Recently, our Border Collie (whom we've had about a month) is taking on some destructive tendencies. So far, he's chewed up 2 pairs of shoes, part of an expensive coat, part of a floor and some other items, including some high up and far back on a counter which leads to some intereseting speculation of how he's getting to it. During the day, he's penned up in the kitchen (were most of the destruction has occured.) We've got a crate for him, but when we initially introduced him it was more or less a disaster (would deficate in it and thrash around to the point of scooting it across the floor.) We tried slowly introducing it to him, putting food, water, treats & toys in it but he would go in long enough to get what he needed and come out. We would close the door for a few minutes at a time and he'd be fine, up to about 10-15 minutes then he would go nuts, bark, howl, etc. As a comprimse (mainly at night), we started penning him up in the kitchen which began to work well. We carried this through the day, letting him outside and spending time with him at lunch (we don't like leaving outside unsupervised for long periods of time, as he's found a way out of the fence that we're still looking for.) He's done well in the kitchen til about a week ago. When we're home, he's fine. I suspect a degree of separation anxiety, judging by the way he barks and runs the fence when someone leaves if he's outside.
Aside from just throwing him in the crate and leaving him til we come home for lunch, what can we do? We're starting to work on basic obedience and that's coming along so-so.
Aside from just throwing him in the crate and leaving him til we come home for lunch, what can we do? We're starting to work on basic obedience and that's coming along so-so.
