My dogs were bad this morning

[SHANA]

Well I went to the barn this morning to do chores as usual, went to the house when I was done and walked in to what looked to be like a tornado hit. Well I had DVD's in their cases strewed all over the living room and even had some on the couch. Some were chewed on, some were not. Some of these were taken right of the top shelves, some the bottom. Some had big teeth marks, some had little so I know both dogs were guilty. Needless to say the border collie will be locked in the bathroom when we are not here and our yorkiepoo will be in his cage. They have done something simialar last week but was just toilet paper roles taken out of the bathroom recycle bin. They have tons of toys and chew bones. Have no clue why they decided to tear the house apart. My husband says they are in their terrible 2's but Teddy won't be 2 until August. Neither dog is fixed but the border collie we plan to get fixed asap.

 

[Debd]

I have a friend whose dog did something similar to this. It seemed whenever she went out without them (even if it was just outside for a short while), they would get destructive. Just like a 2 year old having a tantrum. When you came back in did they drop their heads like they knew they were in trouble? It's also true depending on the breed that certains dogs don't mature until they are around 3. Good luck!

 

[Charley]

I have a little 6 year old papillon who goes crazy when I leave her....even just long enough to go to the mailbox down by the road. If my husband is in the house I leave her out of her kennel and she barks and carries on till I come back in. If I leave in the car she settles down after I leave her sight but starts up again when she hears the car pull in. She will settle down but every so often gets up and searches the house for me, then settles back down, etc. When I get back she checks out where I've been and who I've been with, jumping and sniffing. She sure is a cutie but she does have issues.

Needless to say, she is kenneled when we both leave. She isn't destructive, but with behavior like that it could turn into destructive behavior.

It doesn't hurt them to be kenneled. It is not a punishment and it is better than leaving her outside. I just say "kennel up" and in she runs. She also goes in there during the day of her own free will as long as I am in sight. She loves her space.

 

[SHANA]

Yes the guilty act, Rusty had his head down. Teddy sleeps in his cage at night and goes in on his own. Rusty sleeps in our room with us. Rusty also is use to going in a cage. Teddy's cage is huge and both dogs can go in it and lie down. I hope they outgrow this stage.

 

[MountainMeadows]

Shana

If you lock you dog in the bathroom you may come home to a door & floor that are really destroyed from scratching OH! (been there, done that - so not an empty warning) - kenneling is a good, safe way to contain dogs that are going thru their "desctructive phase".

Stacy

 

[Sonya]

I'd say crate them for a while and try again in a few mos to let them have the house again...also I would seperate them when you do...for instance...one dog gets half the house, the other dog the other half...dogs are like monkeys...monkey see, monkey do if you know what I mean!

I have a mix that used to freak when we left him. He was a rescue and about 1 year old when we got him. He would even tear up his bed and poop in his crate when we left...he had lots of issues. We decided to put him in the hallway and shut all the doors, he wouldn't poop in there, but he ate the drywall and trim! We finally after months found a crate that he seemed to be ok with, no pooping or destructive behavior. (took 4 different crates)...we always crated him when we went to work, etc.. until he was about 5, then we started giving him some areas and he did great for about a year, by that time he had free reign of the house. Then he started getting on the furniture (my dogs are not allowed on the furniture, beds) so he now stays in the laundry room when we go to work...short trips we give him free reign of the house and he doesn't get on the furniture.

My lab on the other hand...he was crated until he was about 9 mos old and from then on had free reign of the house...he has never tore anything up or gotten on the furniture...he never even tore anything up when he was a small pup...he is even gentle with his toys..he was a real blessing when it came to that...but man oh man, does he like to bark! I guess there is good and bad with them all!

 

[Ashley]

I have a 3 year old cocker who I still have to kennel or put outside when I am not around. She would destroy anything she could when I leave.

 

[Charlene]

whoa!!! you guys don't necessarily have toddlers going through a "phase" or temper tantrums...it sounds to me like you have some very serious separation anxiety issues going on. if that's the case, crating could conceivably make it worse in that your dogs will panic and chew and slam around in their crates until they are bloody. i've seen this first hand with other peoples' dogs and it is NOT a pretty sight!

 

[Sterling]

Is it possible for you to take them to the barn with you while you do your chores? The breeds you have seem to have a lot of energy stored up especially in the morning hours. They're probably trying to find a way to exert that energy. You could take them out and play and walk them to get some of that energy at bay before you go to your barn...or take them with you. My girls are usually with me 24 /7 when I'm doing chores...especially Lakota (giant dog) who is coming 3 years old in March. But when it's time to stay home and take care of the house, they do. I can tell you....during their earlier puppy training time, it was training to the hilt...we were joined at the hip so to speak and only when I saw that they were getting to the point of being trusted having the run of the house were they able to. And don't discount that you may have to take a few steps back in their training routine. Kind of a refresher course. Good luck!

