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wp
5 years!!!!
Member since 6/05 1932 total posts
Name:
C
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I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
This might be long sorry
For the past week or so I feel like our dog Milo's behaviour is getting worse and I just don't know to do about it anymore.
For example I found him 2 days ago chewing on one of our couch pillows and now there is a hole in it and the zipper is broken. The other day he was in the basement and must have climbed on to the coffee table and ate one of my hair clips. Last week he ate one of my flip flops and ruined it
This morning I caught him chewing on our duvet cover and again there is a small hole in it. During walks I have to pay so much attention to him so he wont put random things (bird feathers, leaves ect...) in his mouth.
When we got him from my MIL she told us be careful because he eats/chews on anything. We were careful to watch and disipline him and his behaviour was getting MUCH better--so much that I was leaving him alone in the house for short periods of time (2 hours max). But now all these old behaviours and worse (he peed in the house twice this week and he has not done anything like that in months) are coming back!!!
I just dont know what to do anymore. As soon as I catch him doing the behaviour I say NO in a firm voice and he goes in his cage but nothing seems to be working for an extended period of time. Does anyone have any advice???????
I am soon bringing new furniture into my house and I am freaking out because I dont want it to be ruined and I also feel bad yelling at the dog all the time!!!
TIA
Message edited 8/23/2007 10:36:21 AM.
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Posted 8/23/07 10:35 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
lucyloo
nope
Member since 1/06 9758 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Is he getting enough exercise?
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| Posted 8/23/07 10:45 AM |
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wp
5 years!!!!
Member since 6/05 1932 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Posted by dita
Is he getting enough exercise?
Actually he is getting more than usual....I have been on vacation for the past 2 weeks and we play throughout the day and he goes on atleast 2 walks a day sometimes 3.
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| Posted 8/23/07 10:53 AM |
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Gertyrae
Peace out Homies!
Member since 5/05 20046 total posts
Name:
Gerty ®
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Sounds like he's bored to me...I would try longer walks to tire him out and maybe take him outside and really make him run.
Our dog will do this kind of stuff if she is bored.
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| Posted 8/23/07 7:13 PM |
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Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
does he have enough toys to play with?
does he destroy things when you are home or just alone? maybe keep him confined to one area?
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| Posted 8/23/07 8:01 PM |
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aw29
LIF Adult
Member since 3/06 1075 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Spray some items w/ Bitter Apple, if you don't trust him alone don't leave him out--can u gate him somewhere??
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| Posted 8/23/07 9:52 PM |
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wp
5 years!!!!
Member since 6/05 1932 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Posted by Nicole728
does he have enough toys to play with?
does he destroy things when you are home or just alone? maybe keep him confined to one area?
He has a ton of toys. But if they are stuffed animals he will destroy them wether we are home or not. He is never allowed to roam the house when we are not home. He is confined to a 6 foot by 3 foot area with his crate and water and a few toys. So he is destroying things when we are home with him. I am just loosing my mind.
Today I walked him once and played with him before I left the house. He was confined to his area upstairs when I was out of the house for 5 hours. When I came back I took him for a 20 minute walk and ran around the house with him and let him roam outside. While me and my husband were eating dinner, he went downstairs in the basement and put another hole in a pillow in under 5 minutes. I just dont know what to so anymore, it is getting very fustrating!!!!
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| Posted 8/23/07 10:07 PM |
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wp
5 years!!!!
Member since 6/05 1932 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Posted by aw29
Spray some items w/ Bitter Apple, if you don't trust him alone don't leave him out--can u gate him somewhere??
Like I said he is always gated when we leave in his area which he can not get out of. he is destroying things when we are home with him. I would spray bitter apple but he now seems to be destroying everything and anything he can get his mouth on, it isnt always the same things!!!!
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| Posted 8/23/07 10:08 PM |
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Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
i know a lot of people are not supportive of this, but what about an impulse collar?
We used it on our oldest dog, when she used to destroy the house and it worked wonders...and recently have been using it with our puppy (b/c she was eating her poop outside) She stopped that VERY quickly.
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| Posted 8/24/07 4:45 PM |
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SupportACop
Momma's Boy & Lovin' it!!
Member since 5/06 2579 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
I started puppy classes with Jasmine and she is crated or gated in the kitchen. If you are home and not playing with the dog she probably is destroying for attention or because he is bored. I love the bitter apple stuff and Jasmine has chew toys such as the rawhide which takes her hours of chew time and she gets no unsupervised time for now. You never mention the age of your dog, how old is he to have these behaviors? I would try doggie training for gated in kitchen even when you are home and let out for short supervised time until the dog can prove itself to be alone and not destroy things.
Good luck that is horrible and sorry you are having trouble. I hope all works out! I am sure he will stop soon. We always do the redirect to things jasmine can bite.
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| Posted 8/24/07 4:47 PM |
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wp
5 years!!!!
Member since 6/05 1932 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Posted by Nicole728
i know a lot of people are not supportive of this, but what about an impulse collar?
We used it on our oldest dog, when she used to destroy the house and it worked wonders...and recently have been using it with our puppy (b/c she was eating her poop outside) She stopped that VERY quickly.
