We need help with our dog!

[84rabbitchick]

our puppy is 6 months old and recently, we have to leave him home alone because of mine and the hubby's work schedule. I work at night and he works during the day, but most times, our schedule conflicts where we have to leave the puppy at home. He's used to one of us always being with him.

So everytime we leave him at home, he likes to terrorize the place. And by terrorize, i mean that he likes to chew thigns up that isn't his or digs the carpet up in front of the door. Last night, he chewed up our cable! I'm surprise we even have internet this morning! It's working, but slowly working, we don't have TV though.

How do I get our puppy from terrorizing the place when he's home alone?

[Fritz]

Cesar the Dog Whisperer

[DTolo]

He has seperation anxiety... common in puppies, and if not treated is even worse when they do it as full grown dogs.

There are a couple methods to help remedy the problem, but i don't remember them all too well, so I don't wanna mislead you.

One method I do remember... Kennel training.

[TOYr32]

I think you mean crate training . . . that's probably the toughest . . ., basic training will really help, also, try leaving the tv on, or music on, that can help sometimes.

[DTolo]

I think you mean crate training . . . .

yea, what he said! Ok, so my memory ain't what I thought it was. Toy knew what I meant tho!

[wikedgolf]

get him a firend so he's not alone... he bored. so he needs some one to play with

[jincs]

get him a firend so he's not alone... he bored. so he needs some one to play with


Would that cause double the mischief? Maybe not with an older dog companion. To the OP, what kinda dog you have?

[xoutofstepx]

Yes, get him a friend and crate train him. We have two lil guys and they stay in the crate when we are gone. Does he have lots of toys/bones to chew on?? Make sure you let him know when he did something bad, but it's kind of hard when you're not there hah. Good luck!

[bugzy]

since i just got our puppy 2 weeks ago, and he's only 2 months, im a n00b also

but, i would also buy kennel or gates to isolate him in a particular area that doesnt have much stuff to chew on or find

also crate training is ideal too

there's a lot of websites that have some HowTo's with good ideas, of course we are still training our puppy so cant tell you yet how effective they are

http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/
http://www.wikihow.com/House-Train-a-Puppy

[RavinJetta]

I gate my dog into our laundry area which is plenty big for him.We have litterbox trained him so he has a place to go the bathroom and he has his toys and towels to play/sleep with. You can crate train him however if you are gone for long amounts of times he might need to go to the bathroom.

[Hairball_2275]

We started with crate training, and then eventually got it to the kitchen, and now my two dogs have free roam and don't do any damage. That and lots of exercise helped my couch eating pit bull to calm down. Now she just lays around all day.

[bugzy]

ya definitely lock him in a smaller location with toys .. and no other reachable objects, and expand his area as he gets better

[84rabbitchick]

Thanks for all the advice, very much so helpful.

We have a 6 month old yellow lab. So It looks like we'll be crate training him. He has toys, tons of them and bones to chew on as well. I hide snacks in or around his toys to keep him occupied for a little while and the TV is always on when we leave him home. I try to tucker him out before I have to leave him home, but that only lasts for a little bit. I'm trying to leave him 30 min at a time to get him slowly adjusted, but it's still difficult.

We'll definently try the crate training. And as soon as my hubby get's paid, the dog's going in for basic obedience (we got most of it down, our problem is him listening to the command when he's distracted)

[wikedgolf]

i dont believe in crating. I've had between 6-4 dogs all my life at a single time and we never had to crate a dog

[Hairball_2275]

Thanks for all the advice, very much so helpful.

We have a 6 month old yellow lab. So It looks like we'll be crate training him. He has toys, tons of them and bones to chew on as well. I hide snacks in or around his toys to keep him occupied for a little while and the TV is always on when we leave him home. I try to tucker him out before I have to leave him home, but that only lasts for a little bit. I'm trying to leave him 30 min at a time to get him slowly adjusted, but it's still difficult.

We'll definently try the crate training. And as soon as my hubby get's paid, the dog's going in for basic obedience (we got most of it down, our problem is him listening to the command when he's distracted)

A cool "special treat" for the dog is to stuff one of the Kong chew toys with peanut butter and throw it in the freezer. I keep one of them in the freezer for each of the dogs, and give it to them every once in a while.

[carcrazy699]

i crate trained my dog when she was little. she liked sleeping in it all the time. i used the stuff that you can get from walmart or petsmart that has a oder and taste that they dont like and sprayed it on the carpet and anything else that she would chew up. it takes time to break them of it but they will start getting the drift once they know what that stuff is. good luck its a fun prosses

[84rabbitchick]

i dont believe in crating. I've had between 6-4 dogs all my life at a single time and we never had to crate a dog
I don't either, but unfortunately, since we live in an apartment, we have to find a way to keep him from destroying everything else in the apartment. The landlord is cool with us at least. The carpet right in front of the door, she said "Put some tiles down and it was always there"

[sensinitas]

two words: CRATE TRAIN

[SYNYSTAGLI]

I had to get Bear a crate when he was a pup....he tore up our kitchen, dining room, but after him taking a shit on the glass table in the living room...that was the last straw...

[VWVixen]

He should've been crate trained before leaving him alone...or put him in a room that is completely safe for him- no wires and such for him to chew, etc..

[VWVixen]

i dont believe in crating. I've had between 6-4 dogs all my life at a single time and we never had to crate a dog

Crating a dog is not harmful or mean if done properly- you should not leave them in there 24 hours a day, etc..

