My Puggle, Lexie, has destroyed everything from her own toys to my boyfriend"s DVDs! She spends most of her time in her kennel. When she's out she's usually good with supervision. She cannot be trusted alone. We've come home after a few hours to find puppy training pads and $100 worth of DVDs ripped apart. We thought she might have separation anxiety due her previous owners, I'm beginning to think she just likes destroying things because one night we left for about 5 hours. Lexie had been fed, played with, and walked along with our other dogs. We even put puppy beds in the kennels for everyone. Upon our return she had destroyed her puppy bed, shredded the foam consumed the zipper! That was the last straw. She has eaten through speaker wires by pulling them through the bars of her kennel. She also eats her own poop and other dog's poop.. Lexie pulls their poop from their kennel into hers! This is her last chance, we will have to get rid of her if this keeps up.
2007-12-07 07:59:13 · 19 answers · asked by Kari 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Sounds like you need to train your dog or take her to a professional dog trainer. Sounds like she's bored. Before you leave her home alone take her for a long walk to make her tired so she'll be too pooped to destroy anything. Would help too by "dog proofing" your home. Dogs are like babies the will get into anything that they're not suppose too.
2007-12-07 09:04:48 · answer #1 · answered by Cavalier KCS mom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't give her age.
Dogs that behave like that are crying out for help; not condemnation. That won't 'fix' anything. Have you taken her to the vet to determine if there is any physical cause?! Of course not. Do that first! Then focus on the behavioral problems. There could be a very good reason she does those things and she may not know the right way to ask for help. Think about it. If you were stranded on a planet of bears, how would YOU communicate to them?
2007-12-07 08:22:48 · answer #2 · answered by D 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your problem is the constant kennel. The crate should never be used as a punishment. Your dog is frustrated, due to lack of exercise. Also she's obviously not trained, so she has no idea what you want.
Train your dog. Stop using the crate as punishment. Pick up what you don't want chewed up. When she's chewing on something bad, say LEAVE IT, and give her a good chewy.
2007-12-07 08:39:07 · answer #3 · answered by ♥ Leo ♥ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Whatever you do, ignore all these incredibly vicious and clueless people who have advised you to punish the dog by hitting it, either with a rolled up newspaper or by "popping it in the muzzle".
I feel truly sorry for their abused (yes, this is abuse) animals and hope they never have children.
Your dog needs training, an outlet for her energy and/or stress - not punishment.
Spend more time with her, leave her Kongs and treats, don't crate her for punishment EVER - that causes terrible anxiety, and take her for some group classes in obedience. That will help you and your dog to be calmer and more socialized.
Blaming the dog for her emotional problems is a little like blaming someone because they have cancer - doesn't work that way.
Do some research and stop blaming the dog or threatening to get rid of the poor thing - no wonder she's nervous and stressed.
2007-12-07 08:24:37 · answer #4 · answered by rescue member 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Floopy.
You can't blame this behavior on the dog because she simply doesn't know any better. It doesn't look like you've set any boundaries or rules for her besides shoving her in a kennel, so ultimately it's your fault. You say you feed, play with her and walk her but where is the training? She definately needs someone who will take the time to do that so she will know better.
2007-12-07 08:12:15 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Her spending most of her time in her kennel may be causing part of the problem. It's a catch 22... she's destroying things, and must be kept in a kennel, but her being in the kennel all the time may be frustrating her. If she's being supervised, allow her to roam around the house, and place her kennel away from EVERYTHING, potty train her and keep her area feces free, and puppy proof your home, just as with a child, put EVERYTHING up... we had a Boston Terrier that was like that for the first year and a half we had her, and we also contimplated finding her another home, but went to walmart and purchased her a large kennel;, and EVERYTIME we weren't watching her she was in it, and she eventaully stopped, and then was allowed to roam the house while we were gone... and if she started up again, it was back into the crate for a few weeks while we were gone. We lost her recently to severe health issues to which there was no cure, but for the last 3 years of her life, the crate was packed away, and she never had to be in it again, while we were gone.
