Need Advice - On the verge of breaking down

[Wings]

Sorry for this long post, i'm really very frustrated and sad with her behaving like this. I'm trying to be a good owner, giving her all my attention for the time i'm home. Walks, training, tug/ball games till the time we sleep. I walk wif her 4 times a day, 6.30am, 6pm, 9pm and last one at 11pm before we sleep. But i do not know what happened to her that she started destroying my rented apartment this week - she have destroyed 2 curtains (shredded it), bit off some parts of a sofa, and today she chewed the cord of the monitor of my other computer.
I'm gonna have to return the apartment to the landlord this weekend 'cos my bought apartment (she was the reason that I bought a bigger apartment wif a roof terrace so she has more space to roam) is finally ready and I dun know how to tell the landlord about all the things she destroyed. As some already know I'm really short of cash these few mths as I;ve to pay the purchase of the new hse, furnitures and move. And Mango have to be neutered too. I can't find the money to pay the landlord for all the things she destroyed
She is still on walking service from 10am till 2pm in the afternoon, i've asked the dog walking service to bring her and sends her home last so at least she has some company for as long as possible. She is alone from 7am-10am, then from 2pm-5.30pm. I have ensured she has lotsa of toys, radio is on, light is on at the hallway, comfort zone but all had suddenly lost their use this week.
As a last resort, I've bought myself the largest crate I can find in Holland - those covered crate for airline travel for big dogs. 2 kongs - 1 to be given to her when I go work and the other to her when she comes back from walk.
Can anyone advise what else can I do besides me quitting my job to make her feel less of the separation anxiety. I'm crying now because i'm feelling soooo bad, i dun know where I have gone wrong. She even has her own positive trainer who comes round every week for a one to one training session wif her.

 

[Fran27]

Stick with the crate, it will solve almost all your problems honestly. Also make a search on separation anxiety and you should find some good advice. But it's really common for puppies to destroy things when they're alone in the house.

 

[Wings]

yes i have done searches on separation anxiety and have done as much as i could to lessen her anxiety. Done all I can and can afford. The crate is my last resort, but i'm worried she will scream her head off as she has never been crated before. I know some will say do it gradually and I will but she will have to stay in there starting coming Monday and of course I'll start her with it during the weekend.

 

[Ash47]

You are right, it should be done gradually to get her used to it. Do you have a Kong toy?? If not, I think it would be a wise decision to buy her one of those. Fill it up with Peanut Butter or any kind of treat and put it in the crate with her. That should help keep her amused.

edit-- just saw that you have 2 Kongs.

 

[DanL]

The crate is your answer. I don't think she has separation anxiety as much as she is bored. A bored dog + free run of the house =destroyed things.

For separation anxiety- can you walk out of the room or out of the house without her freaking out? If she freaks as soon as you are out of sight, that is more signs of separation anxiety.

Gradually get her used to the crate while you are home. Make it her own place- nice blanket, toys, etc. Get her comfortable being in there while you are home with her, so that way she won't associate being crated with you leaving. That will cut down on her crying or barking. I've listened outside my door after I crate Gunnar. He might bark a couple times and then is quiet, because he's used to the crate.

Good luck!

 

[showpug]

A crate or ex-pen (I tend to veer towards an ex-pen for the larger breeds) will solve your problems. She's bored and used to being entertained 24/7 by you when you are home.

 

[Wings]

sorry showpug, whats a ex-pen?

 

[Wings]

oh and she is ok if i just go out to the supermarket for 15-20mins, she doesn;t freak out...so I guess she is bored then
Hope I can successful crate her this weekend and she will be ok on Monday

 

[Saje]

More exercise! A tired dog is a good dog. I don't mean longer I mean more intense. Do something that will really make her work.

 

[Gempress]

oh and she is ok if i just go out to the supermarket for 15-20mins, she doesn;t freak out...so I guess she is bored then

Yup, she's bored. Dogs who have seperation anxiety get destructive immediately after the owners leave, no matter how short of a time the owners are gone.

That's the downside with having a very intelligent dog: they get bored easily, and then cause damage. The crate training should help. Good luck!

 

[bonster]

I've been very lucky with Bonnie....

....maybe a baby stair gate would help - you can fix it into a doorframe - I've seen that done to confine to, say, the kitchen where there are less soft furnishings to get chewed up! Make it comforatble with a bed,toy etc -- would that help do you think?

