We are at our wit's end, perfect dog if not left alone. We have to work/school and he has ruined hot tub cover, broke fences, ate patio furniture, pretty much anything in his sight he destroys. Usually within the 1st hour of being left alone. Don't know what to do and can't bare giving him up. PLEASE HELP!
2007-08-29 14:19:12 · 14 answers · asked by Lisa G 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
It sounds like he is suffering from separation anxiety. This can be caused by any number of problems but the effects and the cures are pretty much the same regardless of the cause.
There are some longer term cures that address his lack of independence from you but if you are already at your wit's end then you need to physically remove him from that environment while you work on them.
He is a big dog so make sure he gets lots of exercise everyday. Walk him for several hours if you have to in order to get him good and relaxed. Invest in a crate that he can stay in inside the house while you are gone. Otherwise, put up a dog run to protect your yard.
He should not be left in a crate for more than 4 hours at a stretch so someone needs to take him out at noon.
He needs to associate his being alone with good things so get him a large Kong or similar rubber toy, pack it with food that he likes, stuff the holes with cream cheese and freeze it. He gets this only when you leave and it should be enough to last him through as much of that first hour as possible.
You can also talk to your vet about Reconcile or similar medications that can help him along. Provide obedience training for him starting today including as long a down/stay as you can. Get him used to you walking away from him.
Make sure that he doesn't sit on the couch with you or drape himself on your feet. In other words, make sure he has his own space in which to amuse himself.
You can cure him of these behaviors but they take a little time. In the meantime, increase the exercise and consider taking him to a reputable doggy daycare a few times a week.
Here are more ideas for fixing this problem:
http://www.metpet.com/Reference/Dogs/Training/separation_anxiety_in_dogs.htm
2007-08-29 14:37:16 · answer #1 · answered by nt_sndr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should not be leaving your pup alone in the back yard when you are at work. I can't even begin to list all the horrible deadly things that could happen to him while you are away.
Your puppy ought to be part of your family, not abandoned for 7 or 8 hours a day. He could be lonely, he could be suffering from separation anxiety, he could be just being a puppy.
Crate him. inside the house. that will keep him safe.
Then find someone you trust who likes dogs and pay them to come over and play with your puppy while you are gone.
Or take him to doggy day care.
Or find someone who can give him the attention he needs.
2007-08-29 14:31:12 · answer #2 · answered by MissPriss 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like your dog has severe separation anxiety when you leave and is destroying things out of boredom and frustration at being left alone all day long. I would suggest that you crate him during the day when you're gone, this protects your house and him. I would hire a dog walker to come during the middle of the day to let him out of his crate and to take him for a walk to break up his day. Make sure that when you come home the dog is exercised a lot to help him work off his frustration of being left in the crate.
If you dont' have time to walk him in the morning before crating you might want to get a treadmill that you can put him on for 30 minutes to tire him out before you leave.
Read up on separation anxiety, consult a trainer on what to do and how to "desensitize" him from your leaving.
2007-08-29 14:30:08 · answer #3 · answered by Weimaraner Mom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get one of those big Kong toys and/or large beef leg bones and smear a mixture of peanut butter and kibble into the holes. Freeze the Kong so the stuff is harder to get out. Dogs will work at these things for hours to try to get all the good stuff.
There's also a ball that you fill with small kibble or treats (like dry cat food) and the dog has to nudge it to make it roll, so it will drop pieces out slowly one by one. It's great at getting their minds occupied.
2007-08-29 14:25:35 · answer #4 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hes still only young and has to channel his energy somewhere, if you are leaving him for long periods of time alone he will get bored and may even suffer from seperation anxiety..
Can you secure an area just for him for his own safety? and possibly have someone call in and spend some time with him to break the day up?
2007-08-29 14:33:45 · answer #5 · answered by sazzy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't give him up! I don't understand why you leave him outside anyway unattended for the whole day. Buy a large crate and put him in that during the day. It sounds like you don't have the time for a dog if they are left alone all day. If you do decide to give the dog up, it would be for the reason that you have no time for it.
2007-08-29 14:24:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My dogs do this too. It is because they are puppies and they get upset or bored when we are gone. He will grow out of it. You could try putting him in a kennel for a couple of hours while you are gone. Or build a dog run in your backyard so he doesn't have access to everything while you are gone.
2007-08-29 14:25:21 · answer #7 · answered by JoV 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like seperation anxiety to me. There are some books that can help with that. I have also seen tips on TC shows about dog training about that.
Have you tried things like Kongs and the Cube to help
keep his mind stimulated while you are gone? I like to
fill my dogs kong iwth peanut butter and freeze it as it
takes him a lot longer to get the treats inside.
2007-08-29 14:28:35 · answer #8 · answered by yarmiah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy a crate and leave him in I had too do that to my dog when she was a pup and I would go to school.but she never did those kind of stuff.
2007-08-29 14:35:24 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a large crate.
Put it in the house or garage.
Crate the dog when you leave.
He will learn to sleep in the crate.
Your problems are solved.
2007-08-29 16:29:27 · answer #10 · answered by mama woof 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