I recently had shoulder surgery and have been home all day for the last 2 months. I have recently started therapy twice a week and am gone for about 2-3 hours. I come home to find couch pillows torn up, shoes chewed and throw blankets ripped apart. I have never had a problem with them chewing things. I don't know what i am going to do when i have to return to work, I don't want to have to kennel them when i am gone. About the same time i had surgery one of my children and their 2 children moved in with me. Until the kids moved in the dogs had their own bedroom with a queen size mattress for them to sleep on, now they just sleep wherever. They seem to enjoy all the attention the get from the kids they just have a problem when left alone.
2007-02-11 14:07:41 · 7 answers · asked by bonlkni 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Seems like they have separation anxiety. They don't know about your issues and can not connect that to why they are being left alone so much more than usual. There are special dog trainers out there that can help you with this if it's a very serious case. It takes time and patience to get your dogs to not be afraid of being left alone.
They see you as their pack leader and when you are gone, they don't know what to do and will mess things up to release their energy. Try taking them out for a long walk or a good run before you leave. Don't baby talk them before you leave. Try not to talk to them or get them excited 30 mins before you leave as well. If you have the time, slowly get them used to you leaving by walking out the door casually at short time intevals at first and increasing the time you leave longer and longer. This takes weeks and even months of training before they are totally in control of themselves when you leave.
Seek help from a professional if you think that's better. They can really help you.
2007-02-11 14:14:20 · answer #1 · answered by angela923 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like separation anxiety. If you were home all day for two months then they became attached to you and expect you to be there, so when you leave they do what kids do... throw a tantrum. Okay so not literally. They just get anxious and have to release their nervous energy (some dogs are more distructive when they do this). Separation anxiety can be extremely frustrating but it's not impossible to overcome.
One of the best ways to deal with it is to give them a lot of things to do so they don't have time to miss you. You could give them an assortment of nylabones, busy bones, kong toys with sugar free organic peanut butter or treats inside, as well as hiding treat cups (plastic cups with healthy treats) throughout your house. This way, while you're gone, they have something to do.
Obediance training also helps with separation anxiety because it gives them the confidence to be okay while you are gone.
Also, there are toys designed to occupy dogs for a long time. You could look into those. Finally, toy rotation. Leave you dogs with a small assortment of their toys, and put the rest away.Every week or two switch out some of their toys for the ones that were away. This way they get new toys to play with. Make sure when you leave you don't make a big deal, and to prevent them from detecting patterns in your behavior for leaving mix up the order you do things (get out your keys before putting your shoes on, putting your jacket on after your shoes, getting your keys before your jacket, etc.)
If these things don't work, you can look into making a safe play room for them (like the kitchen). It's cheaper than buying kennels for them (even if you want to put child locks on your cabinets) and this way they can only chew on what you leave them to chew on. I'm not sure where you'd find a gate tall enough to enclose a great dane, but I'm sure you could talk to some people at petsmart or petco and find something that will work. Good Luck!
2007-02-11 14:23:56 · answer #2 · answered by voodoo-dolly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When danes get bored, thats what they do. I gave my dane a foam matress because his "elbows" were starting to get sores on them from him laying on the concrete all of the time. Anyhow I would always take him out and play with him at least 90 minutes to 2 hours a day until my work schedule changed, then he started chewing apart his mattress.. and eventually when I went back to finding the time to interact with him, that behavior stopped. So from that point on, I make it my business to run him around the yard. Even if I get home at 9:00PM and I spend 45 minutes throwing the ball in the back yard and playing "fetch", its well worth it.
2007-02-11 14:15:05 · answer #3 · answered by Joe K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Easy - they are bored! It's what drives dogs to chew. Smart dogs need mental stimulation - walks, playtime games, even chores and responsibilities.
2007-02-11 14:10:59 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chances are that, in your condition, you haven't been available to exercise the dogs. They have energy that they need to use. I would suggest that you take them to day-care 1-2x weekly until you're healed enough to get them back on a normal exercise schedule.
2007-02-11 14:13:50 · answer #5 · answered by Blue Lisa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What kind of toys do they have?
It's my expierence that dogs that chew on things are just bored. They need more stimulations. Try KONGS.
2007-02-11 14:18:44 · answer #6 · answered by Tiff 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe they are bored. they got used to people around all the time. can you excersise them before you go out. maybe that will tire them out some.
2007-02-11 14:17:58 · answer #7 · answered by catwoman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