 

[mininik]

Even once they turn two your dogs are still just pups. They don't know the difference between their toys, toilet paper, CDs, your shoes, electrical cords, etc. How much daily exercise, training and play do these dogs get? BCs are incredibly intelligent dogs with a high drive. If you don't give that dog something to do she's going to find something to do and that may not be something you approve of. The other dog is going to watch the fun and want to join in. What you are dealing with could be separation anxiety, also, or it could turn into it if you're not careful.

I wouldn't recommend you just put your dog in a room as it is likely to be remodeled while you're away. Crates are wonderful, but they should be introduced slowly. Remember that your dog's crate is supposed to be a safe den, so your dogs should never be scolded in their crates. Providing something to do in the crate such as a stuffed, frozen Kong will keep your dogs busy. Keeping your dogs physically and mentally worked out with plenty of daily exercise, training and play will also help. If you haven't looked into it already, clicker training is an excellent way to communicate what you want your dogs TO do versus telling your dogs NO which doesn't tell them what's appropriate. If possible, I suggest you sign up for a training class.

 

[Sonya]

if that's the case, crating could conceivably make it worse in that your dogs will panic and chew and slam around in their crates until they are bloody

true, if they have never been crated you will have to add it slowly...

 

[Basketmiss]

My mom once has a pom who would pout when she left. he would eat her Bra, glasses, whatever he knew was hers as a punishment I think!!

 

[AnnaC]

I was thinking the same thing as the last few postings here! Is there a special reason as to why the dogs are not with you doing your chores? If there is, then you are going to have to rethink your routine. There is no way BC's or any other 'working' breed is going to be happy left anywhere unless they have had their early morning walk/full on exercise/activity or training time. these dogs need to work to be happy and relaxed.

Also teaching a dog to be left alone can be quite a long and complicated process. They have to have loads of confidence in the fact that you WILL return and that they are not being deserted. The only way to do this is to take the time to exercise them, then to make them comfortable and secure somewhere they are happy to be - maybe with toys or a Kong to keep them occupied - then leave them for a few minutes and return. Gradually increase the time you leave them once they seem to be happy - stand out of sight and listen. It can take days, weeks or even longer before they are happy and can reliably left for a few hours. If you rush things you will just be making the anxiety problem worse, and your house and property will suffer, which will not be the dog's fault.

All dogs are different and some learn faster than others, but it always takes patience and understanding on the part of the owner.

Good luck, I'm sure you will get there in the end!

Anna

 

[Reijel's Mom]

Are your dogs getting enough exercise lately? I know mine AREN'T with the cold weather, and they are STIR crazy and much more prone to naughtiness. A tired dog is a good dog

.

 

[Watcheye]

/.... I have a spayed rescue dog with terrible anxiety.

She screams and screams when we have to go out. And I mean SCREAMS. My friend always says to find Demi (a shepherd mix) listen for the dog that sounds like its being beaten with a bat... She ate all of the trim off of our windows in the walk way - and then some more. We tried to kennel her but she busted it apart. She has a buddy and chew toys. She cant go everywhere with us. We ended up having to put a soft muzzle on her when we were gone.

I am not saying that is what you should do but good grief... even the kennel was not working. The good news is that she is doing so much better, but I tell ya, it was a mess for a while there.

 

[Sue S]

One of our dogs is alittle over a year old, she is a lab. Boy can she get into trouble, we have to tie her on a cable hooked to our woodstove when were gone, If we don't tie her to the stove than she goes outside in her kennel if its nice out.She gets into everything. Someone told us they don't get out of this until at least 5 years old. We have a chow that is so laid back he don't do anything and never has, hes about 9 years old.

 

[mininik]

Sue, have you done anything to get your dog out of that "stage" as far as daily exercise, training and play? Many dogs WON'T outgrow destructiveness on their own (by age 5 or otherwise), simply because dogs are dogs, not people, and they can't understand what we want unless we take the time to work with them.

 

[SHANA]

Both my dogs are crate trained. Teddy sleeps in his crate at night.

 

[Dontworrybeappy]

We've owned many breeds of indoor and outdoor dogs, and I've always said that I am neither interactive enough NOR smart enough to own a border collie!

They are wonderful dogs and I've loved every one I've met, but if you don't keep them busy, busy, BUSY... they'll think up their own jobs and games, not always the jobs or games that you want them to have!

BC's are meant to be always at the sides of their partners, herding. Barring that, they want to be always at the sides of their partners, doing agility, flyball, obedience, or all of the above!

 

[Wee Mite Miniatures]

Have Bonnie talk to your dog.

I got my dog on labor day. The guess was she was about 18 months old. She had had a litter of pups in May. When I got her she would chew a little bit not bad, one small thing a day. BUT when the Christmas decoration come out it was a free for all. She was plucking things off the tree. Talking things from around the house. I was afraid she was going to kill herself eating glass ornaments. I asked Bonnie to tell her to stop chewing my Christmas stuff.

She chewed one thing the next day then that was it. She has chewed nothing since, other then her toys.