ANSanborn
Posts:18
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| 08/17/2010 3:17 PM |
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When we originally got our two GSPs, I was home all the time.
Then I got a part time job, so I was home most of the time.
When I took this full-time job I decided to work 9 hours a day so I would only be gone for 4 days instead of 5 (on a 35 hour schedule).
Unfortunately, Aero and Bruno are now the victims of my employment. My husband and I both work long days 4 days a week. Since both of our dogs are about 1 year old they tend to be a bit more active than your average dog might demand. We take them out for a long walk in the morning and then a long walk when we get home followed by a night of romping around the house or yard.
Bruno is a bit of a diva and really doesn't like his cage. When I say really, I mean it seriously. While we are at work, we leave them in the kitchen with the doors to their crates open. We've noticed that from time to time Bruno will pee in his cage. He has the entire kitchen (about 300 sq feet) but he chooses to go in his cage. Can you say disdain?
So here's the dilemma: they've destroyed our kitchen by ripping up the floor, chewing the table and chairs and today they endangered themselves by eating some hydrangeas off the top of the island. I want them to be safe while I'm gone, but I also feel incredibly guilty about leaving them in their cages for 9 hours a day.
Solutions/suggestions?
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erikacarrillo
La Honda, CA
MH
Posts:229
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| 08/17/2010 3:25 PM |
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Do you provide them a place to go potty in the kitchen besides just on the floor? I used a crate pan and lay down newspapers. There is a potty training aid that you can sprinkle on the paper to attract them to it, but I don't have to use it anymore.
Remove the hydrangeas from the island.
Do they have things to chew on (besides the floor, table, and chairs)? I would give them a Kong filled with peanut butter (if frozen, it can last a bit longer), which tends to make my Koda "enjoy" when I leave and is generally less destructive. If you catch them in the act, make sure they know it's not OK to chew on those things. There is also bitter apple that you can spray on the floor, etc. |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:2737
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| 08/17/2010 4:40 PM |
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We used a dog walker until just recently. She came in the two days we were both at work and basically let them out for a stretch and a pee. We are crossing my fingers that hubby will be working from home full-time in the very near future, so have decided not to have the dog walker come in.
Today was the first day they were in their crates for 10 hours -- their reward was a nice run with me on the bike and my husband hooked up to the cani-cross belt. They are now huffing and puffing and have probably forgotten about the long day alone. |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:2438
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| 08/17/2010 5:29 PM |
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I second the setting up the potty area if it appears they can't go that long without going, but if it is length of time they should be able to hold it then you don't want to make it ok for them to go in the house.
Kongs stuffed with peanut butter and frozen do work wonders on keeping them distracted and busy. There are also several treat puzzle toys that work well. Deer antlers are great safe chews for them too.
Not sure where you live or what type of housing you are in...but an outdoor kennel with a shed attached for shelter works too...I know Texas Belle uses that and her shed is set up very nice with electric so she has AC (don't think she needs heat where she lives). |
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http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2553
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2554 |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6748
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| 08/17/2010 9:05 PM |
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| Splat is right I have a nice kennel (cooled in the summer with AC) in the yard so my dogs can get in out of the weather. I have the AC because of the heat in TX, but no heat as even when our temps are really cold the temp in the kennel is still quite comfortable. If I am going to be gone a long time I leave my gang outside. If the weather is going to be severe (storms, really cold, etc) I will leave mine in the house. My girls are fine with the run of the house and would die before they would poop or pee inside. My boy until recently would be put into his crate. I would rather leave my dog in a crate for 8 or 10 hours as opposed to them eating something that makes them sick or could plug them up. If the dogs are getting in trouble them put them in their crate for the day. If you can get someone to let them out mid-day then do that. Otherwise, just make sure they go potty before they are crated and get plenty of exercise in the morning before you leave and when you get home. Lot's of dogs are crated during the day while their owners are at work for 8 to 10 hours and are just fine. Better that that a dog that is hurt or sick. |
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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 |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:2438
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| 08/18/2010 5:02 AM |
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Posted By Texas Belle on 08/17/2010 9:05 PM
Splat is right I have a nice kennel (cooled in the summer with AC) in the yard so my dogs can get in out of the weather. I have the AC because of the heat in TX, but no heat as even when our temps are really cold the temp in the kennel is still quite comfortable. If I am going to be gone a long time I leave my gang outside. If the weather is going to be severe (storms, really cold, etc) I will leave mine in the house. My girls are fine with the run of the house and would die before they would poop or pee inside. My boy until recently would be put into his crate. I would rather leave my dog in a crate for 8 or 10 hours as opposed to them eating something that makes them sick or could plug them up. If the dogs are getting in trouble them put them in their crate for the day. If you can get someone to let them out mid-day then do that. Otherwise, just make sure they go potty before they are crated and get plenty of exercise in the morning before you leave and when you get home. Lot's of dogs are crated during the day while their owners are at work for 8 to 10 hours and are just fine. Better that that a dog that is hurt or sick.
