cannot go in it because....He is scaried to death of it,& he used to be in the crate everyday for hours where he used to live...also he won't even eat or drink all day if his food/water is near his crate as well.

5.) He has a surplus of bones to chew on while we are home. We also ensure that he has food & water before we leave....& yes I told him today right when I got home,and things were chewed up,that it is very bad,& i sent him outside.

Answer 1

It sounds like Luda is having problems coming to terms with the upheaval in his life. His heritage would suggest that he needs a lot of exercise and lots of company. He sounds like he's bored and chewing to occupy his time.
Dogs love pigs' ears and hide bones, and the kong toys can have peanut butter and treats inside so they spend ages trying to get them out. Hide treats around his area, so he is rewarded for being good. You must contain him, always reward him for good behaviour, but never make a big fuss of going out and coming home. Try leaving the house and returning at odd times so he gets used to the fact that you go out, then come home. Take him out for as long a run as possible every day, and he'll be too nackered to do anything but sleep while you're out. NEVER tell him off for anything you don't CATCH him doing. It's pointless. All he sees is you doing the angry face and he hears blah blah blah, but can't associate all that scary stuff with chewing the rug four hours ago. A good tip when you do catch him misbehaving is to make a strange noise (a tin with a coin in rattled just once out of his sight). This will confuse and distract, without scaring him. Add the word NO in a firm but low voice. No need to shout - they can hear way better than us. The trick with dogs is to reward the good stuff, and let them know what you want them to do. Without guidelines, they have no idea that the best rug is anything but a source of fun. Teach him to 'leave' and be consistent (the whole family all use the same method and words) and Luda will eventually suss out what it is you want, and what it is you don't want. Be aware that he is a chewer and make sure the only things he chews are what you want him to chew. When you're out, the chewing of anything is reward in itself, so he'll keep doing it unless you remove those articles, and keep him occupied with better stuff. He'll be a clever, innovative, active dog. You've got to stay one step ahead!!

Good luck!

Answer 2

One of my dogs is part Boxer, which is a very hyper breed in need of constant attention, so she has major separation anxiety and will poo on the floor if I leave her alone for more then an hour (unless she goes out IMMEDIATELY before I leave) and usually chews something up if I leave her alone for longer then an hour as well. Some things that I have HAD to do is crate her while I am not home. When I am gone for a short period of time and leave her out, if she is good (no potty on the floor and nothing chewed), she gets rewarded with lots of love and a cookie. This doesn't always seem to work. IF you don't agree with putting the dog in a crate while you are out, my only other suggestion would be to block him off in a small area, like make a pen for him that he can't get out of. Give him a bone or something- my dog LOVES nice big fresh bones from the meat dept @ the grocery. Make sure if the dog is mis-behaving while you are NOT home that you are NOT disciplining him for it when you get home, because he will NOT understand what he's being disciplined for unless it is within like 5 seconds of the behavior. Good luck-

-EA

Answer 3

One it sounds like he's chewing has a lot to do with some kind of pent up fustration. Try taking him for a 30 minute fast paced walk in the morning, walking him is very important to expell some of that energy, it'll help calm him down when he is left at home alone.

Also you may need to invest in a crate to keep him secured when you are not home to watch him. If you take him for daily walks and particualrly work him out well in the morning he should have no problem with wanting to snuggle into bedding and nap out.

Also keep in mind that you should not pay any attention to him when he acts like he is being punished. By paying attention when he does that and trying to soothe him you are actually nuturing his behavior.

You can correct his problems by disciplining him on the spot. That doesn't mean to yell or hit him, but giving him a firm no and not backing down. Sometimes leaving a leash on when you are home so you can give him a correction via his collar (a choke chain). Snap the leash to the side and at the same time say No, loud & firm. Over time he'll start to learn what he should and shouldn't be doing.

