Any suggestions for preventing my crazy dog from eating the door frame around my exterior door? He's obviously upset that I've left him and it's upsetting me that I come home to shreds of wood all over the kitchen floor.
I've tried spraying the door frame with bitter apple, but it doesn't seem to bother him!
Help!
Posts: 21 | Location: West Haven, CT | Registered: Dec 28, 2006
I would suggest trying some capsaicin based training dope. capsaicin is the chemical in peppers that stings the mouth. We used this in the form of red pepper flakes in our cat's litterbox to keep the dogs from dining "al frescoe" on the cat feces. It works well and quickly.
You can try wiping some tobasco sauce around the bite marks or get the spray that has no coloring. It will not hurt the dog but he won't like the sensation or a burning mouth.
or something to keep him busy when alone...like kongs or something to chew on that is his like a chew toy. Crating is not supposed to be used as punishment
**************************** "Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful." Ann Landers **************************** Come check out my "hairy"kids and My Avatars
Posts: 6893 | Location: Beach Front Property minus the water | Registered: Jan 02, 2004
Is this a new behaviour after a time of being o.k. left alone or has he always done this?
What I would do is try to find out what is going on when you leave. What is the problem rather than the symptoms. One of the best aids I have used is to put a video camera on a tripod and video the pet when you leave. It is really interesting what goes on. If the dog is obviously distressed (in the video) when you leave, then it may be separation anxiety. There are ways to train the dog to feel calmer when you are gone. If it is boredom then there are different ways to deal with that. I always like the idea of a stuffed kong given on departure as it keeps them busy and happy for a while.
Originally posted by BINGOing: Crating isn't punishment ..... Its used to train a pet to behave.
oh boy...behave? I guess all those trainers I work with are wrong
This message has been edited. Last edited by: SheltiesMom,
**************************** "Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful." Ann Landers **************************** Come check out my "hairy"kids and My Avatars
Posts: 6893 | Location: Beach Front Property minus the water | Registered: Jan 02, 2004
* After your dog can spend about 30 minutes in the crate without becoming anxious or afraid, you can begin leaving him crated for short periods when you leave the house. Put him in the crate using your regular command and a treat. You might also want to leave him with a few safe toys in the crate. You'll want to vary at what point in your "getting ready to leave" routine you put your dog in the crate. Although he shouldn't be crated for a long time before you leave, you can crate him anywhere from five to 20 minutes prior to leaving. * Don't make your departures emotional and prolonged—they should be matter-of-fact. Praise your dog briefly, give him a treat for entering the crate, and then leave quietly. When you return home, don't reward your dog for excited behavior by responding to him in an excited, enthusiastic way. Keep arrivals low key to avoid increasing his anxiety over when you will return. Continue to crate your dog for short periods from time to time when you're home so he doesn't associate crating with being left alone.
**************************** "Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful." Ann Landers **************************** Come check out my "hairy"kids and My Avatars
Posts: 6893 | Location: Beach Front Property minus the water | Registered: Jan 02, 2004
Do you have a lab? Our lab ate the door frame and the window ledges and dug up the carpet. I was told the same thing to put him in a crate. So far I have not done that one. I have ajusted my time instead. I have friends I can trade with for doggie sitting. My family takes him also. I have toys for him to chew on. This sweet lab was an answer to my prayer after a lady ran over my golden retriever puppy. I will do whatever I can to take good care of him
This is a relatively new behavior. (Unfortunately, my apartment was renovated just before I got the dog two years ago, so the door frame he's chewing on was replaced at that time and my landlord is upset that he's chewing on it!)
The dog is about 2-1/2 years old (he was a rescue) and he's a mixed breed - probably some German Shepherd and beagle. Because of the rescue factor, I think, he is tremendously attached to me and has a lot of anxiety. He's been on 50 mg. of amitryptilene twice a day for more than a year now. This prevents him from rubbing the fur off his nose when I'm gone but he's still extremely hyper.
I do not crate him because he has a huge problem with being confined in a small space. Maybe a bad experience while he was a stray in Puerto Rico???
Thanks to EVERYONE for all your suggestions!
Posts: 21 | Location: West Haven, CT | Registered: Dec 28, 2006
My dog is 15 yrs old and he developed severe anxiety when his brother dog passed away last September. From vet, tried Clomipramine, 1 tab 2 times a day, turned him into a zombie. Now down to 1/2 tab 2 times a day and working towards 1/4 tab and then will stop. Discussion with neighbours with senior dogs led me to try childrens liquid Gravol (500 ml) when I go out in the evening (rare) and 3 mg of Melatonin at night. Checked with the vet and is ok to use both. Melatonin only at night. Tried last night and tonight .. he is sleeping like a baby. This morning he was frisky and happy after a night of relaxed uninterupted sleep. Wonderful for all of us after weeks of interupted sleep. Google melatonin and you'll see that it's fine .. not advertised because pharmacutical companies don't own it and thus can't make money.
Good luck with your little one. I'm so glad to find such gentle solutions for my sweet little dog.
Im glad to hear I'm not the only one with that problem. My german shepard is worse than termites. I have tried everything!!! the kongs, hard treats and nothing works. She has chewed up an entire door facing, bedroom carpet, my bed, dresser, and started on the corner of a kitchen cabinet today. She is somewhere between 8 to 10 months old. She has also destroyed 3 comforters and numerous throw pillows. She freaks out of we crate her and goes wild.She is very selfish with toys so I take them away from her. I also have a Jack Russell who isn't very happy with her. They get along but she sure torments him. I keep hoping she will grow out of all this.
A roomy crate shouldn't be punishment at all. The crate is, after all, just a dog house that can be moved around. If you only give treats in the crate, you'll find that he might actually like it in there...dogs like having a den of their own and it is said that they feel safe in their crate, once they are certain that it's their special place.
In the absence of his crate, my dog seeks out the most crate-like place he can find when he wants to take a nap - under the desk. It's pretty cute.
It sounds like this dog needs A LOT of exercise. I tired dog is a happy dog...and one that doesn't look for entertainment in chewing up furniture.
Sorry I do not agree with crating a dog while you are out. It is like a jail cell and the dog cannot move or stretch.
In addition, if there was a fire or some other diaster your dog has no way to try to escape.
As far as chewing furniture, try the capsaicin spray. Leave the TV on or some soothing music. NOT ROCK or anything screaming.
If you have a crate, leave the door open so the dog can retreat there but still get out and walk around.
When you took in a dog, you should have realized they do not always act as we would like-just like human children.
We took in a Rottweiller street rescue and another terrier shepherd mix street rescue as well as a having twelve cats.
The dogs were told and spanked (mildly)once for chasing the cats. After a short time together, the cats starting sleeping on and around the Rotty.
As for eating the cat box contents, if the pepper does not work (this sounds gross but it works) fill the dog bowl with the cat box contents at feeding time and do NOT feed him his regular food.
The dog will NOT eat it and if you do this twice, he will get the message and stop.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gizmologist,
As for eating the cat box contents, if the pepper does not work (this sounds gross but it works) fill the dog bowl with the cat box contents at feeding time and do NOT feed him his regular food.
I'm sorry, that's just bizarre.
I would suggest, instead, blocking the dog's access to the area in which you keep the catbox. I have gates that the cats can get through but the dogs don't, or have kept
