Please help immediately with EXTREMELY destructive dog. Crating DOES NOT work.?

Question

I've adopted an elderly (11+ year old husky) that was in the shelter for months and was going to be euthanized soon. He's been in and out 10 times there and his back legs are really weak from either a spine problem or being hit by a car. We thought he would be no problem and wanted to adopt him to let him live out his days in a forever home. When we got home, all he would do was follow us around slowly or lay down. But the first day I left him alone 3 hours, I put him in the large guest room so he wouldnt get to my birds (and he kept pushing the hallway gate away) and when I came home, he ate the bed sheets, ripped the curtains, shattered the blinds, and almost broke the window. So the next day i left him alone 3 hours in a METAL crate and when I came back, he practically ate his way out of it (broke 14 bars off!). I don't know what to do and I feel extremely terrible bringing him back to the shelter. We don't have a yard, which the shelter recommended for him since he's an escaper.

Answer 1

It sounds like severe separation anxiety. Dogs from shelters are more prone to separation anxiety due to the number of times they were taken and left-he has been left so many times that you leaving to go to work, run errands, etc. triggers the fear that you are not coming back. Talk to your vet about sedatives, and check into homeopathic remedies also. A few examples are Beech, chamomile, and cherry plum. You can check with a homeopathic vet or online for places to purchase. Also, try to desensitize your dog to you leaving. Everyone has a getting ready to leave ritual (picking up keys, coats, etc). When you are home, routinely do these things but don't leave. Occasionnaly do these things and step out for 30 seconds, come back inside and if he has been quiet, reward him with a good tummy rub or treat. Very, very gradually lengthen the time that you are out of sight. Also, try giving him a Kong stuffed with peanut butter-freeze it so it makes him work harder at it. Make sure that your dog is getting plenty of vigorous exercise in the form of a long, fast-paced walk. Many times that will tire him out so that he is not as anxious when you leave. The crate is going to be the safest place for him to be while you are gone. I have heard of dogs going through windows and cutting themselves severly. Don't give up. Most dogs come with a few issues, but when you both beat this, you will have a sense of pride, accomplishment and love that will not be equaled. Huskies are travelers and have very high endurance-remember that on your walks. Also, try teaching him tricks, obedience, etc. as that will wear his mind out. Good luck.

Answer 2

He is a normally extremely active dog. He needs a job. He need exercise badly. He is showing his frustration. It is terrible that he has the back leg problem because it will difficult to get him the exercise he craves. Put him on an aspirin a day and try him with the walks and see if he holds up better. My 40 pound OLDER gentleman get 1 baby aspirin. Yours might need 2.

If you have a tread mill you can teach him to use that inside the house.

Do you know if his back was ever x-rayed? It could just be some arthritis and he needs some glucocemine for his joints.

And I might say I am extremely proud that you would attempt to help this old man through his last days. Try the medication before you give up.

When you take him on his walks, be sure to keep him close to you and to your side or behind you. He could also be having some anxiety about who is the pack leader in your family and he is taking that role. He will relax if you let me know he can take the follower role. In a dog who wants to be a follower and is forced into the pack leader role it is very stressful. It's like being promoted to job foreman for the week and all you want to do is put in your 8 to 5 and go home.

Answer 3

Wow!! Training/ obediance classes, and it sounds like he is not getting nearly enough exersize. I would allso suggets giving him lots of tendonsbullys and otehr stuff he CAN chew on/destruct! Beofre you have to leave for x amount of time, take him for a long walk, to wear him out, then put him in a room (preferably a clear room with only his stuff in there) door shut (doesn't sound like the gate works) and when you get home, obviosuly take him out again. As i said before, get some training classes he may feel scared and un sur eif you are going to take ihgm to the shelter again.

Toys and chew:
Squeakers: Get the cheap one he will probably go through allot of these.
Stuffed animals (the ones with the yarn for eyes,nose nothing that could potentually harm him)
Tendonds: All natural chew sticks i feed my dogs these, you will need ALLOT!
Bullys: Again another all natural chew get allot!
Cow tail,flossies, pig ear and other natural chews would be good too. I don't reccomend raw hide as they have palstic in them.
Mellow Mutt: Dog treats put out by Dogswell and these work wonders if given the reccoemnded anmount ( chicken strips not pills) You should get the big bag as it is a lrge dog.

Playdates: if he is dog friendly, this will help knock some of his energy down.

Training: this will force him to see you as the alpha/leader.

Long walks.: hopefulyl this will tire him out, as he needs to be exersiced allot!

Last: High quality food!

Answer 4

Sounds like separation anxiety. My dog was destrictive the first week I brought him home. He finally figured out I was coming back so he mellowed out. But then I brought him to my mothers for her to baby sit him. He became agitated - my mother said she had never seen a dog hit the door with all four legs at the same time - but now, nearly a year later, he is fine there too.

Please don't bring him back. Give him a little more time to adjust. Put him in a room where he can do as little damage as possible when you leave and start him out in teeny doses - and work your way up.

Answer 5

Sounds like severe separation anxiety, which is probably why he ended up in and out of the shelter in the first place...

Talk to your vet - He can give you a mild sedative, then you'll be able to crate him. The crate is really the safest place for him when he's alone.

Answer 6

Put him in a strong, plastic crate. He will have to learn. Huskies are known for being that way, so give him lots of treats, and I would say an hour of hard exercise a day. Put a bunch of strong toys like Kongs in his crate.

Try obedience classes also.

And please don't send him back to the shelter, because you took the responsibility, so keep him.

Answer 7

You need to keep him out of trouble while not supervised so buy him a good Wire Basket Muzzle [ check the link below] and then keep him in a safe room that works for you i.e. Kitchen during the day.
That is how I got my dog to give up chewing...

p.s. he would not like it... but he will eventually get use to it.

Answer 8

go to the vet and see what the have available for your dogs teeeth. Like fileing them down so their not ar sharp and he cant bite through things. Then start obedience classes for older dogs. Or train him your self. Try to teach him to chem toys not other thing. Get him a Nylon Bone from the pet store. It will keep him really busy.

Get the Nylon Bone it really works
NOT rahide he will eat that. But he cant eat Nylon

Answer 9

he needs exercise, and wants out of the cage. and that particular breed needs lots of exercise.

and he might have some psychological problems if he was hit by a car.

he should be checked over by an animal behaviorist

Answer 10

Have you tried a plastic crate? They are alot more durable, at least that has been my experience with them