Why is my dog tearing everything up?

Question

My dog is locked in my bedroom when i leave for work, she has already went through 2 doors, clothes, carpet, blankets, why is she acting like that?

I do have a yard, but it is 20 degrees here today, would you like to be tied outside????

I do spend a lot of time with my dog, she sleeps with me everynight. I am only at work until 4 evryday, and when I come home I am home all night.

Answer 1

mine did the exact same thing over and over no matter how may toys a got or tv radio on does not matter he did not stop....
it is seperation anxiety, but you cannot do any thing about it because you have to catch them on act to actually be able to change their behavior. if yours is like mine he never did it when i was there only when i am gone so it is not possible to actually catch it....
what i did is i went to pet store and got the "great dane" crate!!!!. my dog is medium size but i got the BIGGEST crate possible. so when he is in there its like a small room to him...
at first he was mad and didnt want to get in but then he didnt mind when i said go to your kennel he went in and lay down. i tried every month to see if i put him back outside he will stop tearing but it took very long time to get over his anxiety( 1 year for mine) but now he has stoped i think he got over it and realized that i need to go to work there is nothing he can do about so ...
he is perfect now he lays on my bed all day long i think because i leave and come back he is sleeping on the same spot only when he sees me he jumps up and starts playing around...
go buy a crate very big one( so he doesnt feel like prison.)
good luck:)
ps put in the corner some 1/5th filled water just in case he gets thristy but not enough that if he spills it he will be laying in a lake...

Answer 2

Your dog is teething or your dog is bored or both. Sometimes when dogs misbehave they want attention-good or bad-just attention. You can teach your dog to be in a crate while you are gone, just make sure its big enough. After the dog is crate trained, the dog will go there when it wants to rest or less noise. Try to spend a little extra time with your dog and praise him for something good he has done. Dogs are safer inside. I've never had a dog that couldn't get out of a yard if they tried. And sooner or later they will try. I don't let my dogs out unless they are on a runner or I am standing there watching them. I lost a sweetie a couple of years ago and checked and checked everywhere for him and never found him.

Answer 3

She's bored! If you had to sit in a room all day with nothing to do, you'd probably tear something up too (or tear your hair out!).
It would be better if you could get a crate and keep her in there where she can't hurt your stuff or herself. Don't put bedding in there since she will probably tear it up. Give her lots of SAFE toys to play with like a Kong with peanut butter or big treats inside. Make sure she doesn't have to use the bathroom before you put her in the crate AND, very important, don't let her out until she is calm. If she's throwing a fit when you get home and you talk to her (praise to her) and then let her out, she begins to think that her crazy behavior is what eventually gets her out. Ignore her until she is calm, or let her out to potty without speaking to her if she really has to go. Do not look at her or speak to her unless she is well-behaved, then talk to her like the best baby in the world.

It could be that she has separation anxiety where she just freaks at being left alone, but many times just a good distraction is enough to chill them out.

Leaving a tv or radio on helps some dogs. Also, leaving her in the crate in a larger room might or might not help. Some dogs just don't like being alone, and some don't like being confined, and some don't like being unable to see the rest of the house. Different dogs are triggered by different things.

There are anti-anxiety products you can use, some are drugs and some are not. I would suggest starting with something like D.A.P. and Rescue Remedy (just look around online or at your local pet store), but move to something more heavy duty like an anti-anxiety drug (ex, clomipramine) or a tranquilizer if she's just really bad (ex, acepromazine), but only after trying the more mild products for an extended time.

No matter what product you use, you need to do the training at the same time or you will just have to medicate her for life. These medications are intended to be used with training...they calm her down enough for her to pay attention to her training and understand that her anxiety is not necessary.

You may need to talk with an animal behaviorist eventually, but trying some mild treatments and at home training would be a good start.

Her is a fairly good link.
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_separationanxiety

Answer 4

Bordum, seperation anxierty, unstable hierarchy - it could be a number or reasons. I suggest getting a crate, some rubber doggie toys and training lessons.

Establish your dominance - lower dogs in the pack wouldn't think of tearing up alpha's possessions.

have to find a mission for you dog, obediance and maybe even agility. Give your dog a job. Take your dog out at least 30 min- 1hour every day and burn off some energy. A dog that is regularly exercised is completely different behaviorly. You'll notice and immediate difference.

There are also doggie videos you can purchase that holds the dogs attention for a few hours. Get a DVD so you can loop it.

Good Luck

Answer 5

It sounds to me like she is having separation anxiety. Locking her in a bedroom may make her feel anxious. First I would recommend putting her in a crate in a more open room. This protects her and your things. Turn the TV on. You'll need to work with her on going into the crate, but she'll eventually learn to love it. Look up information on crate training, this is a good site: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_cratetraining. I

f she is still real anxious in the crate, then you might talk to the vet about getting her on a medication that calms her. Good Luck!

Answer 6

She is doing this because she has a high energy level and is not being exercised or stimulated. The most important thing to do with a high energy dog like this one is to walk it in the morning and night (always before she eats) for 30 min or longer each session. Dogs need to walk to get rid of excess energy, playing with toys or running around in the yard will not work. Right now the only way for her to get rid of her excess energy is to tear up things, but since that doesn't get rid of all her energy she keeps ruining everything!

Just running around with her in your yard or home will not cut it...her home has become her kennel, possibly a big kennel, but a kennel nonetheless. It is a dogs natural instinct to travel...to walk...that is how they get rid of excess energy.

If your dog pulls on her walks, buy a choke collar and put it high up on her neck, right behind her ears and under her chin (like show dogs). The most important thing to do is to walk out the door before she does. Tell her to sit and make her stay there until you are out the door. This tells her you are dominant over her. Make sure she walks behind or beside you, never in front of you! Everytime she pulls tug gently on the leash towards you so that it pulls her off balance a little bit. Always remember to release the tension after you correct her, if you don't she will fight with you by jumping around. Wait until she is calm before you start walking again.

You will need to do this every day if you want her to calm down. I promise that if you walk her every day she will be a more calm, obedient, and happy dog. Don't get overwhelmed, just keep at it, she will submit to you.

Answer 7

Well for one you lock her in a bedroom. How would you liked to be confined to one room all day. She's getting bored and acting out. Also she may have some separation anxiety. You may want to start by crating her. Dogs are den animals and once they have been crate trained properly find their crate a safe place to be.

Answer 8

Your dog is mad and knows he can get attention if he tears things up. Like the others said, it's like a little kid throwing a tantrum. A dog trainer told me to buy a large crate, large enough for the dog to move around in, put a blanket in there (that makes it "the dogs" own blanket with his scent on it) and fill the crate with his toys and chew bones. Whenever you leave, tap on the crate and that will eventually mean that your dog has to go to his "house". It will work quickly, as I've had 100% success with my dog and this procedure. And when you get home, you let the dog out. This sets boundaries for your dog and he knows when you leave, he has to go "home". Hope this helps!

Answer 9

Possible reasons:
1. Not getting enough attention. Needs more activites and play time with owner.
2. Separation anxiety. Best to try kennel training.
3. Doesn't have enough chew toys.

Answer 10

Wow. Invest in a crate. It's not the worst thing in the world. Make sure you get a crate large enough so that your (grown) dog can comfortably stand up and turn around inside it.