Dog Community

Seeking help with newly adopted, Sasha

Posted : 6/22/2006 1:28:19 PM

After spending $80 on a high quality electric fence, she has escaped again! But where she escaped there wasn't a hotwire. You'd figure the dog wouldn't destroy the bottom of a house just to get out.

I go to work at 7:30 or so. The dogs get a fresh bucket of water, and a bowl of breakfast. Since the fence has been up, Sasha has been good about not attempting to break out.. But yesterday, the schedule was a little off. Kenny stayed home from work, as he didn't feel good. He had to take his uncle home which was an hour drive. So he put the dogs in the yard, and locked up.

When he got home, there was a giant hole in the house. It's 3/4 inch siding used for skirting around the add on in the back. She dug through the first layer that was on her side of the yard. I wont have to clip her nails for a while, because she wore them down pretty good shredding wood. She then got under the house, which is just some footings and dirt. Then proceeded to dig out of the siding on the front side of the house. The siding is very hard, you can barely get a nail through it.

Anyways, Sasha had done it some time before Kenny got home. She was just hanging out under the house, and didn't run off. But did cause a lot of damage.

What is causing this behavior? And how do you correct it?

She's currently in a 7 week class with a personal trainer, but we're just working on general obedience. Not behavior issues. And I don't think the trainer can help me with this problem.

If I spend another penny on Sasha right now, Kenny is going to kill me. I've spent $350 on Sasha since she was adopted about 3 weeks or so ago. So buying other things isn't an option at the moment, maybe in a couple of months.

tiffy

Posted : 6/22/2006 1:34:51 PM

I forget, is crating not an option? How about a dog run with a cement pad and if shes a jumper enclose the top too.

hlb118

Posted : 6/22/2006 1:45:57 PM

A dog run isn't an option, as the whole yard is small, and surrounded by 6' fencing. She would surely strangle herself.

Crates are $100. Which right now isn't an option as well. Plus, I'm not sure how well she'd be in one. She would probably go absolutely insane. Some dogs can handle the close quarters, but I don't think she's ever been put in one. So I couldn't just leave for work in the morning, and feel good about her being left in the crate very unhappy, and stressed even more than being in the yard.

Never have I encountered a dog so intent on getting out of an area she's confined in. With that in mind, she'd probably, some how, hurt herself in a crate.

tiffy

Posted : 6/22/2006 5:19:49 PM

How would she strangle herself, if the dog run is completely enclosed? Check craigslist or freecycle for a crate.

jones

Posted : 6/22/2006 6:26:48 PM

What is she doing, do you think, in trying to escape? Does she try to escape when you're home, or only when you're out? What I'm getting at is that it's possible this dog has severe separation anxiety, and in that case a crate would be the wrong choice. Your feeling that she would hurt herself in a crate (and she would if she has severe SA) seems to back up that theory. I understand you don't have money for a behaviorist, but trying researching SA - see if that sounds like your dog - there are strategies to help you get the dog past this problem. I know a lot of people recommend I'll Be Home Soon by Patricia McConnell.

hlb118

Posted : 6/22/2006 7:16:04 PM

There isn't a place for an outside kennel my yard isn't big enough. She doesn't jump, but being tied would probably freak her out and lead to jumping over. I am leaning towards severe seperation anxiety. She is an angel when I'm home. But if she sees me grab my keys, it's all over. She HAS to go with me, at least she thinks so.

I might have to buy a good book that can explain her problem for me. A behaviorist isn't an option at the moment. I just paid $175 for training. So reading it is.

tiffy

Posted : 6/22/2006 8:19:48 PM

Oh,now I understand. Let me clarify what I said:I didn't mean that she is tied to the line, but an actual cyclone enclosure, with a cement pad(no digging), with a top of cyclone so she has no way of getting out. Sounds likke your yard isn't big enough anyway. Sorry I was no help.

