I have a dog that we got from the pound, we have had him 3 months, he is 16 months old. He is a very good dog when we are around. When we leave him alone we have a problem. He will get into everything. He does not chew things up , but he will take sheets off the bed, take things off the table, empty the clothes hamper etc. I know there must be an issue of seperation anxiety due to the fact that he was abandoned once. I have a big kennel but I hate to leave him in that , he is a big dog ( american foxhound). Would a muzzle while we are gone to the grocery store or out to dinner to harsh? We can not even go to the neighbors for a cup of coffee and he trashes the house. Suggestions and help please. He knows he is wrong, because when we walk thru the door he runs and hides under the bed!
2007-05-15 06:51:27 · 24 answers · asked by vivib 6 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Sorry but I hate the idea of using muzzles in this way. the kennel is the best thing you can do for him. It is not cruel and you can give him a toy and a chewy while you are gone. Way safer then the muzzel. I kennel my dog when I am gone and he is fine. All i have to say is "Kennel" and he gose right in.
2007-05-15 06:58:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
B-4 you try muzzling him. I would try taking him on a nice long walk, maybe even run w/ him or put him on a treadmill. It's not always separation anxiety that makes a dog do what he is doing. Next time you get ready to go out try giving him a good half hour of exercise. Sometimes a dog is just bored or just highly active and he wants/needs more exercise. Remember a "tired" dog is a good dog. When he runs and hides it's not because he knows he's done wrong. It's because he hasn't develop a partnership w/ you. Again "The Walk" will bring a closer bond between you two and you will notice a change in him almost immediately. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
2007-05-15 07:02:46 · answer #2 · answered by Beano 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At 16 months I would consider him...still a baby. And he certainly is acting like one. I personaly don't like muzzles. He could catch it on something and hurt himself.
He needs to get used to your leaving. Pick up everything he would normally go after. (just like you would a child) And be sure he has things of his own. Leave the house for just a minute and go back in. See how far he got and praise him if he was good and take away anything he got wrong. Don't hit him or yell at him. Leave again. Try this a number of time. until he get the idea that being good gets a reward. You will need to do this for possibly seveal weeks, Increase the time you leave him as he begins to get the idea. This requires everyone's co-operation in the household.
If you haven't already done so put his kennel in a good place in the house and leave the door open. Put in a blanket or pillow and some of his toys. That way he actually has a place of his own.
For longer separations, you could put him in a room that is best equiped with his stuff and less of your stuff. One of those balls you can put food into is great. He can roll it around for hours and get little treats. Be sure his kennel is in his room.
2007-05-15 07:23:02 · answer #3 · answered by Lyn B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is basically showing his fears of abandonment each time you leave but I'm afraid the muzzle will just emphasize his anxiety. Maybe you and your family could take a weekend and start out leaving him for a couple of minutes at a time. Just walk down the street or something but don't give him enough time to wreck the house and when you come back (even though he hasn't had time to make a mess) praise and reward him for not touching anything. But tell him as you leave not to do anything. To sit and be good. Do this every time you leave and extend the amount of time you're gone by minutes until you can get up to at least a half an hour. Dogs tend to learn better by praise and repetition. He will then associate love and praise with you leaving and coming back. My dog was abandoned at a campground so when I found her she had problems trusting me but after a few months I had to be away helping my dad who was sick and she would surround herself with items that had my scent on them. She would actually lay on top of them. Maybe you could leave a few things of yours around that your dog could smell so he could be comforted. I also read that a woman taught her dog a job to do while she was gone so he kept busy and didn't miss her. There is also on the market a plug in that will release aromatherapy for animals with anxiety but I never tried it. It's supposed to calm them. Hope I helped.
2007-05-15 07:15:50 · answer #4 · answered by Catlover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't really muzzle the dog when you leave him - it could get caught in something and really hurt him. You'll need to use the kennel if your house isn't to be trashed every time you go out. Try filling one of those kong toys with treats, and throw it in the kennel. Then put him in. He needs to read different signals when you go out - not abandonment. He doesn't know he's done wrong when you come back - he's probably reading your expressions or body language, which is telling him he's done wrong. Separation anxiety is a big problem, but with time and patience and thorough training, you can ease it considerably.
