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I have a dog that is fantastic except one little thing. She seems to chew on something every time she is left home alone. It doesn't matter how long she is by herself we will come home to something ruined.
She is just over a year old (We got her last year for my kids for Christmas) For this past year while house training we used a kennel. We put her in it every time we left no matter how long we were gone. The thing is I don't really want her in the kennel when I'm gone. She is a Shepard/Pit mix and I like the idea that if someone tries to come into my house when I'm not home they will get one look at her and go on to another place.
The problem is I don't know how to stop her from tearing up stuff while I'm gone. I left the house today for about 10 minutes and as soon as I walk in you know she did something wrong because she is across the room with her tail between her legs and her head down. I had to look around for a minute to see what she did but I found some of the kids toys chewed up.
I've told the kids that it was there own fault. If they don't want their stuff ruined it should be picked up but she tears up things like rugs in the kitchen and other things. Again she doesn't chew on anything when someone is around or at night when she isn't in the kennel.
I don't really want her in the kennel at all but is that my only choice? How do you get a dog to stop doing this? Any suggestions would be great.
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Ive had the same problem with my American Staffordshire
The dog getting older and patience is the only thing that worked for me. Learning to put my stuff away was something I learned too late. Ive had my work badge actually pulled out of my pants pocket, favorite baseball glove, shoes, kids sandels, etc...
Dogs need to chew so chew toys, dog bones, rope, hydes. Let them know that its their toy.
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When I had my cocker she did the same thing and the only thing that remedied it was time... As she got older, it became less interesting to tear stuff up apparently.
When she was young though, I would put in her in her cage every time I left and at night. That helped a bit, but she was still mischievous at times.
Also - make sure none of her toys resemble real life stuff you don't want chewed up. Last time I read up on this most dogs can't tell the difference between their toy sock and the one you want to wear.
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Quote:
When I had my cocker
You dont have it any more? I find it interesting you refer to it as a she. I refered to it as Mr.
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my pup had the same issues. big time seperation anxiety, around christmas 2 years ago when she was about a year old, she destroyed 2 wrapped christmas presents for my sisters.
we punished her and let her know, but i think the big thing is just being patient. it's like training your dog not to crap in the house. it just eventually happens.
my pup still hates when we're gone, but she usually only steals clothes from the dirty laundry bin and brings them onto the bed. every once in a while she will destroy some of my girlfriend's shoes.
when in doubt, if you don't want it destroyed, put it away.
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Quote:
Quote:
When I had my cocker
You dont have it any more? I find it interesting you refer to it as a she. I refered to it as Mr.
Yes, I put her down last year. That's why I said 'had' and not 'have' as in present tense.
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I wish there was a better answer,, but basically, they grow out of it..
Think of it as kids going through thier terrible 2s
#GMSTRONG
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For starters, does your dog have plenty of chew and play toys accessible when she is left alone? Do you play with her with these toys when your home so she can become familiar with what is hers and what is yours? Do you stop her when she starts playing with things that aren't her toys, even if she is just spending a bit too much time sniffing at a shoe laying around or something? Dogs learn what we teach them. If you don't want a dog on the furniture, you have to keep them off the furniture. Not just tell them no, then invite them in your lap to watch TV at night. if you don't want a dog to beg for food, NEVER feed them from anywhere but their own food bowl. Even food scraps go into the bowl after everyone is done eating, and never from the plate to the dogs mouth. It's all training. Now all that being said, some dogs do get separation anxiety, especially younger dogs, and that may take a more active approach to deal with. You can also try quarantining part of the house to them for awhile, and slowly grow the free space they get when you leave for work. We used to give our rotty the master bathroom when we would leave (beware the TP  ), and eventually the entire master bedroom, and then the house. Even then, she would have episodes and chew something, her big thing was our sons socks that he left on his bedroom floor. And when she did do something wrong, you would find her hiding in the corner of our bedroom when we got home, afraid to come out. Anyways, good luck with it, it can be challenging, but the rewards of a dog in the end are wonderful.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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Tough to discipline a dog for something they did when you weren't there - often times they don't get it.
I had the exact same issues with my lab and husky. They grew out of it.