Answer 4

Get up an hour earlier every day and take him for a brisk 45 minute walk before you have to leave him for the day.The dog has slept all night and has lots of pent up energy and nothing to do but chew while everyones gone.A tired dog will go to sleep instead of tear up things.
Then while you're gone try to close him in a room where he'll do the least damage.Laundry room,back porch or evan a bedroom if you have to.Make sure all electric cords are either taped to the wall or not hanging where he can get to them.Leave his toys and bones with him and a fluffy blanket on the floor that's just for him to use.
If shedding is an issue toss some old sheets on the floor and the furniture while you're gone.Then doggie drool and hair won't be a problem.He'll feel more secure and comfortable with a little more time.
As soon as you get in from school he should be walked again for another 30-45 minutes and again before bed if possible.

Answer 5

I'm a big fan of The Dog Whisperer who maintains that dogs who are destructive are only trying to use their pent up energies. Greyhounds must run so I have to ask if you are giving Luda a lot of daily walking times? (Letting him outside isn't walking - it's moving back and forth.) If he can get rid of this built up energies then you can deal with his other issues. The most important thing you can do is get him into the moment and not think that he is crippled by his abusive past. You are his new pack leader and it is up to you to help him focus on the now. Dog packs are good way for Luda to "have a purpose."

Again, I'm not a dog trainer but Caesar's tips have been terrific for my dog. I'd watch The Dog Whisper on the National Geographic. He works with dogs like yours all the time.)

Luda is lucky to have you!

Answer 6

It really makes me mad when I hear my dog chews stuff up and destroys my things, PEOPLE, don't get a pet if your not going to be home to take care of it, dogs like humans,are going to retaliate for lack of companionship, they become anti-social and when left alone they do naughty things. A relative thought it would be cute to get a dog (they work a combined 90 hours a week) no one home for 10 hours a day, poor dog left in a huge house all by himself, (so much time, so much to do) 3chairs, 2 carpets,1 end table 1 couch and loveseat and 30 pairs of socks later, they still haven't learned their lesson.
It's not the dogs fault it's the owners, they didn't go out and buy you for a pet. Have a little common sense.
I know there was a question somewhere to be answered.
Spend time with him, praise him when he does good and scold him when he's bad, all children need discipline.

Answer 7

You need to supply bones and dog treats when you leave. Toys with treats in them that take ages to get out are best.
Also - You should not make a fuss about leaving your home or coming back home.
You need to not make eye contact with your dog, talk to your dog or even touch your dog for twenty minutes before leaving the home or entering a room for the first time. ONly pet your dog after twenty minutes and only if your dog is calm.
You should also minimise the possibility of things he can chew.
First - Put away shoes/kids toys etc.
SEcond - Keep dog in one room only (keep as dog proof as poss)
third - Don't bring out your dogs toys at all until you are leaving your home, this will then give him somethiing else to focus on.

Answer 8

Hmm... I'd say lock him outside while you are gone, but with the way he acts he may jump out, dig out, or escape somehow. When he does something 'bad' point at him and say 'no' in a firm voice then lock him up in a kennel or carrier, and if you don't have one, invest in one for him cause it's the best you can do with out being strict. Let him out after a little while and love on him a lot. You can also buy some anti-chew stuff at wal-mart or pets-mart, and spray it on the stuff you think he might chew. It's some nasty tasting S#$%, (don't ask how I know, but I just know! call it a cruel joke someone played on me) then your dog will think twice about chewing on stuff and you won't be in the picture of distane at all!

Answer 9

Dogs with an abusive history tend to be adapted to certain behaviors like this. What I think you should do is try and be more friendly towards him and feed him treats and stuff like that when he does something good. You might want to experiment with different chew toys and see which ones he likes. Dogs need to be overwhelmingly praised when they do something right so that they can learn. Also, dogs do not need to be hit to be punished. Buy a cage or kennel and use the "time out" treatment. Leave your dog in the kennel for about 15 minutes and then let him out. Make sure he knows what he did wrong to!

Answer 10

Sounds Like you have really been trying hard to occupying this dog ,crate training,toys,bones,LOVE.and now trying to get help.I commend you for your efforts.Try leaving the dog with well made throw pillows,now I'm talking about very well made,Kong's with treats in them and you can get a 12 inch bone at the butcher or even at Pets Mart.Leave the T.V. or radio on at all times this helps.Just keep trying and keep asking until you get the help you need.Good Luck!!!!!