You know I didn't even think of it that way but it is so true! Better safe in the cage and cooped up than eat something bad...
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http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2553
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2554 |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:2737
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| 08/18/2010 5:48 AM |
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We are tentatively looking at a house with more backyard, so a kennel for the dogs could be an option for us in the future as well (although up here in the frozen tundra, it would need a heater for the winter, perhaps a gas fireplace, sofas  ) |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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ANSanborn
Posts:18
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| 08/18/2010 6:21 AM |
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Today is Aero and Bruno's first day in the crate. I actually feel less bad about it now because we got a Great-Dane sized cage for Bruno, who at 11 months is barely within the confines of the breed standards.
We had been leaving out several safe chew toys for them including kongs with PB and treats inside, but I guess the hydrangeas were just too tempting. $215 later we know they are safe (thanks for nothing over-priced vet's office). We had also used the bitter apple as well as several homemade concoctions on our floors and chairs, but that didn't stop them. It is too much of a risk to leave them out. We'll try again when they get over chewing everything in site.
I'm hoping they will get over that. |
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JMSGunner
Bucks County, PA
MH
Posts:756
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| 08/18/2010 6:54 AM |
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| Gunner is in a crate for about 8 hours and gets a 1/2 hour play and potty break about 4-5 hours after we leave and his favorite neighbor comes over. He doesn't mind getting in his crate - it's just routine now. I try to switch up the treat I leave him every now and then. Sometimes he gets biscuits, sometimes a kong with PB or biscuits, or some sort of rawhide. |
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Jackie & Gunner
Impressive Gewehr von Catskill 4/19/2010
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ANSanborn
Posts:18
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| 08/18/2010 6:58 AM |
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On another note, I thought I would add this:
We know Bruno can go all day without peeing in his cage, he usually does (say 85% of the time) but on the occasions he does pee, it's in his cage, and I think it's merely to show his spite for it. So I thought of adding those training pads just to save some money on paper towel... BAD IDEA. The training pad and all of it contents were ripped to shreds when I got home. I should have seen that coming.
Our yard is a decent size for the two of them, but they are diggers and fantastic jumpers. We just built a stockade fence to combat Aero's fence jumping (the 4 ft wire fence couldn't hold her petite frame!) But if we left them out now, they would just dig their way out, or achieve their lifelong dream of catching a squirrel or bird. Plus,with summer coming to an end, its going to start to get too cold out there for them as we live in CT. In addition to all of that: these are some of the most determined dogs Ive ever seen - Bruno scratched and tore away the screened window and then jumped out of it to help me bring the garbage cans to the curb. He also collapsed his crate on himself once to escape from it.
Forget John Grogan, I could easily write about the worst behaved (and most loved) dogs in the world, and they are only a year old! |
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unowhoandwhy
Middleofnowhere, NH
MH
Posts:1794
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| 08/18/2010 7:01 AM |
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The destructive chewing SHOULD stop (or at least slow down!) as they get older. Part of the problem may be that the change in routine has them acting out & once they have had time to adjust they may start behaving outside their crates again. They are used to having a person with them almost every day & now they don't, which is a massive adjustment for a velcro dog like a GSP to make.
I know that both of mine are sensitive to major changes in routine & will act out in destructive ways if it's a change they don't like.  The good news is, if I stick to their routine & give them plenty of attention & exercise when I'm home, then they are fine to leave for 8-12 hours. We have had a few... incidents... involving couch pillows, but those were all directly related to changes in their routine & my life.
Good luck! |
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Daniel Yankee Flyer - 8/2002
Lady Layla - 1/2006 |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6748
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| 08/18/2010 7:12 AM |
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The destructive chewing will stop. It starts with teething, but will often continue for many months after they get their permanent teeth. It has allot to do with the development of the jaw. For my boy he stopped the destructive chewing at about 2 YO and the girls were about a year old. It varies from dog to dog though. I understand about the bitter apple not working because it never phased my oldest girl, Belle. On the other hand, Halo hated it. So again it depends on the dog.
I agree with uno about the routine. Mine have and love their routines and when anything changes it does upset them. Now that they are all adults they seem to take change in stride a little better, but when they were growing up it was hard form them.
Just be patient and they will get past this phase. |
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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 |
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