Marvelous
I have a dog that is about 1 year old and everytime that we leave her at home to go somewhere she chews on everything. THe other day she actually dug a hole in the floor by the front door. I try to put her in her kennel and she just breaks out if she is in there for longer than I believe an hour. I need some help!
Answer
Dogs chew to work out anxiety or because they're teething. You might think your one-year-old dog is done teething, but actually, her adult teeth are still setting in. It's during this stage that she'll actually do the most destructive chewing -- she has her powerful adult teeth, but they still don't feel comfortable to her yet. To get them to "settle" in her gums, she'll chew on various things! Also, she might feel anxious when you leave, or the way you act when you come back might make her feel anxious while you are gone. Here are some tips:
1. Did you know that most destruction (chewing) done by dogs is done either in the first hour or right before you return, due to anxiety? The way to mitigate this is to remain calm both before you leave and after you return, and to occupy your dog's attention with other things. Vary your routine before you leave the house. Do you always grab your keys and say goodbye to the dog? Try doing something else right before you leave, so your dog can't always guess your patterns. Do not say goodbye to your dog. Rather, just put down an interesting toy (maybe a Kong stuffed with some peanut butter) and then quietly step out. Saying a special goodbye riles up your dog unnecessarily. When you return, ignore your dog for a few minutes. Then calmly greet her. IF you are always excited to see her when you get home, she'll just be anxious for you to return, making the time you are gone that much worse for her.
2. Find a stronger kennel. While she's so intent on chewing, it's more important than ever for her to be enclosed in an area where she can't hurt herself. This could be a room in your house, or, what I prefer (because it's more reliable) is a strong kennel. Petco and Petsmart both make REALLY strong kennels -- don't get ones with the bar latch across the door; any reasonably smart dog can figure out how to break out of those. Buy locks to put on if necessary. Make the crate a haven for your dog, with interesting toys inside, and teach her to go inside it when you say "Home!" (Toss a treat inside and say "Home!") Get her used to being in it sometimes even while you're at home, so she doesn't equate being in there with you being gone.
3. When you see her chewing on stuff while you are at home, take it away and give her something she CAN chew. Be consistent.
if it's only when you're gone, I'd say you just have an anxiety problem on your hands. Make your coming and going less anxious for her. Try leaving her for only an hour or two on weekends sometimes, to show her you will always come back.
Good luck!
Dogs chew to work out anxiety or because they're teething. You might think your one-year-old dog is done teething, but actually, her adult teeth are still setting in. It's during this stage that she'll actually do the most destructive chewing -- she has her powerful adult teeth, but they still don't feel comfortable to her yet. To get them to "settle" in her gums, she'll chew on various things! Also, she might feel anxious when you leave, or the way you act when you come back might make her feel anxious while you are gone. Here are some tips:
1. Did you know that most destruction (chewing) done by dogs is done either in the first hour or right before you return, due to anxiety? The way to mitigate this is to remain calm both before you leave and after you return, and to occupy your dog's attention with other things. Vary your routine before you leave the house. Do you always grab your keys and say goodbye to the dog? Try doing something else right before you leave, so your dog can't always guess your patterns. Do not say goodbye to your dog. Rather, just put down an interesting toy (maybe a Kong stuffed with some peanut butter) and then quietly step out. Saying a special goodbye riles up your dog unnecessarily. When you return, ignore your dog for a few minutes. Then calmly greet her. IF you are always excited to see her when you get home, she'll just be anxious for you to return, making the time you are gone that much worse for her.
2. Find a stronger kennel. While she's so intent on chewing, it's more important than ever for her to be enclosed in an area where she can't hurt herself. This could be a room in your house, or, what I prefer (because it's more reliable) is a strong kennel. Petco and Petsmart both make REALLY strong kennels -- don't get ones with the bar latch across the door; any reasonably smart dog can figure out how to break out of those. Buy locks to put on if necessary. Make the crate a haven for your dog, with interesting toys inside, and teach her to go inside it when you say "Home!" (Toss a treat inside and say "Home!") Get her used to being in it sometimes even while you're at home, so she doesn't equate being in there with you being gone.
3. When you see her chewing on stuff while you are at home, take it away and give her something she CAN chew. Be consistent.
if it's only when you're gone, I'd say you just have an anxiety problem on your hands. Make your coming and going less anxious for her. Try leaving her for only an hour or two on weekends sometimes, to show her you will always come back.
Good luck!
Help with my dog???????????????????????
Maya St. P
my dog turned a year in july...and he DOES not get potty trained. He is a pug plus cavalier mix...he is REALLLLLLLLLY hyper...i go outside but he preferes to poop inside. He wakes up at 4 in the morning and poops next to the bed. When we go out he screams bloody murder. I dont know what to do he is the love of my life and my mom is ready to give him away.
Answer
See if your mom will invest in a dog crate. (If she says no, say "you can just sale it if we get rid of the dog, it won't be a waste of money" or something like that, to convince her). Dog crates, in my opinion are truly worth every cent you pay for. I got a Large crate for about $90 at Petsmart, so since your dog is a little on the small side; you shouldn't have a problem with finding a cheap one. :)) Here's a link to how crate training works: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/crate_training.html you can Google more tips and whatnot.
As for him being hyper... has he been neutered? That'll calm him down. That, and the right amount of exercise. Dog runner's are cheap, and a good way for dogs to let all of their energy out. Also, if you have a hill or something that takes energy walking up, make him walk up and down the hill (or whatever you have) until he looks tired.
Good luck. :))
See if your mom will invest in a dog crate. (If she says no, say "you can just sale it if we get rid of the dog, it won't be a waste of money" or something like that, to convince her). Dog crates, in my opinion are truly worth every cent you pay for. I got a Large crate for about $90 at Petsmart, so since your dog is a little on the small side; you shouldn't have a problem with finding a cheap one. :)) Here's a link to how crate training works: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/crate_training.html you can Google more tips and whatnot.
As for him being hyper... has he been neutered? That'll calm him down. That, and the right amount of exercise. Dog runner's are cheap, and a good way for dogs to let all of their energy out. Also, if you have a hill or something that takes energy walking up, make him walk up and down the hill (or whatever you have) until he looks tired.
Good luck. :))
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