Roy is ruining my house ... any ideas

[JR0579]

Instead of leaving my 8.5 months old GSD in the crate while I am at work, I decided to leave him in the laundry room which is obviously more spacious than the crate. The first day went fine without any issues. The second day I came back only to find out that he had dug a hole in the dry wall. I have no idea why he did that with all the toys he had lying around. I would really like to stop crating him when I am work because eventually when he is about 12 or 18 months old I would like to trust him and give him a free roam of the house. Any ideas or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks

 

[AmberwayGSD]

What works for me leaving Sasha loose is a big Raw meaty bone.I left her out 4 hours while I worked last night and nothing not even grabbing the shoe mat like she usually does.

 

[lucille]

They make large wire fold out cages and they are fairly inexpensive. I do not know why, other than boredom, he got your wall, but perhaps a large foldout cage would be a short term answer.

 

[juliefurry]

maybe he was trying to dig his way out to find you? I don't have much suggestions. Maybe the kong with the frozen peanut butter. You could also try leaving a t.v. or radio on for him. My dogs are the same if left out when we are alone. They bark and chew on stuff, get into the garbage and get onto stuff they aren't suppose to. My lab is 10 months old though and is still doing it, no matter what we try. Just keep trying with him though, maybe he just got bored. He was probably so excited the first day about having so much new freedom that he didn't have time to get bored, where the next day he was used to the freedom so he had time to get bored.

 

[yuckaduck]

Crate crate crate! Yukon will never ever be trusted when unattended. He gets so bored; you can just see the wheels turning in his head.

Hope you have to be careful, sometimes she gets bored and gets into things..like the toilet paper. Usually she is good.

 

[Athebeau]

What I would do is leave unsupervised for short periods of time only. Come back after a short time frame and see how he is making out. If he is laying on his bed chewing a bone, praise him and bring him out. Perhaps only give him his favorite bones in that room so he comes to look forward to it.

As mentioned give either a RMB or another bone that "really" holds your dogs interest. Leave music on, perhaps pick up a little rescue remedy to help calm your dog when alone.

What is the atmosphere like in the room he is left in? does he perhaps feel closed in? We had a Newf years ago that accidently locked himself in the bathroom while we were out. He tore and chewed his way out of the bathroom...it was an expensive door to replace (renting at that time).

 

[JR0579]

Thanks for all the advice. Peanut butter in the kong is not an option for the time being as he still has upset stomach from his recent illness. I am still working with the vet on that. I leave him some Low Res. kibble. I left him only for 4.5 hours which isn't a long time, I think.

The room is quite spacious. Personally being in there I don't feel closed in at all. I turn the heat off before I leave to work because I know the room can get pretty hot. So it feels very comfortable to him.

I do leave a radio on and he isn't interested in TV. When my wife and I are watching he tries getting our attention with a ball or something; something is usually whining . Even if a dog barks on TV, he just looks up for a sec. and loses interest immediately.


Athebeau : What's a rescue remedy ?

Yuckaduck : Crating is what I am trying to avoid for long term plans. First, I'd like, eventually, to trust him in the house. Second, I'd like to stop driving home from work during lunch. It's taking a huge toll on me and therefore, I just can't bring myself to leave him for 9 hrs. straight in the crate Thanks to all of you

 

[doberkim]

it doesnt matter what the long term goal is - right now you still have a puppy, and clearly he is not ready for the responsibility of being left alone, at least not that long.

he needs to be crated now, for his OWn safety. later on, you can attempt to leave him out for SHORT periods of time - 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there, and GRADUALLY increase the time in a puppy proofed room.

roy is not ready to be left alone loose right now, and he showed you that. he is still very young and needs to be treated as a puppy - and not put in situations he could hurt himself or damage the house.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

With Rottweilers, I don't really attempt to start leaving a dog out unsupervised for any length of time (beyond 5 minutes or so just to step out or to the bathroom for moments). Early learning behaviors can be permanent, so I don't like to let puppies have any chance to do the wrong thing and chew destructively or counter surf.