Dogs actually like it, it calms them and makes them feel secure (once they learn that is there place and they learn you ARE coming back for them). You have to teach the dog that the crate is a good thing, and that you are coming home for him- leaving him in there for different amounts of time, showing him that you always return.

Aside from the damage the dog does to your household, It is safer for the dog to be crated- he could easily get hurt and how long would it be before you came home to find out?

I just tell my dogs to go to the crate and they will head to the room its in and get in on their own. They have a toy and blankets and a soft cushioned mattress...they sleep together in a larger crate.

Crate training is also a great tool in potty training- as most dogs will not soil where they sleep- so as long as you take in account their age and thus their bladder abilities- you let them out of the crate and take them immediately to where you want them to potty...do this enough, and you will have a potty trained, crate trained happy and safe pup.

[CALL AAA]

Crating a dog is not harmful or mean if done properly- you should not leave them in there 24 hours a day, etc..

Dogs actually like it, it calms them and makes them feel secure (once they learn that is there place and they learn you ARE coming back for them). You have to teach the dog that the crate is a good thing, and that you are coming home for him- leaving him in there for different amounts of time, showing him that you always return.

Aside from the damage the dog does to your household, It is safer for the dog to be crated- he could easily get hurt and how long would it be before you came home to find out?

I just tell my dogs to go to the crate and they will head to the room its in and get in on their own. They have a toy and blankets and a soft cushioned mattress...they sleep together in a larger crate.

Crate training is also a great tool in potty training- as most dogs will not soil where they sleep- so as long as you take in account their age and thus their bladder abilities- you let them out of the crate and take them immediately to where you want them to potty...do this enough, and you will have a potty trained, crate trained happy and safe pup.

Yup. That's it right thar. He will learn to like it, and will soon walk in on his own. Just don't ever use the crate as a punishment.
And be very selective about what you leave in there with him. A blanket or towel and one toy that he can't choke on or tear apart. He may not play with anything in there. It might just be more for comfort.

As for fixing the problems that he causes when you are away, I would recommend Cesar's books. He will basically tell you exercise, discipline and then affection. Take him on long walks to get him tired out. The walks should be physically tiring and mentally "challenging." Make him focus and don't let him lead you. Train him to sit whenever you stop, and don't let him pee until a certain spot. As he's walking and being led, he'll wear out and sleep a lot better when he gets back. It will also establish you as his leader, which is just as important.

After you walk him, wear him out more by taking him to the dog park or playing in the yard. Just remember that those are not substitutes for walking him. Think of it as sending a child to recess instead of actually sending him to school. He'll be tired when he gets home, but probably didn't learn much.

Just make sure you expend all that extra energy before you leave him, or he's gonna show you how much he misses you.
As for bringing in a 2nd dog, if you think you have problems with one unbalanced dog, you're probably going to have even bigger problems when a 2nd dog comes in to upset the balance even further. I would not advise getting a 2nd until you fix the problems of the first.

We started using a lot of Cesar's teachings on our dogs and they're both a lot more calm and easier to control.
Tony

[IfYouSeeKay]

Walk your dog in the AM and then put him/her in either a small enclosed room (laundry room, bathroom) or a larger kennel with food and water, plenty of toys to chew on and something comfy to sleep on. Reward the walk with a snack then into the kennel or enclosed room. When you come home, clean up the poop and pee, and put his/her back into the room.
Puppys need a schedule.

[GTiGirl]

Haley was crate trained and she's the best ever. Now, she just chills on the couch when we're gone (usually 9-10 hours). She hasn't had an indoor accident in over 6 years. And when she's upset with us, the worst she does is take a sock out of the laundry or take a used tissue off the nightstand. But if she does that, when we come home, she knows she misbehaved and will play dead or sulk.

I <3 Haley.

[wikedgolf]

i still think crate training the the meanest thing and one of the laziest things to do when owning a dog. I really dont under stand how its so widely excepted now a days as the normal thing to do with a dog. I'm sorry But i've had over 8 dogs growing up and i have 4 now. I've never had to crate train any of them. I just guess i've all ways gotten really good dogs or I'm that daym good at training them crateless.

[Brk4Euros]

crate training is the way to go. worked well for my pup!

[CALL AAA]

i still think crate training the the meanest thing and one of the laziest things to do when owning a dog. I really dont under stand how its so widely excepted now a days as the normal thing to do with a dog. I'm sorry But i've had over 8 dogs growing up and i have 4 now. I've never had to crate train any of them. I just guess i've all ways gotten really good dogs or I'm that daym good at training them crateless.
It's just a cozy little place to keep a dog safe and out of trouble until you come home. If the dog was exercised enough, he'll just sleep and not eve think about the fact that he's locked in a crate.
We didn't really even tell our big dog to go in the first time. He just looked at it, and thought, "Oh, this looks like a good spot for me." We left the bedroom door open so the other dog could visit, and we didn't leave him longer than we thought he could hold it.

[VWVixen]

It's just a cozy little place to keep a dog safe and out of trouble until you come home. If the dog was exercised enough, he'll just sleep and not eve think about the fact that he's locked in a crate.
We didn't really even tell our big dog to go in the first time. He just looked at it, and thought, "Oh, this looks like a good spot for me." We left the bedroom door open so the other dog could visit, and we didn't leave him longer than we thought he could hold it.

Yup. It becomes his 'den' and it actually make them feel more secure when left all alone...not to mention safety. Nothing lazy about being proactive in your dogs health and well being.

Edit- to agree on the schedule...gotta keep in consistent, potty very often for puppies and after every meal and during play...gradually move it to longer periods of time.