Destructive Dog - Advice

Cassa

Hope some of you can help with the following:

My dog is a 2 year old lurcher who is gets plenty of excercise, but
is very destructive when left through the day - and getting worse.

She has many toys/chews left to combat the boredom but prefers other items.

She has destroyed two crates!

Any advise please?

Thanks

happyhappygal

Despite the fact your dog gets plenty of exercise, she is clearly extremely bored and frustrated and is probably sick of the sight of her toys/chew etc and is looking for other things to keep her from her very boring and mundane day.

How long is she alone for?

I would suggest some company...perhaps a dog walker?

Cassa

Dog walker out of the question, financially.
She's left on her own approx 7 hours - I pop home and let her out
at lunchtime.

sparkle03

Hi There, I feel for you. I have a two year old staffy and she used to be fine when left alone, then she started to be just as you described - very destructive... She is the same as your dog, exercised regularly and is healthy. She has piles of toys and and is praised when she behaves, scolded when naughty.
Try looking up seperation anxiety, this was the only thing that I could come up with for Brandy (my dog)
There are many tips if this is the problem, I tried them all, in the end I had to crate train her, It broke my heart at first as I felt very cruel but I realised it was for Brandys own safety as well as my sanity, she could have gotten herself into trouble when alone and now I have a crate - the biggest one I could find she has her bed in there and lots of toys and bones and she spends time in there even when were are not leaving the house. Its her very own little haven.
Hope you work things out with your doggie!

happyhappygal

Oh Cassa thats an awfully long time for her.

What about a friend of neighbour popping in?

Sometimes, and with some dogs, they can bide their time relatively well throughout the day (although I do not agree with keeping an animal cooped up and alone for long periods of time) however with this situation there is obviously a problem.

She is clearly suffering by being alone, hence the destruction....

...aside from actual company I can't think of any solutions so will make way and allow someone else to input.

I shall be interested in reading any solutions that people may have.

Raksha

Dogs are usually destructive when left alone for one of two reasons - either they are worried about being left alone, and being destructive releases some of the worry. Or it's because they can - they are bored and looking for something to do, and they normally get stopped when there is somebody there, so they've learnt they can do it when alone......

It will help you to know why if you try and video her when you aren't there (just as normal, don't try and hide around the corner, she'll know you've not really left ) A dog which suffers from Seperation Anxiety will start to act worried almost before you've left the house. If it's boredom, they will be quite chilled and at peace before you leave, and possible for some little time after you've left, but then you'll see them start to look for things to do.

Obviously, you need to know *why* before you can start to treat it.

suki1964

I really hope to god no one is advocating cooping a dog up for 7 or more hours in a crate

moomin5

Is she actually left alone for 7 hours or are you at work for 7 hours but pop in mid-way through?

Was she happy to be crated before now and have you just recently started to be out for longer?

I have on occasions had to leave my dogs for 7 hours, which is pushing the bladder limit for one of my dogs (6hrs is usual safe limit), but they are a lazy breed and quite content to sleep all day. How much exercise are you giving her? Tired dogs usually cause less trouble.

Cassa

Hi all & thanks for responding, she is left alone 4 hours in the morning, let out for 10 mins at lunch and then left for 3 hours in the afternoon.

She gets a two mile run/walk in the morning and an evening walk - evening walk can be anything from 15 mins to an hour depending on the weather and is usually off lead.

When I'm home at weekend she sleeps most of the day.

She was happy to be crated for a while - she has a very large crate. Then she dismantled it. This was a few months ago. Since then she has become increasingly more destructive. I rebuilt the crate yesterday and strenghtened it with cable ties. Will let you know how I get on.

supermezzo

Make sure you cut the ends off the ties then as she'll happily munch through those too.
The fact that she sleeps during the weekend when you're there suggests that she's far more settled and secure when you're around.
I have to be honest thgouh and say that I really feel that she is left on her own for too long and is distressed about it, hence the destruction. She needs to be reassured that you're coming back. Could you maybe spend the weekend leaving her for 5 mins then making a fuss when you come back, then 10 mins etc?

Cassa

Hi Supermezzo,

Yes already cut the ends off the ties!! Have done the thing of leaving her for
longer periods of time at the weekend. She is fine at weekends even if I go
out for a couple of hours - it's just in the week!