How do you stop a dog digging through walls when left at home alone?

Question

My black 2 year old labrador has to be left in his cage whilst i am at work as he claws at the walls eventually leaving a big hole. I really hate putting him in his cage and would like to let him out in the kitchen and dining room but he has caused so much damage in the past. He also enjoys chewing skirting boards. Any ideas to resolve this problem would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Bored dogs are destructive dogs. You need to exercise this boys mind and body before you crate him. I suggest a good 45 minute walk before leaving him. Demand polite walking and you can even stop occasionally for a training stop. If you exercise the mind, they get much more "tired".

How long are you leaving your dog in his crate?

I suggest placing his crate in the center of your room (away from walls) with plenty of things to keep him busy. A Kong is wonderful with treats stuffed inside (or peanut butter), Nyla Bones and Natural Bones will also keep avid chewers busy.

Answer 2

It sounds to me as if your dog is suffering from separation anxiety. You have to let it know that it is not the Alpha leader of the pack but that YOU are.

Be seen to eat something before you feed him. Go through doors before him. Ignore him for a full 5 minutes when you first get up in the morning and come in from work. Don't pay him any attention (and remember eye contact is communication to a dog) until YOU want to talk to him, otherwise you are saying "Your Majesty - I obey you" and will push home still further the message that he is the pack leader which is the exact opposite of what you are trying to tell him. Praise, lavishly, all good behaviour. Ignore all bad.

Best of all though is to get The Jan Fennell (The Dog Listener) books. This lady loves dogs and certainly knows her stuff.

I went though this with my black Labrador when I first got him. Jan Fennell's system surely worked. At aged 8, he is now the best behaved dog I know and he's never been to one of those daft puppy training classes either.

If you had a child and you didn't know where it had gone, you'd be frantic with worry wouldn't you? This is what is happening with your Lab. He sees himself as leader of the pack and sees you as his children. He is just worried sick that he has lost his 'babies' and needs to go and find you!
Good luck.

Answer 3

I have a lab about the same age that decided chewing the base boards was a good idea as well. I call him my beaver. He gets to sit in his crate while we are at work.

I put in a couple of bones, a frozen kong and I don't feel the least bit of quilt. You shouldn't either. I have 5 dogs and he had plenty of things to keep him occupied, he chose to get into trouble. Now your dog is safe, the house is safe and he won't get in trouble when you get home.

Just make sure you don't leave him for really long periods of time and you give him something to do while he's in there. In a month or so, try leaving him for short periods and see if he's getting better, if not, he's back in his crate. Your boy sounds like he may have a touch of separation anxiety.

Answer 4

In any given situation, focus on what you do want your dog to do instead of on whatever he’s doing wrong. Learn how to train your dog https://tr.im/kZnns

For example, suppose that on many evenings, your young dog gets busy looking for trouble just as you’re digesting your dinner. He grabs a boot from the mat by the front door and gallops through the house with it. You yell at him and take it away. He grabs its mate. You yell and take it away. He heads for the kitchen and starts checking out the counters in case something tasty’s been left behind. You chase him away. And on and on, until you’ve lost your temper and torn out clumps of hair you can ill afford to lose.

Answer 5

First you have to stop the behavior and prevent it from happening again, so a crate is a good idea. If your dog is just bored you might try getting a kong dispenser, it releases kongs every couple of hours and gives the dog something to do and look forward to. If your dog is anxious, you need to do other work with him for him to start feeling better about being left alone. Two years old is young for a dog, they need lots of exercise and training.

www.fearfuldogs.com

Answer 6

Is he getting enough exercise? He needs to run at least some every day. Play frisbee? or ball with him? A two yr old lab is still a puppy esentially. A tired dog is a good dog.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

I don't agree with Dogs in cages either... I know where you are coming from regards not wanting to do it. It could be learnt behaviour. Separation anxiety. Boredom, insufficient exercise, or down to problem diet.

It would pay for you to engage the help of a dog behaviourist who would be able to analyse and help you deal with this problem issue.


It would work out costing you less money to get an expert to help you out and to have to repair damage done! Ask around when you are out with your dogs for a word of mouth recommendation regarding a good trainer and behaviourist in your area or find one on the Association of pet dog trainers APDT website.

Best of luck.

Answer 9

You are on the right track with the cage and he should stay there until he stops chewing. As a puppy he should of been trained not to chew via squirting lemon juice into his mouth each time he chewed, similarly with barking, water squirted into his face with 'NO' as a loud command. This will take time but should work with commitment from you. An outside run/kennel is also a good training aid, these are usually unchewable materials just supply him with one chew type toy and that is all
Regards P

Answer 10

There is nothing cruel about crate training a dog. They are by nature den animals, and most dogs will sleep or spend time in their crates if you leave the door open. A crate is a wonderful TRAINING TOOL--it is not a jail or a place for the dog to live the rest of his life. If you don't crate him when you are not there to supervise, he will continue to destroy the house and you will end up getting rid of him. Which is worse? Labs, like many breeds, need a tremendous amount of exercise as well. You must be observe him when you are home to watch for signs of destruction. ONLY by catching him in the act can you properly correct him. Make sure he has LOTS of good, safe things to chew on instead.