I had, in a 15 X10 room what I called a "mushroom" chair.....anyway, we came home one afternoon, and that room was ankle deep with the stuffing from the chair. It literally looked like a snowstorm dumped 3 or 4 inches of snow in there. (that was when the lab was about 3 but the husky was just 8 mths. or so)
My lab also gnawed almost all the way through the dining room chairs "cross" section. Not the legs, the wood that runs from leg to leg. That was over 12 years ago - we still have them and every time I get a splinter I think of her. She did that when she was young.
They grow out of it eventually. Like someone else said, make sure the dog has plenty of things she CAN chew on - but even then, it's going to take time.
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I don't think there's one standard answer. With my Pit I used the kennel until she was house trained and that's all. After which I used it much like a time out. When she was a bad girl I'd put her in time out. ( kennel )
I would hold up the object she had chewed upon, say bad girl in a certain discouraging tone and tell her to go to time out while you point at the kennel.
She would go in there with her tail between her legs knowing I was unhappy with her. But please never yell. Just use a tone that is far different than the tone of voice you normaly use with your dog and use that same tone consistantly.
Now your dog is a mix so I can't say how effective this will work. But Pit Bulls want your attention and approval. Leaving them alone causes them to react to get your attention. They get anxious and feel abandoned. I can go out to the car to get something I forgot and my dog will stand at the door and whimper to this very day. And for God's sake, if I leave her in the truck while I go into Speedway people would swear someone was killing her! lmao And almost every time I come out I get the same line....."Someone is spoiled", which is true. lol
But if upon your return, that attention is negative and re-enforced with the kennel, it causes them to understand they will be ignored even longer if they chew on something. I jokingly say my dog has "extreme seperation anxiety", which while it sounds funny to say is very true. It's just a part of the breed.
This is one reason Pit Bulls can be taught to be mean, fight or be aggressive. All they really ever want is the attention and approval of their owners. So no matter what, they will do it to please you. And ignoring them is the worst punishment you can give them.
Obviously by your post the dog knows it's wrong. So by re-enforcing that by showing the dog the object that it chewed and isolating the dog for a time, the dog will not wish to chew on things anymore.
My third Pit will be eight in February and this has worked very quickly for me with the last two. Hope it helps.........
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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Quote:
For starters, does your dog have plenty of chew and play toys accessible when she is left alone?
Do you play with her wiÎh these toys when your home so she can become familiar with what is hers and what is yours?
Do you stop her when she starts playing with things that aren't her toys, even if she is just spending a bit too much time sniffing at a shoe laying around or something?
Dogs learn what we teach them. If you don't want a dog on the furniture, you have to keep them off the furniture. Not just tell them no, then invite them in your lap to watch TV at night.
if you don't want a dog to beg for food, NEVER feed them from anywhere but their own food bowl. Even food scraps go into the bowl after everyone is done eating, and never from the plate to the dogs mouth.
It's all training. Now all that being said, some dogs do get separation anxiety, especially younger dogs, and that may take a more active approach to deal with.
You can also try quarantining part of the house to them for awhile, and slowly grow the free space they get when you leave for work. We used to give our rotty the master bathroom when we would leave (beware the TP ), and eventually the entire master bedroom, and then the house.
Even then, she would have episodes and chew something, her big thing was our sons socks that he left on his bedroom floor. And when she did do something wrong, you would find her hiding in the corner of our bedroom when we got home, afraid to come out.
Anyways, good luck with it, it can be challenging, but the rewards of a dog in the end are wonderful.
Good advice,....additionally, we liked the cage, and used it from the get. "Polar Bear" knew what was his and what wasn't,...wife trained him. He's gone now,....no more dogs,..... 
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Must be a difference between pits and labs.........I crate trained my lab - potty stuff. She slept in the crate, first thing in the morning, we went out, she did her thing. When I left for work, I put her back in, came home for lunch, took her out, she did her thing. Put her back in, came home after work, she did her thing. (and please note, it wasn't a "take her out, have her go, put her away" kind of thing. We played every morning and noon).
In the evenings, it was all me and her, every night. Till it was time for bed. Out she goes, does her thing, in the crate she went.
And, this was just until she was house broken.
However, AFTER that, I still had the crate. I was single at the time, so, you know, getting things done around the house kinda went on my time schedule.......but, anytime mo got in trouble, boom - she was off to the crate. ON HER OWN ACCORD. I never sent her there. She just knew it was her "safe" place. When she went in, I wouldn't say anything to her. I wouldn't shut the gate or anything. She knew it was her safe place.
For me, housebreaking a dog with a crate worked out great. And, we kept the crate/cage long after that - for her sake, not mine.
