I've been leaving my 1.5 year old dog (a rottweiler and german shepherd mix) out of his kennel at night and when I'm not home for months and haven't had any trouble, but in the past few days he's starting chewing things up... a blanket, a book, a few of my son's toys...
Nothing (that I can think of) in his environment has changed. What's going on? Why did he suddenly start chewing things up for no apparent reason? How can I fix it (without putting him in his kennel and night and when I'm not home)?
2007-12-13 05:19:42 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
I would make sure you are giving him tons of attention and exercise when you are home. Leave plenty of "safe" things around for him to chew on and keep him busy when you are gone. Then try leaving the house for a little while at a time and practice "coming home" so he can see that you will always return and be more comfortable about you being gone. They go through phases where they get "lonely" as they are growing up.....hope this helps....
2007-12-13 05:27:55 · answer #1 · answered by msundancer98 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you leave the kennel open so she can get in if she wants?
Is she getting adequate exercise?
Does she have toys of her own?
Pick up and remove anything that is a problem. That size dog can inflect some damage and reach some high up things. You can do aversion training. When you give her a toy will she give it back when you ask?
Put something in the floor that you do not want her to have and you stand guard at it and when she approaches it give her a sharp noise and a finger and back her away from it. You take possession of that item. If she goes near it back her off again. Do that until she gets the idea. Leave the item in the floor and you walk away,if she goes for it then again take possession by standing guard and do the noise and finger pointing> Back her off. Do this until you can go sit on the sofa and she will leave it alone. You will be surprised how fast she will learn that item is not to be touched. With working with her she can learn.
good luck
2007-12-13 13:34:07 · answer #2 · answered by Lyn B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has he been getting enough exercise? Have you been gone for longer than you usually are?
I would get him some toys/treats that will keep him busy while you are gone so he will focus on those. Maybe a filled Kong toy or they have this cube that you can fill with some dry food and the dog has to move it around for the food to come out.
Good luck.
2007-12-13 13:24:09 · answer #3 · answered by LuvMyBT's 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He probably needs more exercise.. I would also recommend going and getting him some Bully's,tendons or other Natural chews. Raw hides have plastic in them and can get lodged in the dogs intestine, and plastic isn't digestible so you could have a vet bill. Also i wouldn't give greenies as they also have been known to put plastic.
2007-12-13 13:33:54 · answer #4 · answered by Kristi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The change may be something really subtle like holiday decorating, music or activity. Have you or your family been away more? Is there a new device in the house (TV, phone, computer)?
Even those changes that we don't consider to be major can affect the dogs.
2007-12-13 13:25:56 · answer #5 · answered by LJ T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
more than likely your dog has been bored..and just recently discovered a super fun way to end his own boredom... You really should crate him for his own safety..and the safety of your possessions
2007-12-13 13:25:52 · answer #6 · answered by PFSA 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I was always told dogs going through teething...maybe that's what it is, he is still a puppy!
2007-12-13 13:28:09 · answer #7 · answered by jcturtle27 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