Amanda R

Posted : 6/27/2006 11:03:03 PM

the dog is doing it out of anxiety and boredom. since spending money is not an option i cant make many helpful suggestions, but if you can find something she really enjoys to divert her attention until you can spend some money to solve the problem a good idea is bones filled with marrow. that will keep her attention for a while at least. also they make poducts that smell funny to dogs in a spray that will keep them away from certain areas you dont want them in

Amanda R

Posted : 6/27/2006 11:04:57 PM

also when you return home DO NOT, i repeat DO NOT give her affection until she has quieted down! also take her on a long tiring walk and then leave her in the pen alone on purpose and go out for a bit, then gradually make it longer lengths of time

diane303

Posted : 6/28/2006 2:11:18 PM

My border collie mix was an escape artist. You couldn't crate her or tie her. She would chew through a tie and, somehow, break out of her crate. She actually wore her teeth down chewing her way out of a cage.

I talked to a behavioralist and was told that the best thing is to take her out first thing in the morning to a neutral area (park, another yard, etc.) and play and run with dog, HARD, for 20 minutes at least. It helped immensely! I think that Ceasar Milan eludes to this in his book. Your yard, even if you spend time throwing a ball, etc., gets BORING! They need to check out other places - new SMELLS. Also, a tired dog is a good, satisfied dog.

I also took her to agility and flyball training - and that was wonderful for her. It increased her confidence and she bonded with me easier. As she got older, it wasn't such a problem. But, the more you interact with your dog before you go to work, the better.

Amanda R

Posted : 6/29/2006 12:57:49 AM

ORIGINAL: diane303

I think that Ceasar Milan eludes to this in his book. Your yard, even if you spend time throwing a ball, etc., gets BORING! They need to check out other places - new SMELLS. Also, a tired dog is a good, satisfied dog.

careful now some people here are so busy bashing on ANYTHING to do with CM that they completely miss the point of anything you say lol

i agree with you completely though, excersize works wonders, and of course if the dogs too tired to escape it makes your day easier too

spiritdogs

Posted : 6/29/2006 7:11:14 AM

careful now some people here are so busy bashing on ANYTHING to do with CM that they completely miss the point of anything you say

I don't mind bashing CM, but I do not miss many points, I simply disagree with many of them. In this case, however, I will agree that exercise is very valuable for any dog.

That said, the severe SA dog is very hard to rehabilitate, and it takes quite a while. Patricia McConnell's book may help you, especially if you have the time to devote to following her protocols.
It has been my experience that marrow bones, or stuffed Kongs, can help in mild cases, since most damage occurs in the first 20 minutes the owner is away. But, it isn't likely to stop a confirmed SA dog.
You can also speak to your veterinarian about medication that might help initially, while you are rehabilitating the dog with behavior modification techniques.

amstaffy

Posted : 6/29/2006 9:02:34 AM

Shannon,
Did you get my e-mail regarding the cable system? Dog who would not do well with a traditional tie out LOVE the cable system and it works to contain those dogs who live to escape

HofmannGestalt

Posted : 7/1/2006 11:30:07 PM

Practice leaving for very short amounts of time many times a day even if you arent really going!!! one -5 minutes, gradully increase the time as time passes.
As mentioned above, lots of excersize.
No putting any type of farewell good-byes or greeting when you arive, like you never left!!!
Get a really big knee bone huge! PETCO sells them.
Leave something with your scent on it. Comforting to them.

sillysally

Posted : 7/2/2006 9:30:46 PM

When we first got Sally, she had SA, and had never been crated as far as we know. We had no yard, so that was not an option, and she was not housetrained, so we felt that we needed to use a crate. It took a while for her to become used to it, but we read up on crate training and made sure that the crate was an AWESOME place for her to be.

We have tried leaving her alone loose in the house for short periods of time, and she gets very upset (although as she is getting older she can be left for a couple minutes without a fuss, but that's relatively new). She actually ruined some blinds trying to see out the front window just in the time it took to take out the garbage. However, if you put her in the crate she is fine.

I only mention this, because from what I have read here Sally should not have been crated, but she has done wonderfully with it. You just say "crate" and she dashes to it.