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That's pretty much the exact same thing I was talking about. And I really don't know how well this approach works with Labs. I just know the Pits I've had this was very effective. The only thing that was bad is if they're taught to be people friendly from a pup they get so excited when people come to visit they tend to dribble a little. lmao That part? They have to outgrow as far as I know. 
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Hey just clicking Pit but I havent seen you around for awhile so wanted to sat welcome back.
Ok back to the issue at hand. Your dog is not chewing things up because she wants to chew. She is chewing things up because of separation anxiety. She could have all the toys in the world of her own,but she is going to chew something that she associates with you or the family that she is missing. Dogs dont have a sense of time,all she knows is you and the family left and she has anxiety of you not coming back,whether you have been gone 10 minutes or 10 hours.Dogs dont only chew to satisfy their teeth,they also like to chew as a afffection thing. She is chewing something of the familys as a way to soothe her anxiety.
I would use the kennel for a little while and then even when you are not using it,it should still be set up. You will probably find that she likes to go in there and lay down. Keep in mind dogs are descendants of den animals. After awhile you can probably leave the door open and she will go in there and lay down while you are gone. Having a place she feels secure in will help calm her.
KING
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Quote:
http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/problembehaviors/5-tips-for-separation-anxiety
5 Tips for Separation Anxiety
You come home from a long day at work to a spinning, jumping whirlwind of energy. Your dog follows you into your living room, where you find that he has chewed on your favorite pair of shoes. Your neighbor comes by to tell you that, once again, your dog has been driving the neighborhood crazy by howling and barking while you were away. Is this scenario familiar? Your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety.
In nature, dogs are almost never away from their pack. It is our job to help make this unnatural situation less stressful!
Before you leave, go for a walk. Start the day by providing vigorous exercise. Then reward your dog's calm-submissive energy with food and water. Some dogs may need to rest before eating, but all dogs can benefit from hydration. The idea is to leave your dog in quiet, resting mode while you are away.
No touch, no talk, no eye contact. Don't make a big deal when you leave for the day or when you return. This way, you are communicating to your dog that the time apart is no big deal. It's just business as usual! Depending on the severity of the case, you may need to practice the rule for five minutes or up to an hour before you leave and when you get back.
Say goodbye long before you leave. Having trouble practicing "no touch, no talk, no eye contact"? Take a moment to share affection and tell your dog that you will miss him way before you actually leave. Keep in mind that this display is for you - not your dog! Your dog won't have his feelings hurt if you didn't say goodbye.
Stay calm and assertive! When you are ready to go to work, leave those guilty, nervous, and concerned feelings behind. Instead, let your dog know that everything is going to be okay by projecting the confident energy of a pack leader.
Start out small. Leave your dog alone for five minutes. Then, extend the time to twenty minutes; then an hour. Continue to increase the time you spend away until you can leave for a full eight hours with no problem!
***Gordon, I really didn't think you could be this stOOpid, but you exceeded my expectations. Wussy.
Manziel, see Josh Gordon. Dumbass.***
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That's pretty much the exact same thing I was talking about. And I really don't know how well this approach works with Labs.
I just know the Pits I've had this was very effective. The only thing that was bad is if they're taught to be people friendly from a pup they get so excited when people come to visit they tend to dribble a little. lmao
That part? They have to outgrow as far as I know.
Well, what I was saying was I didn't send mo to the crate as punishment.......she went there when she knew she was in trouble. And, like I said, I never closed the door (after she was house broken).
And also, as far as dribbling? Like I said, I was single at the time. Had my son on weekends. But, when I would have friends over, mo didn't dribble, she spewed forth like like a geyser. 
Also, real quick. I didn't allow her in my bedroom, let alone my bed, when I was sleeping. No kidding, she'd lay in the doorway with her front paws in my room. (I didn't shut my door). For a long time, that's where she slept - front paws in my room, body in the hall.
6 months or so later, I noticed when I woke up, she was sleeping on my dining room table. Not under.....ON it. I thought it was funny for a while. One night, I called her into the bedroom. She made one giant leap onto the bed, pranced about for about a minute......hey, for her this was big time, she got to go in the big boys bed - then she was so excited she pissed all over the bed.
That was the first and last time she got in my bed.
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Start out small. Leave your dog alone for five minutes. Then, extend the time to twenty minutes; then an hour. Continue to increase the time you spend away until you can leave for a full eight hours with no problem!