2007-12-07 08:11:16 · answer #6 · answered by Corgis4Life 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok how old is she? Is she crate trained? Has she been in any obedience classes?
Next, she sounds like she hasnt had an outlet for all her energy. She need a lot more exercise than a simple walk.
As for eating poop. Your vet can give you a powder to put on everyones food that makes the poop taste awful (as if it isnt bad enough yet lol)
She is part beagle which also means she needs a job or she gets into trouble.
A tired puppy is a good puppy.
2007-12-07 08:06:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
If she is a puppy, this is what puppy's do & will usually outgrow it if you help her to know that what she is doing is wrong.
And be VERY careful with live wires, if she bites through a live wire, she could be electricuted [sp] right on the spot. I had a friend's puppy die from doing that.
Move her kennel somwhere where she cannot reach wires, beds, or poo. GET HER A CHEW toy. If she is able to be kept busy with a rubber chew toy, let her destroy it. That's what they're meant for.
If she is not a puppy, and continues to act this way, i DO NOT sugest you take her to a shelter. Seeing her bahave that way is a ticket to death row.
If you can afford it, try investing in a dog trainer. STAY away from the PetSmart trainers. They are no good.
Try someone who will come into your home & help you to train her.
Good Luck & watch the wires!
2007-12-07 08:06:45 · answer #8 · answered by Still Tippin 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Please ignore Kourtney's answer -- punishing her after the fact is only going to increase her stress and confuse her. She is not going to understand the correlation between what she did half an hour ago (or even two minutes ago) and punishment recieved later.
To me, it sounds like severe separation anxiety, which is something you need to work with her on. Several articles to help you out:
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/dog_behavior_tip_sheets/separation_anxiety.html
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1393
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/separationanxiety.html
Giving her a Kong stuffed with yummy food or a bone when you leave may also help. Simply make sure that it is a treat that she gets ONLY when you leave. Therefore, she looks forward to you leaving, because she gets something yummy and special.
If she's being destructive when you're home, then
1] Redirect. When she going to take something, use a sharp, loud "Aah" sound to distract her. When you have her attention, praise her and give her something she's allowed to have, such as a chew toy or stuffed Kong. Teach her what's she's ALLOWED to have, rather than what she's NOT allowed to have, and you'll find life will be much easier for both of you.
2] Do training. Even a ten-minute session of basic tricks (sit, down, come, stay, etc) will give her the mental stimulation that she needs. Teaching her new, fun tricks will also make her think and keep her busy.
3] More exercise. A tired dog is a good dog. Especially if she's still a puppy, she needs lots of exercise to get all her energy out. And if she's exhausted from a nice long walk, she's not going to bother destroying anything.
2007-12-07 08:10:58 · answer #9 · answered by K 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's pretty obvious that your Lexie is telling you that she is not satisfied with the arrangement you have provided for her. Her dignity is in jeopardy and she is rebelling, because she's pretty peeved by the way her communication skills are ignored. Imagine what you would be like if you were stuck in a kennel for hours on end, you'll be eating your own poop, especially after missing all the other signs of destroying DVD's, biting through cables, what is a dog to do when the human parents do not 'listen' to the signs the dog is clearly sharing with you. You are cheesed off, but what of showing a little respect to your Lexie? This is not about right or wrong, but acceptance and recognising her character. She obviously is a life wire and genetically a little wild, I imagine you are dealing with a genius 'child' here, whose mind needs to be stimulated and allowed to be evolved. She probably make for an excellent working dog. It is possible, that she is hungry, so give her more food. Forget about the rules and regulations and bond with your animal, life to life. Enjoy the time, getting to know her and appreciate the integrity with which she is desperately trying to communicate with you. Add some natural valerian drops in her drinking bowl.
2007-12-07 08:28:32 · answer #10 · answered by Mercia Holistic Whisperer 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