I have a 1 1/2 year old Italian Mastiff that has decided to chew on valuable items in my house (shoes, rugs) while we are away at work. I do not want to crate him for hours at a time during the day while we are gone, but unless he stops that may be are only option. Help us please!!!
2007-11-12 14:44:59 · 23 answers · asked by cagardmi 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Crating is not a bad things it can keep them out of danger if he is doing this he could get hold of cleaning item or something that could kill it if you don't like the crate do you have a safe room you could put him in where he only has toys to play with when you are gone
2007-11-12 14:51:55 · answer #1 · answered by chihuahuamom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She needs more exercise. Start by walking her 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon. That should help burn off some of the energy. And should reduce te chewing a lot. Next get a Kong or Buster cube and fill them with some food (Or put some plain peanut butter in the KOng.) and let her munch on those. You might also keep her crated, if you can't watch her, And for the moment, keep things off the floor. and put bitter apple on things that you can't move - like the carpet and paint. Healthy, happy dogs will go to sleep if they are bored, but they will chew if they aren't getting enuff exercise. A tired out dog is a good dog.
2016-05-22 21:53:20 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Step 1: exercise him for 30-45 minutes prior to leaving the house. take him on a walk. Put the leash on, walk for 5 minutes- let him do his business and then walk for 25-35 minutes no stopping. He doesn't pull, he's in a heel, no nose to the ground, a nice brisk directed walk.
Step 2: get a kennel - your dog is either bored out of his mind or is anxious and therefore chewing on things is fun and relieves his anxiety. A crate isn't cruel - it's like a bed for dogs. It's his special place. After that walk, he'll sleep all day long in his crate
Look up crate training on yahoo or google - there is a right and wrong way to crate train a dog!
Step 3: when you come home from work, take him on another 20-30 minute walk. That will get the wiggles out and then he will tired and not freaking out running through the house.
2007-11-12 15:04:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dog-proof a room of the house where he can safely stay while you're gone. This can be a utility room or a bedroom or even the kitchen using a baby-gate.
Leave a nice comfy bed, some toys, food and water. Kongs or other food-stuffed toys for him to work on while you're gone are a good idea. Freeze them and they can last a few hours.
I would recommend having his crate in the room you choose so that he has a comfy place to chill (door open). Make sure nothing is out except his own toys so he won't ruin your stuff.
Most dogs don't have enough toys, so make sure he has at least 3 toys every day and rotate them so every day it's something he hasn't gotten tired of the day before.
2007-11-12 14:58:28 · answer #4 · answered by Behaviorist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing wrong with crating him while you are at work. What do you want him to be doing while you are gone? Running around the house? Socializing with phantoms? Nope... What dogs do while you are gone is sleep. When they are running around the house that is when they get worked up and distructive. Excersise him well when you are home and his needs for socialization and excersice will be more than covered.
As he gets older and becomes calmer (the crate will help him with this as he becomes accustomed to unplugging and chilling out while you are gone) the he can "Graduate" to being left out. First a day here and there and then the day will come when you can put the crate away. But you may not. You may just be surprised that once he becomes accustomed to it that even when you are home he may return to the crate on his own at times of rest. It sorta becomes thier doggie den and lots of them feel safe there.
~Tyed~
2007-11-12 14:54:52 · answer #5 · answered by owltyedup 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am only assuming that you have had the dog for awhile and now he is acting up? Has something changed in his routine or your schedule?? Is he still getting the exercise he really needs to keep from being bored and restless while you are gone? Dogs do not normally just start doing something different unless something has triggered the behaviour. Yes, he is big enough to be very destructive. I'd hate to see him crated up all day too! Think hard to look for a cause of this behaviour and it could be something minor to you but not to him. Sometimes pets don;t react well to even minor changes in surroundings, schedules, visitors. Maybe the weather changes and not going outside as much. Or you need to get him some really good bones to gnaw on.
2007-11-12 14:55:32 · answer #6 · answered by pets4lifelady 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you gotten him plenty of chew toys/bones for him to take out his chewing on? If you have then crating will be the only option if he has to stay indoors when your gone. Do you have a yard you could let him out in when your not home? He is still a juvenile so he is going to chew lots and plus he is more than likely bored being alone so he is keeping himself occupied by chewing. Invest in some good chew toys, a kong perhaps you can stuff it with goodies too and that will keep him busy longer
2007-11-12 14:49:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My English Mastiff is 15 months and acting more active as well although not destructive ( looking for wood to knock on). I have heard from my mastiff group that the winter or colder weather wakes them up a bit and thy need more exercise. We have started taking him to dog parks two times during the weekend and walking with him every mornign to drop my kid up from school. Twice a week he even walks with me slowly to pick him up. You may just need to increase his activity level. If you made an effort to do 5 hours more activity/exercise this week, you might just solve your problem. For me, I have found walks I enjoy taking with him before and after work and a favorite coffee place to hang out with him. We have our routines but it wasnt hard to find two or three times in the weekday to run him around a bit more and add a few park trips for an hour each in the weekend. For us, last winter was not this way because he was teeny tiny and lazy from growing so darn fast.
Also , I crate my Mastiff and he is fine. I work at home though so he is only in it when I run errands. He is excited when I get back but then he lays back down again, I think because he is getting enough activity around the crating.
Really truly a tired dog is a relaxed dog. Increase activity level before you try anything else would be my best advice....
2007-11-12 15:50:18 · answer #8 · answered by abhorman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well we put our dogs in crates, and they actually learn to like it because it is like there own little home, but if you don't want to do that then...
There is this spray you can buy, you just spray it around the things he chews on. It only smells for about 5 minutes then it goes away but the animals continue to smell it for a while so they will stay away from it. Can't remember what the spray is called but you can probably find it at a pet store! Good luck!
2007-11-12 14:59:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Crating isn't necessarily cruel. You can put kong toys filled with fun stuff (put yogurt in it and freeze it, or peanut butter...low sugar though) or other favorite toys to keep the little one occupied. It is way more responsible than letting the little guy run around and chew things that may be harmful to him, plus expensive for you. Look at it as keeping the dog safe and keeping him from things that could hurt him.
Just make sure you take him out before and after you get home.
2007-11-12 14:50:03 · answer #10 · answered by dzjessie22 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