Also if you can I would build up the time that you are away - that's what I did with Bonnie when she was new (as she was from a shelter she was pretty anxious when we initially left her) -- firstly 20 mins, then 40, 60... etc... and make a fuss when you get back and there is no damage....

Just my thoughts - hope they help

With the landlord - maybe if you think they are going to want lots for the damage you could work out what it would cost you to replace the worst bits and have it in mind (eg you could offer to replace the curtains maybe - then buy sensibly prices ones??)

Good luck

 

[Saje]

Oh and try giving her frozen stuffed kongs or frozen knuckle bones. That should keep her busy for awhile. How old is she again?

 

[Wings]

she goes for approx. 1 hrs run and play with other dogs in the nearby forest and when I'm home I do training/tug/ball. As much as I can do make her feel occupied and tired, just I'm not able to be with her 24/7

 

[Wings]

yea i've just froze the 2 kongs, 1 with peanut butter and some small treats and the other wif yoghurt and her fave biscuit. Will call the dog service to give her one when they bring her home.
She will be 7mths the coming 20th dec

 

[Saje]

dog service?

At that age she's probably going through her teens. Dogs usually act out around now. Brats.

 

[Wings]

Dog walking service, since i didn;t want to leave her for prolonged period of time, i engaged someone to bring her out for playtime and walks.
Thats what my trainer say too, reaching puberty & acting like brats Thats how we have been through too so she said I have to forgive her like my mum forgave me ...lol

 

[Doberluv]

She is a normal puppy. You just can't leave a puppy loose in the house anymore than you would leave a two year old child in a house without supervising. She needs to be crated when you can't watch her until she grows up. It will not only prevent her from getting this destructive behavior reinforced, (because it's self rewarding) but it will keep her safe. She could be electrocuted chewing wires or choke on something. She doesn't need your constant attention, in fact, shouldn't be given constant attention, but she does need good, exhilerating exercise and obedience training to give her a job..or an outlet for her mental and physical needs.

If you do a search here on "crates" I think you'll find some good info.

I hope things look better for you soon.

 

[RD]

I can't believe you've gotten this far without a crate, Wings.

I second the suggestion of giving her a job to do. It looks like she's young, so a lot of hard running probably isn't do-able. (I worry about the impact that it's having on their bones, especially with larger breeds.) But yes, she definitely needs to get some exercise.

Also, mental stimulation is what's most important here (IMO) and for a smart, herding breed puppy, a kong just doesn't qualify as mental stimulation. Start making that puppy -work- at something! If you live with somebody else, have one person hold her while you hide, then have her find you. (One of my dog's favorite games.) Teach her the names of objects and randomly ask her to bring them to you, or touch/go to them. Little things like that will help her calm down.

Doberluv said something that I agree with, though.. Don't give her constant attention. I've seen the results of a dog that was constantly being given amusement as a puppy and adolescent.. In fact, I live with him. I honestly think that the constant attention and entertainment he recieved as a baby has rendered him incapable of dealing with boredom. If he gets bored, stuff gets wrecked.
My other dog, who was loved on and fawned over as a puppy but also left alone on occasion in his crate with nothing to do, deals with boredom and long periods of time in his crate far better. I don't go out all day very often, but when I do he's always perfectly behaved in the crate, wheras I come home to my Papillon swimming in polyester fill from his lovely bed..LOL

Good luck, it'll get better as she gets older I think. This is the most difficult age for puppies, I dread it each time I think of getting another puppy. But keep up the hard work with her, learn what you can about crating and how to train an easily bored dog. She should be okay.

 

[MoparStar]

Some bored dogs really love to watch television. They even make videos for dogs with kitties and birdies and all sorts of visually stimulating things. On dvd you can set them to run continuous. Even just soap operas, as they can see the people and hear them talking. I have had dogs that get agitated by the radio, like the music drives them crazy after a while.

 

[Wings]

oh at my new house, her crate will be placed near the window (i have huge french windows) where she can look out and see cars/pple/dogs and she likes it. When I bring her to the new house, she likes to sit by the couch near the window and spends a long time watching the traffic outside, lie down sleep, gets up, walk round the hse and stares out of the window again...think that qualify for a visual simulation?
yea maybe i do pamper her alot when i'm arnd, with her new crate i will try to put her in when i'm arnd for 15-30mins, lets her out, plays for some and then let her in again...just need to get her used to it