I let a puppy's general behavior be a guide, and when there is little looking or sniffing at the wrong things, when the pup is sure about the toy box and which things are approved to chew,when the pup rarely picks up anything that does not belong to him, I will usually start by letting the puppy sleep outside the crate.

Usually this will be gated into the bedroom with me to reduce the temptation to wander the house and wreak mischief or havoc during the night.

Most dogs, when good and quiet during the night on a regular basis, are ready for SHORT periods of time loose in the house unsupervised.

With Rottweilers, this usually coincides with the dog being close to TWO years old for me, and sometimes even older.

I do not rush it. It's not worth destroyed items, and possibly an injured dog.

My advice, don't rush it. Try an exercise pen attached to the crate for during the day, or get an extra large wire crate, and use it. Make sure the pup is getting plenty of good outdoor exercise when you are not away.

A person to come in and walk him at lunch is also not a bad idea when you must be away for the entire day.

JMO as always.

 

[DanL]

I'll echo as well- you need to keep him crated. We didn't trust our older GSD/Golden mix until she was 3-4 years old. She's never destroyed anything. Gunnar, at 10 months, is too young. The other night I was out, my wife was in the basement wrapping gifts, and my daughter was in her room. Gunnar was unattended for an hour or so and he ate Mrs Claus off the fireplace hearth. I know it feels bad to leave them in the crate, but really, it's a safe haven for them. Our pug will lay in his crate with the door open all the time. His bed is in there and he feels comfortable being in there.

 

[RobHedrick]

How much exercise is he getting?

Dogs tend to get frustrated when they can't release pent up energy. I suggest you walk him for at least an hour every day, and some running / sprinting involved as well.

If you simply don't have enough time to walk him that long, I'd suggest getting a long lunge-line / leash / rope - take him outside and let him run around as much as possible for 15 or 20 min.

It could be separation anxiety, but I doubt it. Dogs especially GSD's have a lot of energy, that energy just builds over time if it isn't released, and that energy turns into aggravated boredom which = destructiveness.

Another good idea for you: German Shepherd's were bred to be working dogs, they love to work (and feel important). Maybe get a work-bag (a light bag that lays / straps over his back like a nylon saddle - you can find them at pet stores cheap); strap that bag to his back when you walk, put something with weight inside the pouch (I'd suggest a couple bottles of water or something), and that will make him feel very important, and much less prone to be destructive because he knows that eventually you will need him to work for you.

It may not make a lot of sense now, but trust me, it'll make him much happier and calmer if he has a ton of exercise, and a job to do. I guarantee if you exercise him a lot, the destructiveness will stop all together.


Good luck, ~Rob

 

[DanL]

Exercise doesn't have to be hour long walks. 20 minutes of 2 ball is a lot better because the dog is running, changing directions, thinking about what they are doing, etc. My trainer told me a story of a client who had a high energy dog. So the person decided they would hook the dog to a bike and ride 10 miles a day. It didn't help the dogs energy problem and turned him into an olympic athlete who still had energy to burn.

I wouldn't be strapping any kind of weights on an 8 month old dog. GSD's are slow to mature and things like that shouldn't be done till they are 12-18 months old. A bottle of water wouldn't be so bad but I don't think I'd use anything else.

The pup is still going to have lots of down time by himself, and that's where the bad behavior comes in. Keep him crated when you are gone. It's the best thing for both of you. Your house doesn't get destroyed and he's safe by not having access to things like drywall, wiring, and other foreign objects.

 

[JR0579]

Rob & Dan

Both of you are right about him being very energetic. I used to walk him every morning for 30min. including running. However, since he got sick, my vet. advised having him rest. His health isn't very stable now. One day he's fine, the other he's lying down not eating or drinking. So, I am just waiting until his health stabilizes and we'll go back to our routine of morning walks.
He and I used to enjoy going to an off-leash park but now I am afraid of taking him there because I think that's where he contracted the illness.

On another note, I am being told that running is not good for their joints at that age. What do you think?

Thanks to all for the advice and help

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

I would not recommend any sort of structured conditioning on a GSD until past 18 mos of age.

but brisk walking with you, chasing the ball, etc are great for young dogs.

