Dog Community

Gobi renovated my house!!! Kind of long sorry

Posted : 8/26/2006 3:33:29 AM

Here is the story,
My wife and I have been leaving Gobi alone for a few hours everyday, 3-4 hours, sometimes 6. He has been doing great, no accidents, and only the occasional digging in the garbage, which was our fault for not putting it up.
Well, I had to work early and my wife had to go sing, so he was alone for about 8 hours. We got home and OH MY LORD!!! He destroyed the entire studio!!! Pulled down plants off of the window sill, ripped the cloth down off of our portable closet, dragged out all of the dirty laundry into the living room, emptied two 10 pound bags of rabbit grass for our 3 bunnies, plus much more, you get the idea.
Usually he has been fine with being alone, we give him his toys, chewbones, a kong with treats stuffed in it. (which he ripped in 3 pieces!! indestructable my a$$!) So he shouldn't have been bored I wouldn't think, he had a nice long run before I went to work, about 2 miles so I know he had to be tired, it was his first long run since he recovered from being sick.
I am thinking of blocking him off in the studio area of our flat, it's about 1000sq feet and nothing to destroy if he gets really bored. I dont know how he will take to being crated as he was basically a street dog before we adopted him.
Could this be because he isn't neutered yet? Will this stop after he gets fixed? He is only about 1 year old so I am thinking he is still a puppy and will be for a while.
I am open to suggestions,
Thanks,

Lena (Penny Forever)

Posted : 8/26/2006 6:50:00 AM

If he won't handle being in a crate then I would block him off. Sounds like he is suffering from separation anxiety or he's really pissed at you for leaving him home alone[

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He still has lots of puppy in him and I think it is something he will have to outgrow. I really do not believe that neutering him will stop this sort of thing. My SO has a spits that goes loco everytime he is left alone.
Some dogs just take alot longer learning what they can and can't do.

Xerxes

Posted : 8/26/2006 7:56:01 AM

Perhaps something set him off. It could have been a neighbor making noise, a bird on the ledge, construction noises, possibly anything. We don't always know the triggers but we get to see and clean up the results.

I think for his own safety he should be blocked off or babygated in a specific "dog safe" area. The next time he "redecorates" he could break a piece of glass or otherwise injure himself.

probe1957

Posted : 8/26/2006 8:44:30 AM

Although he probably should be neutered, neutering is not a cure all. It is unlikely that neutering will have a significant effect on his behavior. I would crate him or, as you suggested, confine him to your studio. Odie goes nuts like that when my wife goes out to do chores. He is okay when I go out, but he seems to worry about her.

HKdog

Posted : 8/26/2006 9:12:18 AM

He is getting neutered, just that the vet recommended that we should wait until he is done with his treatment for tick fever and his shots then neuter him.
Where we are is pretty quiet, but we are in a city and he is used to loud noises, not even afraid of big trucks going down the road.
I am going to block him off in the area where it is less likely for him to destroy things. Hopefully this will help him out, he is a very well behaved dog otherwise. The only other problem is that his toys only last a few days, even a Kong doesn't last long....