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Subject: Miss Alelaide is having behavior issues

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revlistless User is Offline

Illinois

MH
Posts:240

07/28/2010 3:24 PM
I have been having touble with Adie when we are away from the house. We bought her a nice nylon soft sided kennel....I was told that it looked better in the livingroom. She has not had any problems being in there while we are gone until a few weekends ago. We had two wedding receptions to go to in one evening, and I forgot to put her food in with her before we left. So she got hungery and made her way through the kennel to her food dish and Jasmines' food. (Can't blame her my fault) The next day we had to start baby registry stuff and had to leave her out b/c the kennel was destroyed. We have left her out before and haven't had any problems. When we returned she had drug the frontdoor rug up stairs and destroyed it. To make a long story short she is very well behaved while we are home. The moment we leave the house without her she takes things up to our bedroom and destroys them. (mostly my wifes stuff) Even if we have just gone out in the yard. She has a new wire kennel and has figured out how to work the latch, so now we have put a lock on it. She is obviously angry about being left at home. Is there a way to help her feel better? We leave toys in her kennel, fresh bones, and I make sure she has food. I just don't know what to do..

Hummingbird Hill Manors' Adelaide Hummingbird Hill Manors' Lucy in the sky with diamonds

erikacarrillo User is Offline

La Honda, CA

MH
Posts:229

07/28/2010 3:45 PM
Have you tried leaving a Kong filled with peanut butter? On days when I do that, I find that my Koda is less destructive. I don't usually give her a Kong unless I am leaving. She may start to associate you leaving with getting a treat.

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:6748

07/28/2010 4:40 PM
I also cover my wire crates and leave a radio or the TV on. Those both seem to work well. Also, do not make a production out of leaving. I put mine in a few minutes before I am ready to leave, just tell them to kennel and shut the door. No goodbyes as my leaving is no big deal. Then I get my keys and whatever and leave. When I get home I put up my keys and purse and do a few things before they get to come out. Again, no big greeting just let them out of the kennel and put them out to potty. Making your leaving low key tells them that leaving is not a big deal. If you make a production out of it they will too.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

escampbell User is Offline

MH
Posts:213

07/28/2010 8:28 PM
I love my soft sided crates for use at trials, where I am only ever away from my dogs for relatively short periods of time. I would never use them as a house crate, when I am leaving my dogs for longer periods. Soft sided crates are easy to bust out of. There are many nice looking models in the catalogues, which can be used in living areas. Or you can buy a regular crate (either metal or an airline type) and cover it in cloth, so it looks "nicer." Then, add toys and chewies, leave on music, as recommended above. Practice crating when home and when leaving. Eleanor

Eleanor Campbell New Jersey Sydney, Presto, Price, Ozma and Soleil

Splat

Illinois (Northern)

MH
Posts:2438

07/29/2010 5:35 AM
Posted By Texas Belle on 07/28/2010 4:40 PM I also cover my wire crates and leave a radio or the TV on. Those both seem to work well. Also, do not make a production out of leaving. I put mine in a few minutes before I am ready to leave, just tell them to kennel and shut the door. No goodbyes as my leaving is no big deal. Then I get my keys and whatever and leave. When I get home I put up my keys and purse and do a few things before they get to come out. Again, no big greeting just let them out of the kennel and put them out to potty. Making your leaving low key tells them that leaving is not a big deal. If you make a production out of it they will too. When I was helping my friend with her dogs crate/seperation anxiety issues these were major points we were told to follow from the vet and the special training video. Make no big deal about leaving or coming home no talking to them and saying be a good dog or guard the house and then when coming home just simply let them out no did you miss me's or anything liek that. If you cover the cage just use a regular sheet cuz comforters have stuffing in them and if they decide to pull the blanket in and eat it that can be bad. Kongs stuffed with peanut butter work great and you can even freeze them too so they last. Also put her in the cage while you are home working in the house or simply watch TV so that she can get comfortable with the cage. If style is a big deal there are some really nice stylish cages that are done to be like side tables for couches. I bet you could even make a cage into a table if you are handy.

http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2553 http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2554

therozypozy User is Offline

MH
Posts:333

07/29/2010 5:58 AM
I agree with escampbell, love the soft sided crates, but they are only for use at trials. If you are looking for something nice in the living room, they make great covers that fit the wire crates, or if you or your wife know how to sew, make one that matches your decor. As Bev said, don't make a big deal of leaving or coming home. When we are starting a new dog with staying in the crate when we are gone, we use a kong, fill it with yogurt mixed with a little bit of kibble and freeze it. It keeps them busy for a while. And then before you know it, we are back home and everything is at it was when we left.

pixie bee

MH
Posts:3915

07/29/2010 6:04 AM
Crates are an eyesore - but - they look a heck of a lot better than an eaten couch,rug,tv remote,etc When we own dogs we sometimes have to give up the luxury look - pet hair,smell of wet dog, paw prints on freshly washed floors,drool - yep dogs - they have no decorating sense - the dirtier and stinkier the better

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

Gatormom

St Paul, MN

MH
Posts:193

07/29/2010 6:21 AM
My previous shorthair, Kaiser had a seperation anxiety, but we were very lucky in that my husband and I worked different hours, and my brother lives across the street, so we never did have to leave him alone for long periods. I have heard horror stories of destruction done by dogs with seeration anxiety. I heard of one shorthair who was left in an attached garage, and ate through the drywall to get in the house, and another who ate a sofa. Our current shorthair doesn't have seperation anxiety, and we kennel him if we need to be away. His kennel is in the family room, and when we leave, we tune the satetllite dish to Sirus Radio to the Margarita (Jimmy Buffet) station.

Barbara Kaiser (1996-2010) Gator I am simply thankful that least dogs exist, and I'm humbly aware of how much less a person I'd be - how less human, if they did not exist - Rick Bass