Dog Community

Help...my puppy destroys everything.

Posted : 7/4/2006 4:46:29 AM

I have a puppy...he just turned 11 months and I am literally at the end of my rope with him. I've given him the proverbial 3 strikes...about 30 innings ago and I don't know else I can do. My puppy has singlehandedly destroyed 2 sofas, 1 phone, a television remote control, 3 video game controllers, eaten the buttons off 5 shirts, and has already trashed the carpeting in my rental apartment...another 1K in damages. I paid almost 2K for this purebred. I would rather not name the breed because i don't want to scare off potential owners from adopting them. They are great dogs. However, I really think that my puppy has some serious neurological/behavioral problems.

I have another dog and I have never had any problems with him...he's obedient, smart, and learns quickly from him mistakes. I have sensed for a while that something is wrong with my second dog. As a result, I have tried as hard as I can to be patient, gentle, and kind to him. I am recently divorced and he's destroying the things in my life that I've had to work very hard to regain. I know that posessions are merely things, but when you are struggling to get your life back together...coming home (after working an 11 hour day) to discover that your brand new sofa has diarhea all over it can be really nerveracking.

I have been seriously contemplating getting rid of this pup and regretting my decision to adopt him. I love him very much and want the best for him, but it can't be at the expense of me and my life. I told myself early on that if I ever felt this way that I didn't deserve to have him. However, I want what is best for him...and my life doesn't seem to be working for him. I can only give him so much care and love, but I dont' think it's enough...

Help...any words of advice or wisdom would be greatly appreciated....

All Dogs Heaven

Posted : 7/4/2006 5:11:07 AM

Can you provide information on what measures you've taken so far to help stop this behavior? Naming the breed, in my opinion, won't deter people from adopting one... most times these things can be fixed, especially if caught early, and I'd say your pup is still young enough to learn better.
Please tell us what's been done so far in form of training. ~ Julia

All Dogs Heaven

Posted : 7/4/2006 5:16:30 AM

[linkhttp://www.perfectpaws.com/chew.html]http://www.perfectpaws.com/chew.html[/link]

All Dogs Heaven

Posted : 7/4/2006 5:20:45 AM

[linkhttp://www.seefido.com/html/stop_dog_chewing.htm]http://www.seefido.com/html/stop_dog_chewing.htm[/link]

mrv

Posted : 7/4/2006 7:58:26 AM

Start with the breeder to discuss rehoming or retraining if that is an option you wish to consider. I would also look at managament in the form of restraint (kenneling or crating). As Julia said, the amount of informtion provided is not adequate to gain ideas that may be helpful. You could just end up with a list of things you have already tried.

agilebasenji

Posted : 7/4/2006 10:51:14 AM

Sounds like you have a healthy badsenji. Personally, I'd crate train and keep her in a crate when you're not home. Puppy hasn't earned the freedom. You can also tie the leash to your belt when you're home. I'd also talk to the breeder for more help. Also, increase exercise, remember a tired badsenji (or insert breed of your choice) is a good basenji.

jones

Posted : 7/4/2006 4:09:33 PM

Wow, how'd he fit two sofas in his crate? - This is what our puppy K teacher would say to such a tale. All you've described is totally normal puppy behavior, albeit without sufficient training and probably without sufficient exercise. Sorry, but he's only done what any puppy would do without getting the structure (in the forms of confinement and training) and exercise he really needs. I don't think naming the breed would deter anyone from adopting such a dog, but it might give us more clues as to what his exercise requirements are and what sorts of activities would be better outlets for his obvious wealth of energy.

Leesa Lins

Posted : 7/4/2006 6:13:27 PM

I'm not trying to make light of the problem, but there is a book title "Marley and Me" by John Grogan that makes some dog people re-evaluate our "ideals". Some "gods" have different "freak" levels. Mine are not as drastic as "Marley", but there are just some things that happen to babies that you have no control over. Maybe just love and affection should work, but sometimes it doesn't. You have chosen to be their "Mommie" or "Daddie", if they were human you don't get the option of "throwing them away". I have a female Chessie with issues, but we aren't giving up without a fight. Stick in there, talk to a behavourist, but don't give up, they are your "baby".

Leesa

probe1957

Posted : 7/5/2006 8:53:22 AM

Unless I am misunderstanding your post, you are expecting this dog to go 11 hours without a potty break? Could you do that, every day? It sounds to me like you have an under exercised, untrained pup. Neither of those issues are the fault of the dog.

You were able to afford $2,000 for a dog, for crissake. Spend another couple of hun for a good training class and probably less than $100 for a crate.

Dog ownership isn't for everyone and perhaps it isn't for you. If you decide to rehome the dog, I would contact your breeder for guidance. It is quite possible that your contract with the breeder requires you to do that. IMO, the party who has failed here, to this point, is you and not the dog. The dog is just being a dog. It is your responsibility to teach him to be the kind of dog you want.

Good luck. If you do decided to work with your dog, you will get lots of good advice here.

mudpuppy

Posted : 7/5/2006 9:59:48 AM

how does the joke go? when the puppy destroys something, take a rolled up newspaper and hit yourself over the head with it and chant "I will watch the puppy more closely in future".

Xerxes

Posted : 7/5/2006 3:17:40 PM

I guess the first rule of having a puppy still applies: If you value the possession and don't want it destroyed: Put it away.

Secondly: For the dogs sake restrict his movement. He needs to be confined to only one room, or even better a crate.

Third: You should look into getting a dog walker to come in sometime during the day to walk this dog. No dog should be forced to spend 11 hours a day in boredom. And boredom/lack of supervised activity is the root cause of all of these behaviors.

For your dog's sake please contact your breeder to see if you can re-home this poor guy. He needs more than you can give, and frankly with your current situation a puppy is exactly what you don't need.

Kara

Posted : 7/5/2006 4:24:17 PM

A tired dog is a good dog. I have noticed that dogs will destroy things when they are bored and/or frustrated. This puppy probably isn't getting near enough exercise. Also, like everyone else has stated crate train your puppy! When the pup isn't in the crate, exercise him to the point of tiredness then keep him in the room with you with plenty of toys for chewing and exercising his brain. If the puppy is obedience trained, then start using NILIF on it. If the puppy isn't obedience trained, get you and your pup to class ASAP!

sillysally

Posted : 7/5/2006 6:59:19 PM

If I were you I would crate train--yesterday. It is possible to crate train a dog that old, I did it with mine. If you do not want him to chew, you need to restrict his movement and keep an eye on him when he is not in the crate.

11 hours is a long time to be alone. Is there any way you can put him into day care of have someone come and let him out in the middle of the day?

While he is in the crate it would be a good idea to give him something to stimulate him. A kong or treat ball stuffed with goodies is a good start, or maybe a nylabone (something that he can't choke on).

He also could probobly use more exercise than he is getting now. Is there any way you could take him for a decent exercise session before work? You might have to get up earlier, but he'd be happier.

A training class would definately help.

Take heart, this too will pass. Sally is a pit mix who was in the tail end of her chewing phase and had NO training, NONE when we got her. If I can do it, you can do it [

].

All Dogs Heaven

Posted : 7/5/2006 7:58:09 PM

Wow, how'd he fit two sofas in his crate?

LOL I'm sorry, but Jones, every time I come back here to check to see if the OP has responded yet, I see your post and i truly laugh out loud.

In al seriousness... this puppy just needs training... please PLEASE come back and respond so we can help you, so one more innocent doesn't loose the only home he's known and get turned out-of-sight-out-of-mind!!!