destructive behavior

mokocody · 11-24-2006, 01:56 PM

We think our 10 month old lab has separation anxiety. He is a joy and well behaved when we are home. However, when we leave him alone, we come home to find beds, carpets, etc destroyed. Our vet has prescribed medication to alleviate the anxiety. In the meantime, we are researching how we can help him get over the anxiety so we can stop the drugs.
Does anyone have any suggestions? How can we be sure it is SA and not boredom? Is crating when we are out appropriate or will it make things worse for him?

Curbside Prophet · 11-24-2006, 02:37 PM

Can you tell us a little more about how you give back to your dog in these three areas?

Mental Stimulation
Physical Stimulation
Social Stimulation

Basically, I think we need to know what a typical day is for him.

sarahkim · 11-24-2006, 10:27 PM

hmmm, does he get walked daily? or some good tiring play everyday?

Dogged · 11-25-2006, 01:03 AM

Sounds like separation anxiety with some general puppy craziness in an uncontrolled setting. He may be stressed that you are gone, or he may be bored because there is nothing else to do and he is full of crazy puppy energy.

Regardless of which it is, he has proven that he can't be left home alone. So you need to put him somewhere where he can't do any damage. That may be the yard, laundry area, or a crate. Crates are great. But you can't just go get one and stick him in it for 8 hours and expect it to work. You have to get one, get him used to it for awhile (feed him in it, put him in it for short periods of time and build up, and have it open all the time, a lot of dogs like theirs, and come to think of it as a bed since they are denning animals) Once he is used to it and doesn't mind being closed in it too much, then you can start leaving him in it for short periods when you are away from the house. Ideally never longer than 4 hours. If you work all day, it is not fair to leave a young dog in a crate for 9 hours.

You should ideally not make too big a scene when you leave, just go. Same when you come back. Kind of ignore him for awhile when you come home until he calms down, then call him over and give him attention.

Give him toys to play with, and switch them around alot. The same 10 toys sitting there everyday are boring, but if you just give him 3 one day, and then pick those up and give him another 3 the next day, that is interesting. Give him things to chew on, just be sure he can't swallow anything.

Some trainers say to give them something that smells like you like a shirt you wore the previous day. Just be prepared for the fact that he might chew it.

A young working dog like this has TONS of energy. If you can work some of that energy off, it will help with stress and destructiveness. If you take him for a nice long run morning and evening, he will probably be too tired to do anything else. If you aren't that athletic, maybe you could find a teenager you can trust in the neighborhood who would want to do it for some extra cash.

Have you taken him to basic obedience classes? That helps immensely to give you control over the dog, and helps the dog to know his place and feel better about his role in the household. Be sure to find a trainer that is not too rough and that you feel comfortable with. It can be amazing how other problems get better with just basic obedience training.

Good luck.

blackgavotte · 11-25-2006, 08:05 AM

Excellent advice from Dogged, whatever the reason, I would rather see an area made for this young fellow than meds. A blocked off enclosure of some sort would be my first choice for a young, large breed dog. And then read Curbside's advice again, you may need to do more with him in the way of exercise and toys etc, to utilize some of his natural energy.

LoveLilly · 11-27-2006, 02:52 PM

Rotation of the toys to alleviate destructive behavior is VERY important. I rotate Lilly's toys every week and she gets 5-6 toys with 2 of them being favorite chew toys. My husband was in charge of her set up one morning last week b-4 work and instead of sorting out the weeks 5 new toys he just threw them all in her x-pen (yeah, thats like 20 toys!!!) and I came home to an overstimulated sweetheart who chose to chew the corner of the drywall OFF, clear off. And this is a 5 month tiny pup that has never been destructive. So Lilly's daddy got a whack on the head when he got home, the wall corners by her x-pen now have bitter apple on them and mommy is back in charge of Miss Lilly's regime! :-) I also have the pet sitter give her a treat filled Kong before she leaves at 12.30pm to help mix things up a bit.

mokocody · 11-28-2006, 08:13 AM

Thank you for your feedback. "Bosley" does get walked twice a day. I go home at lunchtime and sometimes mid morning to feed/play with him. I tried the crate and he literally destroyed his nose trying to get out. So we went to a gatted area on our enclosed porch with a wooden dog house. He chewed the doghouse and walls. I do rotate his toys and leave him with a kong ball filled with treats. I have even gotten a diffuser which emits an odor that is supposed to remind him of his mother.
I have come to the conclusion that containing him is not working. It seems to make him panic more. So now I am allowing him the run of a few rooms in the house and to the back yard (fenced) through a dog door. I just started this yesterday and he did not destroy anything. I have another dog and could tell they may have been romping because some of the furniture was moved but not eaten. I am hoping that we are on our way.
I do agree that he needs a lot of exercise and am trying to do more.
Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Dogged · 11-28-2006, 05:26 PM

Doggy day care is another possibility.

mokocody · 11-29-2006, 03:41 PM

I think you're right. I just found a place and am going to start him there on Friday. I also tried more exercise this am and it does seem to have helped.
Thank you for your help!