MENTAL exercise is also important. Give his brain something to do with training. Training if done properly builds a wonderful bond of love and respect between you and your dog, and builds confidence in the dog. The dog learns how to earn your praise and respect, and I've never trained a single dog that I did not gain love and respect for as well.

Meanwhile, PREVENT the dog from doing any mischief in your house. Any time you put the pup in a position where he can relieve his frustrations and anxiety by chewing things he should not when you are gone, you make it much more likely that it will happen again, no matter WHAT you do when you come back, and you allow that behavior to become more firmly ingrained.

PREVENT it by properly confining the dog safely in a crate or an expen while you are away.

 

[JR0579]

I would not recommend any sort of structured conditioning on a GSD until past 18 mos of age.

but brisk walking with you, chasing the ball, etc are great for young dogs.

MENTAL exercise is also important. Give his brain something to do with training. Training if done properly builds a wonderful bond of love and respect between you and your dog, and builds confidence in the dog. The dog learns how to earn your praise and respect, and I've never trained a single dog that I did not gain love and respect for as well.

Meanwhile, PREVENT the dog from doing any mischief in your house. Any time you put the pup in a position where he can relieve his frustrations and anxiety by chewing things he should not when you are gone, you make it much more likely that it will happen again, no matter WHAT you do when you come back, and you allow that behavior to become more firmly ingrained.

PREVENT it by properly confining the dog safely in a crate or an expen while you are away.

That's what I am doing now. I am crating him and I drive back home during lunch to let him out and spend about 30 minutes with him. However, eventually, he'll have to be left alone in the house when he is about 18 months old. How is he going to learn how to be behave when left alone in the house ?

Thanks

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

What I do is teach the dog where the toy box is, and that they may take anything from this box or basket to chew and do with as they will.

EVERYTHING else in the house is mine, and off limits.

So if you don't have a toy box set up, get one, and stock it with a variety of safe and interesting things to chew and play with. For the first week or so, smear several things in the box with a tiny smear of peanut butter or Cheez Whiz. It does not have to be a lot, just a little smear.

Then let your pup have some free time out with you, and watch him carefully. The SECOND he looks at or sniffs at something he should not, interrupt him with an AH AH, that's MINE. Go to him, take him by the collar, and with a smile and in a cheerful voice say "Where is your TOYBOX??" Come on, bud, Let's go find something in the TOY BOX!" Smile and cheerfully take him over to the toy box and make sure he finds a goody with a smear of something good on it. Praise him for taking something from the box.

Play retrieve games by tossing things into the box and encouraging him to go there and pick a toy.

Supervise him very carefully, and EVERY time he looks up at a countertop, table, or pays attention to anything he should not chew, interrupt him, and redirect him to the toy box.

If you are having issues with certain items or areas of chewing, set him up to pay attention to the problem areas, and then interrupt him and redirect him to the toy box, and make sure he finds something particularly delectable to play with or chew.

I have found that having a specific area for approved toys, and CAREFULLY supervising puppies when loose in the house, along with interrupting and redirecting them to the box when they are attracted to something they should not chew works fast and reliably.

Once the dog learns all about the toy box and what is approved to chew, and once the dog is NEVER trying to pick up and chew things that dont' belong to him, you can start letting him SLEEP outside the crate. I usually start this around 18 mos to 2 years of age with the Rotties.

I gate the dog in the bedroom with me at night.

Once the dog is sleeping outside the crate peacefully in the room with you, take down the gate.

when the dog is sleeping and not doing any mischeif in the night, it's then time to start with SHORT times of you being away with him loose in the house. It's smart in the beginning to give him a really cool something to chew when you leave.

Getting a puppy to the point he can be trusted loose alone in the house takes time. Rushing it can cause real issues that are difficult to retrain.

Don't rush to get the dog out of the crate. Take your time. TEACH him what is expected and acceptable. Go slow. Small steps. He's just a baby yet.

 

[JR0579]

What I do is teach the dog where the toy box is, and that they may take anything from this box or basket to chew and do with as they will.

EVERYTHING else in the house is mine, and off limits.

So if you don't have a toy box set up, get one, and stock it with a variety of safe and interesting things to chew and play with. For the first week or so, smear several things in the box with a tiny smear of peanut butter or Cheez Whiz. It does not have to be a lot, just a little smear.

