My dog has always been wonderful. He is a 4 yr old black lab, beagle mix. Very energetic friendly loving animal. Last week I came home and he had attacked the woodwork next to the front door. completely ruined it. then today I came home and he did worse! Window sill to picture window ruined, counter top in kitchen?, door to the house and the doorknob, and he took all the stuff off the couch and ripped it all up. I dont know what to do. he hasnt been exposed to any chemicals and nothing has changed. Wasnt gone longer than usual or any thing. Help?!
2007-05-13 14:31:15 · 12 answers · asked by Andrea 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Crate him when you are not there. Safer for him and the house/.
2007-05-13 14:34:54 · answer #1 · answered by Karen W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was immediately struck that this is new behavior for a 4 year old dog who has, at least up to this point, been trustworthy. I was also struck by what he damaged--woodwork by the door, window sill, door to the house, and doorknob--couch and counter top. Are you sure someone has not been trying to break into the house? Or possibly coming to the window/door and teasing the dog? Perhaps a cat even?
I agree that crating in a room away from the areas that he has attacked is in order. Leave a radio or TV on as well. I can't help but suspect that someone or something has been tormenting this dog. Just a hunch.
2007-05-13 22:22:49 · answer #2 · answered by PM 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to do a full assessment of what has changed. It is very strange for a dog to be fine for 4 years and then have a significant behavior change like this.
If you haven't already, take him in to the vet for a full physical. Try to determine if anything has changed: your schedule, work, people in your life, neighborhood, etc. Maybe even put a camera up in the house while you are gone to see if there is someone in particular walking by or a stray dog coming around.
After 4 years of being a free dog in the house, you don't want to stuff him in a crate or kennel and call it good. You will have to introduce him to the crate slowly and make it a good thing - not a punishment. He should want to go into his crate.
Email me if you want to discuss further or analyze what might have "changed" to encourage the behavior.
I hope this helps.
2007-05-13 21:49:53 · answer #3 · answered by alaskajacks 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some dogs find it over whelming to guard the whole house.. They will destroy things out of frustration. They do better if they are crated while you are gone, then they need only guard their own crate.
But if he has been fine up until now??? I have to wonder, if something didn't happen one day while you were gone.. Maybe workmen coming in? Or someone coming to the door and making a fuss... or someone teasing him while you are gone.. Maybe you are gone to work, and some kids are teasing him w/ the doorbell??
Dogs normally wreck things like that out of frustration.. You need to find out what might suddenly have started to frustrate him. If it wasn't someone or something.. then I would see the vet to make sure that he doesn't have some health issue.. I don't know labs specifically that well, I don't know if they are likely to have any certain syndromes.. Like certain breeds have Rage syndrome.. that type thing.. But I would check with the vet if you can't come up with something..
Especially since it's the doors and windows, that he tends to be going after.. I suspect something frustrating him and he knows the way out to it is via the door or window.. Maybe workmen on the street?? People on the street canvassing for money?? Someone casing the place??? Who knows..
Anyhow I would crate him while you are gone so that he can't bother things, and can't get hurt out of frustration.. Might put up a camera to see if you can catch what might be going on? More squirrels in the neighbourhood even?
2007-05-13 22:00:35 · answer #4 · answered by DP 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes dogs can get upset when their owners leave them if you get a toy which has a hole in the bottom put some of his favorite dog food in it and see if that and a few doggy toys help if not that doesn't help then most likely the best thing to do is contact your vet.....Also MANY people think that crating him is the answer but sometimes its not because it could upset him and he could become depressed and also you don't know when to let him out. when animals get depressed they tend to stay away from his owners and when you are praising him he might even start to think that you are yelling at him
2007-05-13 21:38:26 · answer #5 · answered by Pinky loves RED 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He needs a safe place to spend his day. Either a room in the house that is mor or less dog proof. Or get hime his own bedroom it's called a crate. Crates work well as end tables, or night stands.
2007-05-13 21:43:35 · answer #6 · answered by keezy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think a cage would be cheaper than a psychiatrist. I think he resents you leaving him alone. Confine him to a cage when you go away. He may also be smelling a female in heat and he can't get outside to chase her. But you don't want him to anyway. Time he went to jail for his crimes. Just kidding. Hope everything turns out okay for you. Sorry he did so much damage, that sure wasn't funny. Good Luck.
2007-05-13 21:46:19 · answer #7 · answered by Cassy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Crate him. He could hurt himself when you are not home...you wouldn't want to come home to a dead or dying dog. Give him a kong filled with peanut butter that was frozen overnight and that will keep him busy in the crate.
2007-05-13 21:35:37 · answer #8 · answered by Katie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you may want to start putting him in a cage. and slowly let him out and see if he can handle it. but when you 1st start taking him out of the cage when you arent home you should probably only be gone for a few hours at the most.
2007-05-13 21:34:34 · answer #9 · answered by xoxox 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
going to need to start putting him in a cage while you are out. i would hate to do that myself, but you need to before he eats his way out of the house.
2007-05-13 21:40:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