Destructive 11 month cross?

Question

I love my puppy very much.Recently he has become allot more destructive. He is a Jack Russel, Cocker Spaniel cross he is so friendly and cute and playful. He likes to target our sofa bed. The only way we can stop him from pulling all the stuffing out of it when we go out is by putting cardboard on it (which he shredds). Today for example he did the sofa bed, turned the bin out over the floor (but this was our fault as there were food wrapping in it) and chewed up our telephone book. We give him big things to chew on when we go out. we take him on long walks to make him tired. We praise him if he is good. We have tried both ignoring when bad and shouting when bad. We have tried chew sprays and spicy things. But our puppy now really loves spicy things lol. The only thing we havent tried is sound averson. But we arnt there to make a loud noise when he is bad. Thank you for any ideas. Im now considering hiring some sort of dog sitter but where could I find one? Or any cheaper ideas

Answer 1

Hi Katie B!
Yes use crate for dog, it is not bad variant, but Finding A Dog Sitter much better. It allows your dog to stay in the comfort of their own home and helps the dog maintain a normal routine.

The 10 recommendations to help you find the perfect pet sitter.
Please look article: http://www.askedweb.com/askedweb/Help_With_Finding_A_Dog_Sitter/

Also, you may to use services Dog Walker. You can seek out references from friends that have dog walkers, your veterinarian, and dog groomer. They may know of individual dog walkers or dog walking services.

* Make sure you find out if your dog walker has dog walking experience.
* Make sure that they also have a business license.


Find this information and investigate it thoroughly.Please look article: http://www.askedweb.com/askedweb/How_To_Hire_The_Perfect_Dog_Walker/
They will enter your home for daily dog walking, so you must trust them like you would trust a babysitter.

Jason Homan

Answer 2

You will find dog sitters either on the web by typing in pet sitters,or at your vets.I think its a good idea that you get someone to come and watch your dog,for a cheper alternative have you got a family member or friend who would be happy to look after him?Your dog could suffer with seperation anxeity and there for no matter what you put down when you leave him,he will still chew as this is much more of a comfort for him.Also no matter how many walks hes taken on,if hes beeing left long hours during the day etc he will still get bored.Dogs enjoy company they are pack animals and they crave companionship.Hope you find someone to help.Good luck.

Answer 3

Crate training would be a good idea. Just make sure you introduce the crate correctly-- make sure it's a place he likes to go instead of viewed as a punishment. Giving him treats while you're introducing him to it will help with that. Also, leave the door to it open while you're home, and he'll get used to going in there to take a nap. That way, it's not just associated with being left alone.
Does your dog follow you around alot when you're home? Greet you frantically when you return? Does he bark or whine a lot when you leave or are getting ready to leave or act like he's panicking when you get ready to leave? If he does, I would do some research on separation anxiety. If that's his problem, then there are a whole series of things you can do to help alleviate separation anxiety and stop the destructive behavior. My dog had pretty severe separation anxiety, but again, the thing that helped save my personal belongings from being destroyed while I worked on the (long) process of desensitizing her to being alone was a crate! I only shut her in it once she starting liking it and going in it on her own, and it even helped in her recovery because she felt very secure in her little "den" and eventually learned that I would always return to the crate, so there was no need to panic. Good luck!

Answer 4

How long do you leave him on his own? If it is longer than the recommended 4 hours then you need to either hire a dog walker or, if you can, then perhaps you could get home yourself in the middle of the day to walk him and to relieve his boredom, he is destructive because he is bored! Exercise wise he needs at least an hour and a half each day for his size, split between 3 walks, and he also needs plenty of mental stimulation, get him one of those Kong toys and fill it with lots of edible goodies for him to work at while you are not there, don't use sound aversion unless you know exactly what you are doing as it can cause nervousness if overused, or employ the help of a dog behaviourist.

Answer 5

I'm kinda horrified with all these people who use crates. Your dog is upset and stressed because he's alone. Putting him in a crate will solve YOUR problem but still leave him stressed and upset and worse confined in a small space and, if badly introduced, wondering why you're punishing him. He's a dog - not a rabbit. His bad behaviour happens when you leave him. Dogs are social pack creatures and he doesn't understand why you leave him behind and is afraid you won't come back.
He's got separation anxiety. You can help him feel secure when you leave by sarting a behavioural programme. Ask your vet and look these up on the web. I looked up one for you but there are better out there
http://www.petvets.com/petcare/dogs.html#clomicalm

A lot of people who plan on leaving their dog for long periods at home buy two so they keep each other company. You may not have this option. His behaviour should improve with age and experience either way and the panic and stress he feels that causes him to destroy your belongings won't stop immediately just because he's in a crate. And a frightened dog in a crate strikes me as enormously cruel. So please consider helping him learn that you will come home and are not abandoning him before you start training him to a crate.

Answer 6

Confinement in one room or an indoor kennel or crate would be the best answer!Make sure he has plenty of toys and try to take him out into the garden or an area where he can play before you have to leave him! He might then grow out of it! It could be that he's suffering from seperation anxiety or boredom (the main causes of destructive behaviour) How long do you leave him alone for? Getting angry or shouting will not work as he won't realise you are angry about something he did perhaps an hour before. He'll associate it with his greeting you and could end up too scared to do that!
Be as patient with him as you can and good luck!

Answer 7

Crate the dog when you are not home to watch him.
That will solve your problem. Most dogs are somewhat destructive when they are young and some up until the are two or so. You should crate him when you are not available to watch him so he does not chew up anything that could hurt him.
I also know a few dogs who like the pepper spray stuff so it does not always work on every dog.

Answer 8

The obvious solution, which about every dog owner uses, is a crate for when you're not at home. Much cheaper than a dog sitter.

Answer 9

Yes - a 'crate' - which is a sort of large wire mesh kennel - big enough to put in a dog bed and water bowl, and for the puppy to romp about and play in - until he's a little older and wiser!

Answer 10

Take him to the vet and make sure both his balls have dropped. Because if they haven't it may have to be castrated. This may be the reason why your dog is being destructive.