2007-05-15 07:10:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have a kennel, put him in there. If he is having separation issues like that, being alone in the house is scary and intimidating where as the kennel is safe and secure and not near as traumatizing as what he is going through alone in the house.
If he knows what he did is wrong, then he is REALLY going through trauma when you leave and the kennel will be a blessing to him. Dogs don't at all mind being in kennels when they are not left in there too long and they will actually come to see it as a safe haven.
If you are not willing to consider the kennel, Then leave him in just one bedroom instead of giving the whole run of the house. That will be less stressful for him. You can even put him in there and make some noises around the house and then sneak out, and he might not even know you left!
Good luck!
2007-05-15 06:59:59 · answer #6 · answered by Shanna 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You need to do a search on 'crate training' on google. These are behavioral issues that can be resolved through strict training. It's hard, but worth it.
Muzzles don't solve the problem, especially with intelligent animals that still have working paws ;) Crate training deals with the root of the problem and is not so harsh. Muzzles are seriously not a good idea unless the dog is just old and violent or specially trained for military/law enforcement reasons. All they do is create a very agressive, not nice dog.
2007-05-15 06:56:23 · answer #7 · answered by IRSmart 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Please do not leave a muzzle on your dog while you are not supervising him. When you leave him alone in your home, its like leaving a 2 year old alone to terrorize your house. It takes time to teach him not to do those things. Once you put the time and effort in, you will have a trust worthy dog you can trust alone. I'm talking approx. two years for a large breed dog. While in that training period, utilize a crate when you can not keep him under a watchful eye.
He trashes your house out of boredom. You get to go out and get stimulation from the world, he is stuck inside the same four walls. More exercise and mental stimulation (ie. Buster Cube or a Kong with food smeared in it) would also help you keep him focused on an acceptable project.
Also, he does not know what he is doing is wrong because he runs and hides. He runs and hides when you get home because he's punished when he gets home. Your either mad, or yell, or worse, so he's learned, when you get home, stay away from you! Dog's are smart and logical creatures. They know a mad owner is one to steer clear of.
2007-05-15 07:57:24 · answer #8 · answered by SDHATL 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he has anxiety about you leaving I wouldn't doubt that if you put a muzzle on him he would use that same energy to try to take the muzzle off. I would be worried that he would scratch up his face while trying to do so. Try puppy proofing your house and when you leave, close all the bedroom, bathroom and laundry room doors and if you have stairs put a baby gate at the base. As I'm sure you know, having a puppy is like having a child. They love to explore will get into anything when they are bored. While you are puppy proofing, make sure all medications and poisonous cleaners are put in cabinets that the dog cannot reach and get into.
2007-05-15 07:13:14 · answer #9 · answered by goshrks07 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you should only muzzle a dog if it is aggressive and bites and is a danger to others. I would get the biggest crate that you can find for him, and crate train. Or, if you have an area like a garage or laundry room that has nothing he can tear up or get into, put him in there when you are not home. It could very well be a seperation anxiety issue, I would call and talk to your vet about it.
2007-05-15 07:03:18 · answer #10 · answered by Lynn K 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
HE is obviously trying to tell you something! He probably has separation anxiety. When you leave the house, try not to rattle your keys or make a big deal out of leaving. Give him things to keep him occupied while you are gone, a large rawhide bone, for instance. Maybe leave the TV on when you leave. Absolutely do not muzzle him while you are gone!! That would be cruel. He just needs time, and patience, and some training. Try researching separation anxiety on the web. I have seen episodes on Animal Planet with animal who go nuts when their humans leave the house. It is possible to train them, but it does take time. Give him loads of attention when you are home, and don't make a big deal out of leaving, like saying bye to him. Try doing it for a minute or two at a time, come back in. Gradually lengthen the times coming and going. good luck
2007-05-15 07:29:13 · answer #11 · answered by porkchop 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