Then let your pup have some free time out with you, and watch him carefully. The SECOND he looks at or sniffs at something he should not, interrupt him with an AH AH, that's MINE. Go to him, take him by the collar, and with a smile and in a cheerful voice say "Where is your TOYBOX??" Come on, bud, Let's go find something in the TOY BOX!" Smile and cheerfully take him over to the toy box and make sure he finds a goody with a smear of something good on it. Praise him for taking something from the box.

Play retrieve games by tossing things into the box and encouraging him to go there and pick a toy.

Supervise him very carefully, and EVERY time he looks up at a countertop, table, or pays attention to anything he should not chew, interrupt him, and redirect him to the toy box.

If you are having issues with certain items or areas of chewing, set him up to pay attention to the problem areas, and then interrupt him and redirect him to the toy box, and make sure he finds something particularly delectable to play with or chew.

I have found that having a specific area for approved toys, and CAREFULLY supervising puppies when loose in the house, along with interrupting and redirecting them to the box when they are attracted to something they should not chew works fast and reliably.

Once the dog learns all about the toy box and what is approved to chew, and once the dog is NEVER trying to pick up and chew things that dont' belong to him, you can start letting him SLEEP outside the crate. I usually start this around 18 mos to 2 years of age with the Rotties.

I gate the dog in the bedroom with me at night.

Once the dog is sleeping outside the crate peacefully in the room with you, take down the gate.

when the dog is sleeping and not doing any mischeif in the night, it's then time to start with SHORT times of you being away with him loose in the house. It's smart in the beginning to give him a really cool something to chew when you leave.

Getting a puppy to the point he can be trusted loose alone in the house takes time. Rushing it can cause real issues that are difficult to retrain.

Don't rush to get the dog out of the crate. Take your time. TEACH him what is expected and acceptable. Go slow. Small steps. He's just a baby yet.

Thanks so much for the advice ... I'll work on it. Hopefully I am not too late.
Much appreciated
Regards

 

[DanL]

You are not too late at all. I wouldn't expect a pup the age of yours, or mine, to be trustworthy yet. We crated our older dog for 3 years or so. Our pug is still crated at night and when we go out. We let Gunnar sleep in our room now but the door is closed so he can't roam the house.

Be patient, be firm, and you'll be just fine.

As far as the exercise goes, just try to limit the jumping. Running is natural for them, there's not much you can do about that. I find the mental stimulation is often as exhausting as the physical. The other night after OB class, we played about 20 mins of ball and he was ZONKED for the night. It wasn't from the ball, it was from the stress of class.

 

[JR0579]

You are not too late at all. I wouldn't expect a pup the age of yours, or mine, to be trustworthy yet. We crated our older dog for 3 years or so. Our pug is still crated at night and when we go out. We let Gunnar sleep in our room now but the door is closed so he can't roam the house.

Be patient, be firm, and you'll be just fine.

As far as the exercise goes, just try to limit the jumping. Running is natural for them, there's not much you can do about that. I find the mental stimulation is often as exhausting as the physical. The other night after OB class, we played about 20 mins of ball and he was ZONKED for the night. It wasn't from the ball, it was from the stress of class.

Yeah, I experienced that when we went to OB classes. By the way, besides the basic ob classes, what other classes can I take him to ? I mean what can he learn or be trained to do besides basic commands given that I am going not to into competitions ?

 

[mojozen]

My dog is 3 years old and is pretty reliable for even long periods of time, but I still crate him daily. Sometimes it seems like he knows the word "crate" even better than his own name. I prefer to be very safe than very sorry when it comes to my dog.

Plus since I rent, my landlord has made it very clear that if there is an emergency and maintenance or anyone needs to get into my apartment and finds the dog loose? I could be fined and/or asked to give up the apartment. I prefer to not run that kind of risk at all.

But that's just my situation. I understand your desire to have a dog you can trust to run free when he's older, but I wouldn't even trust your pooch until he was 2 years old to be left alone much less now. I say this because I used to own a GSD mix and up until about 2 years he was still more puppy than adult.