How can we stop our Shepard from tearing up windows etc while we work - she's 4 1/2 & never been crate trained

Question

We adopted her from GS Rescue at 1 1/2 yrs old - she has separation anxiety

Answer 1

Yeah seperation anxiety is VERY difficult to get rid of. Mainly cause it only shows up when your gone. SO you arent there to stop the behavior. Some people suggest you crate her but at 4 years old its going to be a little tramatic to do that when she had full run of the home, it will have to be a very postitive experiance and trying to explain everything you need to to here, would take pages. As much as i hate over medicating a dog for behaviors, I often have seen dogs do much better on anti psychotic drugs, or sometimes just a mild sedative when your gone can do wonders. Lots of exercise and activity before you leave the home and soon after you come home does alleviate some of the fustration of your being gone.

Answer 2

Crate training will be a huge help. Also, try short trips out (like a minute) then come back in-don't make a fuss either leaving or returning-be very matter of fact. Say Bye and leave, come back in and give a quick pat but don't "oh good girl" etc. Work up from a minute to 5 to 10 to 30. It will take time but will get better. Give toys that will keep her occupied (Puzzle Bone form Nylabone is good, or a kong). If nothing works after trying the training-you can as a last, last resort try medication to help with anxiety. I use it for my rescued semi-feral cat and it did help a lot (a month's worth is only about $4). Best of luck!

Answer 3

He's a baby, you can't expect him to be 100% trained at this age. If he was in his crate and had to go and you weren't there to let him out, it's not his fault. Yorkie's are little dogs they sometimes take a little longer to crate and house train. Be patient with him and please do not scold him (ever) for going in his crate or in the house. If he does, it's your fault not his. So, just clean it up and try not to leave him alone so long next time. (At most a four month old pup should be able to be left for about 4 hours during the day without being let out). Be sure to get him out whever he wakes up, after he plays, after he drinks and after he eats. That should keep accidents in the house to a minimum. My puppies go out every two hours if none of the above happens first. Good luck.

Answer 4

Its time to start crate training. If she was a rescue dog, she is already familiar with crate training and will not get too funny about it. We rescued a boxer mix with similar problems and within a week she was fine with the crate and seems happier there than when she's allowed to roam free. She seems to have been overwhelmed by trying to protect or defend too big a space.

Answer 5

You can still crate train her, it will be more difficult because of her age. Just start with small amounts of time in there first and gradually increase the time.

Put toys, and a blanket in there with her. NEVER release her from there when she cries or whines or barks, or you'll be telling her that is how she can come out....!

Other than that, the only other advice I have is to remove anything that means anything to you while your out of the house and leave her alone.

Answer 6

I would say maybe get her in some obedience classes. but you know what they say, its hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Crate training really isnt that hard, especially with a grown dog she just may bark awhile until she gets used to it. maybe you can just confine her to one room while your away? or can she be outside while your not there? good luck and i think its awesome that you rescued her

Answer 7

Ah yes... Crate training! First buy KENNEL LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE DOG AND KEEP IT OPEN AT ALL TIMES AT FIRST. dOGS HAVE A SENSE OF SECURITY WHEN THEYRE IN A "CAVE/HOUSE". yOU''L NOTICE YOUR DOG WILL START TO SNIFF IT AT FIRST. tRY PUTTING HIS FAVORITE BLANKET, AND A COUPLE TREATS AND A TOY IN THERE. HE'LL SOON START TO GO IN THERE TO SLEEP EVERY NIGHT. BUT, WHEN YOUR HOME PUT THE KENNEL IN THE LIVING ROOM OR KITCHEN (WHERE YOU ARE THE MOST) AND PUT HIM IN FOR A FEW MINUTES AT A TIME. THEN, START WALKING AWAY FROM HIM FOR A COUPLE MINUTES. dONT TAKE HIM OUT IF HE STARTS TO WHINE. dONT TALK TO HIM IF HE STARTS WHINING. YOU NEED TO LET HIM STOP WHINNING THEN WHEN HE STOPS LET HIM OUT AND GIVE HIM A TREAT. FOR THE CHEWING YOU CAN BUY A PRODUCT CALLED A KONG! iT'S A RUBBER CHEWY FOR DOGS.(DIFFERRENT SIZES FOR DIFFERENT DOGS.) pUT PEANUT BUTTER IN IT AND BE FORE YOU LEAVE PUT HIM IN THE PET KENNEL WITH THE KONG! IT'LL KEEP HIM BUSY. ALSO, YOU COULD TRY KEEPING THE TV OR RADIO ON. THAT HELPS SO HE OR SHE HEARS TALKING AND DOESNT EVEN RESPOND TO THE SILENCE.

Answer 8

She must be bored cause my dog used to chew up everything from ceramic lawn ornaments to pop cans and shows to rugs, toys and plants. Try getting her something of her own to chew on......dog toys or one of those huge cow leg bones......thye taste good to them and it takes forever to chew through them. Dogs get bored when humans are gone because they need someone to occupy them. Take her out for a long walk or run when you get home and you need to stay on top of her on the chewing because just telling them no wont work all the time. Try one of those obediance classes.......unfortunately dogs have flaws too and those classes arent that expensive. Its well worth it to freshen up your dog's manners......also how much time do you spend with the dog.......dogs need attention........some more than others...........so keep that in mind! If they are left alone too long boredom sets in........I would chew stuff up too.....lol!

Answer 9

Call the GS Rescue you got her from and ask for help.

THEY are the experts at stuff like this and would want to help you.

Answer 10

she needs to be exercise and crate train, it is like leaving a child at home without protection.

take her to basic training classes. keep her budy with kongs stuff with frozen peanut butter. but most important is exercise. 45 mins daily