Naughty George is back....
He gets exercised in the morning before we go to work then he is left for 7 hours and then he is exercised again when we come home. In total he gets almost 2 hours exercise a day. My neighbour comes in to let him out during the day but recently he has started to chew again. He has ripped up the yellow pages (how much paper can there be in one phonebook??), he has chewed his blankets and then today he has been chewing an electric extension cable (not pugged in!) He has his toys to play with I just can't understand why he has started to be destructive again. He's 15 months old now. I don't want him to be unhappy or to hurt himself chewing things he shouldn't but I don't know what to do for him. Any suggestions to help are welcome  |
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Vicki & George wrote: ...He's 15 months old now...
That about says it all. I think all of my sheepdogs went through this phase at a year to two years old. Some were more determined than others to punish us for leaving them. My year and a half newcomer, Toby, chewed off a 12 foot tall indoor palm last night when we went out to dinner that my wife has been nurturing for 15 years. She was not happy. You're doing the right things with exercise. About all I can add is not to make a fuss about leaving or returning. Just go and when you come back don't treat him like you haven't seen him for months. He will learn you will always return to him and being alone is not something to get anxious over. |
| Have you considered crating him or confining him to a space such as the kitchen or bathroom while you're gone? Many people don't like this idea, but I would never be without it again. We crate Tucker every time we go out and he doesn't seem to mind. He runs into his crate willingly when we tell him to, and he always gets yummy treats such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. It's really a life saver - we can leave confidently and know he won't get into mischief, the cats can have reign of the house while we're gone and best of all, he is SAFE from all of those types of things you described. |
We had to limit the dogs outside time. They were snagging stuff from the house and taking outside to distroy. 2 things were parts that Davis ordered for the van  Found.... day later when some one had melted. Lots of other things also  That I never even knew were gone. Sami als 15 months. Upgraded herself from shoes. |
Ours love their crates and happily sleep in them when the door is open and we're at home  They never did take to any other kind of dog bed and used the sofa but the crates are like their own space and they love them , I'd certainly recommend them .
Julie . |
| Oh no, I'm so sorry you are going through this! LOL @ the yellow pages, that must have made such a mess!
I would suggest the crate, but Ru has never liked his, he would rather sleep on the floor & has never gone in through choice even though we give him his favourite treats in there. He hates being shut in overnight but at least we know he is safe, they are much cheaper on ebay even with postage. How about some new chewies? We got Ru a massive nylabone, with a little encouragement he now loves it. Maybe try leaving the radio on? Keep us updated! |
| George had a crate but although we bought the biggest one you can get (at least in the UK) he has outgrown it.
He is left for 7 hours and that is longer than the recommended time to leave a dog in a crate, so I suppose we will have to confine him to smaller spaces until he gets over his phase! He has all of his toys to play with but I have got some different ones that I am going to leave out when we go out. Hopefully he will settle down again and just go back to sleeping when we are out!  |
Sorry you are going through this Vicki.  I remember Daisy went through a similar stage and we bought her a treat ball that you could put kibble in and 'close' a dial on it so the treats would only fall out when she rolled the ball at a particular angle.. It really kept her attention when we had to leave her on her own and she stopped the 'naughty' chewing after we started leaving her with the ball. Poppy was terrified of the ball at first but she loves it too now! Good Luck!
I actually think George has heard through the 'twilight bark' that he is missing out on the next sheepie day and letting you know he's not happy! |
Daisymog wrote: I actually think George has heard through the 'twilight bark' that he is missing out on the next sheepie day and letting you know he's not happy!  |
| A further perspective on George...
