Bl**dy dog!!!

Jojo_Pea4

Jojo_Pea4

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This might get long but really needs some advice.

Dog is a gsp, suffers with separation anxiety. As a pup he chewed everything when he was left alone,

settees, phones, remotes, doors, can open front door, got out a cage in panic, chewed steering wheel, head rests, shoes, and the list goes on. The wood off the kennel in the garden. He screams if he is left. His best mate boxer is always with him.

He is 5 now and when he was about 4 he really settled and calmed down so we began to introduce him back into the house slowly as the boxer got diagnosed with hd and didnt want him left in the kennel over winter. Dogs has been fine in house been shut in the front room as safest place happened for 6months max he is left is 1-2 hours.

Today was a normal day run 6hours am at yard, pm played ball had run so his normal amount of exercise. Is sisters birthday so went out for a meal was gone 2 hours and was same routine of leaving him in front room with boxer. Came back and OMG he has ripped everything up, the settee included roam, leather, books, magazine, carpet, paint of door all scratched off.

We had professional help but never made any difference.

I wish we crated him as a pup but he is bind in one eye and was left for dead so we didnt start the creating early enough.

Its how stressed he makes himself is what worries me.

Any advice is greatly received.
 
My GSP was crated as a pup and then fazed it out when he was around 1. About a year later he suddenly lost his voice, and when we videoed him he was barking and howling. Reintroduced the crate (on advice from cayla) and he loved it more than when he was a pup. I think he missed it. The SA settled within weeks and now I don't think well ever take it away, even though it takes up so much room in a small house. Last summer he even slept by himself in it away from home which has always been a nightmare.

I know he hasn't had one before but older rescue dogs are trained to use them so it must be possible? Going on how much my GSP loves his, I would recommend it. Good luck!
 
You can crate train him (even now). PM Cayla by all accounts she has a great 'How to crate advice sheet' - guess she may need your email addy to send it.
 
May take slightly longer to introduce, but is all about making the crate a good place to be, so introduction process is key (whatever the age).
 
I would go for a crate as well. What people who don't like crates sometimes forget, is that it is for the dog's own safety apart from anything else, my friend's dog nearly died this week after ingesting a sock, a few years ago he did the same with a pot scrubber.

People will say 'train him out of it' but no one has ever shown me how to train a confirmed chewer not to do chew when you are not in the same room as it.

If he is that stressed, and the crate helps him feel less stressed, then that would be my preferred option.
 
i agree that crating sounds like the best way forward and introducing it slowly and carefully is essential. CAYLA's advice on here usually good.

all 3 of my dogs love crates and 2 of them were not crated until they were 7 7 9 yrs old, if only one crate is open all 3 of mine will pile in it together
 
I'd say the above is pretty sound advice, although i've never crated any of my dogs, i can understand why it works, especially in cases such as yours. Perhaps putting a cover over the crate would make him feel safe too, and perhaps a blanket in it with your smell on it? A friend of mine had similar issues with her dog - she used to get kongs & fill them with some sort of meat/fish paste to keep the dog busy when she had to go out.

The other thing i'd ask is how much you exercise him & when? Is it an idea to exercise him before you go out, whereby leaving him tired & more likely to settle? If my GSP's are to get left for an afternoon, i make sure they've had a big long walk (or more accurately, run), & a feed (with time in between of course) before i leave.
 
I've crate trained a 10 year old that was on very restricted exercise due to an op. There is no age limit and if he went to the vets that is exactly where he would be a kennel or a crate.

Rotten luck to have that happen though its really frustrating when you think you have something cracked. Good luck.
 
I received that Pm and I have made space in my box for ya:p you have 2 options and one is crate as suggested and I think you fear as you have tried it again and he has panicked you are worried about reintroducing it;) there is alot of ground work to be put in with SA and you can never be to hastey to undo it or discard of you aids, no matter how quick you think you maybe be resolving it;) I have askedyu a tone of questions in your Pm and when you answer I can decifer where you are going wrong and we can start a brand new routine:)
 
Thanks for all your replies.
Eatmyshort- he leaves the house at 7.30 and get home at 1for an hour then back down the yard. In this time he free runs, plays ball upto an hour then goes hacking at foot, comes jogging with me, runs along the tractor. Which is what he done before he was left yesterday. He's gets home and sleeps so deep but last night was a real set back for him.
 
sounds like he is getting plenty of excersise, so maybe he heard or smelt something that distressed him? if you manage to crate him in a way that he finds non stressful at least if things upset him the damage to your home is confined and the risk to him is reduced-good luck sounds like it may take while
 
Im not ignorant:p I am off to bed and my reply will be long including a new routine for you and him:p, I have Pm'd you as indeed I think I spot the problem;) hopefully it's send as my screen keeps freezing or you may have 10 of the same message:D. Off to sleeeeepppzzzzzzzz:)
 
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