This is exactly the advice I gave my brother concerning their new dog.
He's great as long as someone is at home with him .... but turns into a nightmare as soon as they leave.
I advised him to start the dog out with 5 minutes .... then 10 ..... and just keep expanding the time alone. The dog then starts to realize that he can trust that his human is coming back for him.
Dogs usually misbehave because of anxiety. Get them to lower their anxiety l;evel is the key. It takes time and patience.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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For us, we used the laundry room which was empty of everything except the dog's stuff - a bed, blanket, toys, rawhide. We'd leave the dogs in there for short trips such as groceries and other 2-3 hour tasks.
After about a week, then added an old pair of my shoes placed neatly by the door. When we came back we would check the shoes and if they were chewed the dogs got a verbal scolding.
After less than a week they had learned that they weren't allowed to chew on things that weren't theirs.
Dogs are smarter than most people think. Talk to them like you would a person. They may not understand what you're saying but they'll completely understand your tone and feelings.
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I know she is a mixed breed but you just described my dog perfectly. Even down to the dribble when friends show her attention. She is without a doubt the most attention craved dog I've ever had and if you pet her be ready for her to not leave your side for a while.
Lots of good info in this thread. Thanks for taking the time to give some advice. I'm going to try to implement some of these things and see what happens.
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I dont want to take over the thread but I had an awnser to the original question but have one of my own.
My biggest problem is the dog bolting and not letting you catch her. How would you guys stop that or retrieve her?
I started feeding her AFTER her morning potty break. Now she bolts into the house every time. She dont run out on me any more but if the kids are talking at the door leaving it open, oe if someone left the door wide open, SHES OUT and half the neighborhood is helping catch her. I know I dont walk her enough and now that winter is coming, I still wont want to. I also dont want to spend on an electric fence right now. Has that NOT WORKED for anyone and can you get your money back if it doesnt work on your dog?
One time, someone even called the police on her being loose and said "The dog charged them while they were bringing in groceries" at first I told the cop "so are you the guy I call every time I see a dog in my yard" I know it wasnt it his fault he was there and he didnt want to be there. He told me what the assinine neighbor said, so I said "why would she charge someone, when you have a dog treat and she wont come nowhere near you?" he agreed with me but said if he gets one more call, we will get fined. we also got the local vet to put a different breed on the papers because as the cop was asking about insurance issues. I showed him the papers and said "this says mixed breed" I know its not the cops fault but neighbors in this area look for reason to complain. When I was growing up, if the neighbors dog came into your yard you would pet it and throw a stick. Now these yahoos call the cops with no prior biting history.
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I don't get calling the cops about a dog unless the dog did physical harm. Hell, my neighbors dog ran in my front door one day. I picked her up, took her outside and my little girl and I played with her for a few minutes, when her owners came out looking for her (she snuch out when they had the door opened briefly and they didn't know it). This dog has knocked my little girl to the ground a couple times even. But she's never done any harm (Anna laughed like crazy at being knocked down, no cuts or bruises). It would never occur to me to call the cops on her for that. Now my neighbors to the back of me, that's a different story and that's about the damn barking at all hours from their 2 big dogs (mutts, but big dogs). It's doing me physical harm, I'm not getting enough gosh darn sleep!!!! 
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Me neither. I think if someone calls the cops because a harmless dog is loose, that its a waiste of tax payers money and that cops have better things to do.
It was more of a neighbor dispute really. His buddy actually told me that he was the guy that called. I would have pressed for a false report if more came of it.
for someone to call the cops on a dog that has no history of being violent or biting, is petty and its someone with nothing better to do trying to cause drama.
The worst thing about my dog getting loose- she runs strait for the smelliest ditch or mud hole she can find. The dog loves water.
some could say that we are negligent when the dog gets loose but what can you do when a neighbor kid comes over a holds the door open? One time I was getting a dryer delivered and the guy came right up to the door and opened it without knocking, not any bodies fault.
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You need to work on the call back with your dog.
When she does bolt and you catch her do NOT scold her,she doesnt know any better and that is YOUR fault,your the boss.
Some dogs are more hard headed than others,but you need to get your dog under voice control. If people can do it with Bullmastiffs it can be done with any dog. BMFs are as hard headed as they come.
KING
You may be in the drivers seat but God is holding the map. #GMSTRONG
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