Last night we went out for three hours. Came back to the following Toby crime scene: 5 foot potted bromeliad ripped out roots and all and dragged across the living room. Upturned 2 gallon pot of soil from the above on the carpet. Shredded wicker basket. Bitten through tube of super glue with gobs of glue on the travertine tiles in the kitchen--one with a big footprint on it. A magazine glued to the bottom of the guilty party's left front foot. It took an hour to clean up. If my British mother were still alive, she would have taken one look at Toby and labeled him "...a real pill"-- her harshest term for an incorrigible child. |
| HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Sorry, not funny, I know. Ok well maybe just a little!!! I'm just imagining that whole scene and it does seem totally crazy. Again I suggest crating or confining...now your house is suffering the consequences!!!! |
rfloch wrote: Last night we went out for three hours. Came back to the following Toby crime scene:
5 foot potted bromeliad ripped out roots and all and dragged across the living room. Upturned 2 gallon pot of soil from the above on the carpet. Shredded wicker basket. Bitten through tube of super glue with gobs of glue on the travertine tiles in the kitchen--one with a big footprint on it. A magazine glued to the bottom of the guilty party's left front foot. Um....you win???
Sorry..not funny...not funny at all. Bad Toby. Bad! 
(I can't help it, I'm still laughing.)  |
Oh my goodness. That's pretty bad. I'm surprised his paw wasn't superglued to the floor.  |
Beaureguard's Mom wrote: Oh my goodness. That's pretty bad. I'm surprised his paw wasn't superglued to the floor.
It probably would have been if he hadn't also pulled a stack of mail off the kitchen counter along with the super glue. I had to laugh but my wife didn't think it was at all funny since he has now gotten to two of her most prized house plants. I almost think my other sheepdog, Charlie, was gloating when we got home and Toby got yelled at and got put outside by himself while the mess got cleaned up. I know that's reading human emotions in a dog's behavior but sometimes sheepdogs make you wonder. We are at the point of trying to decide whether a crate or a dog sitter is necessary to get us through this phase of Toby's adolescence. How can a dog who is the model of good behavior when were home turn into such a devil when we leave? We're going to try leaving and then coming back in 5 minutes or so just to see if he is waiting for the opportunity to pounce on something else. Maybe if we can catch him in the act... |
| Ok you win
George isn't that naughty after all
Toby has such a cute face! Like butter wouldn't melt.... |
| Oh I' m sorry, but Toby's antic's are too funny. We have got to start giving awards....... LMAO |
| My OES hates being crated. So we keep her confined to one room using a baby gate. The room has been dog proofed. She has water, a window, bed and toys. This solution works really great and gives her pleanty of room to move around while were out.
Side note, we have a second dog. He used to distroy everything when we were gone. Once we got our OES he had a companion to amuse him and stopped all distructive behaviors immediately. Taking on a second dog isn't for every household but it certainly can help with the boredom your dog is experiencing. |
redmam7 wrote: Side note, we have a second dog. He used to distroy everything when we were gone. Once we got our OES he had a companion to amuse him and stopped all distructive behaviors immediately. Taking on a second dog isn't for every household but it certainly can help with the boredom your dog is experiencing.
I have thought about a second dog but I'm not sure whether it would make things better or worse. I agree that it would stop him being bored on his own however I could get the wrong dog and I could end up with 2 chewers!! |
| I think having a second dog is truly beneficial. They can keep each other company while we are gone.
Sometimes I come home unexpectedly and see my dogs running and playing together outside. My Huskie is 12 years now, but seems to stay youthful playing with my sheepie. One time when it was raining I found that my Husky and my OES were sleeping in one of the Dogloos together even though we have two dog houses. It was a nice feeling that they wanted to share the space. I have found that sometimes two dogs, if mischievous, can get into double the trouble depending on their personalities...just something to consider. |
| Sorry, it is funny.
This too will pass, be patient. |
| Today's Toby tricks.
Went into the garage for an hour and a half to do a tune-up on one of the cars. Never imagined that he would get into anything since I was still within ear-shot. Came back into the house for lunch only to find: No Toby. The full loaf of bread I had left on the counter to make lunch was gone. My $450, best pair of glasses was no where to be seen. Still not putting it together, I looked outside and saw the small remains of my glasses, mangled and chewed, lying on the patio. There was no sign of the bread and I couldn't even find the plastic bag it came in. There, hiding in the bushes was Toby, looking guilty. He is a little devil. |
| I don't believe Toby could look guilty he looks too cute on your photos!! |
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