What is an impulse collar?
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| Posted 8/24/07 5:18 PM |
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wp
5 years!!!!
Member since 6/05 1932 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Posted by SupportACop
I started puppy classes with Jasmine and she is crated or gated in the kitchen. If you are home and not playing with the dog she probably is destroying for attention or because he is bored. I love the bitter apple stuff and Jasmine has chew toys such as the rawhide which takes her hours of chew time and she gets no unsupervised time for now. You never mention the age of your dog, how old is he to have these behaviors? I would try doggie training for gated in kitchen even when you are home and let out for short supervised time until the dog can prove itself to be alone and not destroy things.
Good luck that is horrible and sorry you are having trouble. I hope all works out! I am sure he will stop soon. We always do the redirect to things jasmine can bite.
He is a year and a half. We have only had him for 6 months. He has come so far in such a short period of time that is why these bad behaviours are so fustrating becasue we were getting to the point of giving him more and more freedom and I just feel like we are going backwards. I already started to limit his freedom--gating off the basement and keeping him on the first floor when I am there or on the second floor when I am there. When we leave he is gated upstairs in a section of the bedroom with tons of toys and water. I already called a trainer and am waiting to hear back from them. But thank you for the advice.
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| Posted 8/24/07 5:22 PM |
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codybear
Our Family is Complete!
Member since 11/06 2064 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Sounds like he's bored. Whenever you are home with him he should either be in the room with you, or in his confined area. Even better is to put him on a leash and keep him with you wherever you are. That way you can correct him each time he goes for something he shouldn't have. Best thing to do is correct him then replace whatever he was going for with a toy of his.
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| Posted 8/24/07 7:06 PM |
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wp
5 years!!!!
Member since 6/05 1932 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
I do thank everyone for all the advice and words of encouragement.
However, some of you seem to be saying he is doing these things becasue he is bored. I dont understand how that is possible. Prior to this I was working and he was left alone from 8-4 and then I walked him, played with him ect....and I never saw this behavior.
Now for the past two weeks I have been home (on vacation) except for a few hours here and there. He is being walked more and being played with more. When I am home he is always next to me--outside, laying in bed, sitting in my lap ect......so this is what I am not understanding.
I dont mean to sound ungrateful with all your opinions ect...I am very glad to get any and all insight. But I am just confused with the bordem aspect, therefore fustrated with the whole situation.
He was without incedent today because he was either with me or confined to his normal area, no more roaming around any floor of the house as he pleases!
Thank you again for all advice
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| Posted 8/24/07 8:33 PM |
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yankinmanc
Happy Days!
Member since 8/05 18208 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Sounds to me like he needs a puppy, or a kitten. Someone to play with!
I always think its better to have animals in pairs as they naturally are in packs...
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| Posted 8/25/07 6:54 AM |
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wp
5 years!!!!
Member since 6/05 1932 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Posted by racheeeee
Sounds to me like he needs a puppy, or a kitten. Someone to play with!
I always think its better to have animals in pairs as they naturally are in packs...
OH MY GOD !! I almost fell off my chair when I read this 
I cant deal with the one I have let alone another one right now But you do sound like my husband---he wants a second one but guess who will be taking care of that one was well!!
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| Posted 8/25/07 10:29 AM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
I would begin by replacing his stuffed toys with rubber. We found our dogs would go after the couches less when there was no "toy confusion." Next, I would make sure that there are no irritations in his mouth/gums. My pug only chews excessively if he needs his teeth attended to.
I would also ask the vet if there is any kind of additional behavioural advice. If you are spending extra time with him, will it get worse when you return to work? Or is he maybe freaking that his schedule is disrupted with you being home? I know that Loki (our Shiba Inu) began to act out when I was home on bed rest.
Good Luck!
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| Posted 8/25/07 10:35 AM |
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SupportACop
Momma's Boy & Lovin' it!!
Member since 5/06 2579 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
I am glad he did a good job for you yesterday!
Another suggestion is to monitor his water. My trainer said that if they have free access to water they will drink and then just go. This way you can give it to the dog and then take the water away wait a little while then take it out to "empty the tank"
Good luck!!! I guess the normal symtoms of dogs destroying their owners things is usully bordem but you know your dog the best. GOOD LUCK! I hope it continues on the path to success.   
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| Posted 8/25/07 11:41 AM |
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Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Posted by wp
Posted by Nicole728
i know a lot of people are not supportive of this, but what about an impulse collar?
We used it on our oldest dog, when she used to destroy the house and it worked wonders...and recently have been using it with our puppy (b/c she was eating her poop outside) She stopped that VERY quickly.
What is an impulse collar?
Its a collar that vibrates and also has a setting for an electric shock. We have only needed to use to vibration setting on our dogs. Its used purely for training...when they do something bad, you correct them with the collar.
We used it for a vairety of things, including off the leash training in our yard; which is great b/c we don't have a fence, so the dogs don't leave our yard. and like I said most recently with our puppy, who was eating her own poop. It was soooo disgusting...a few times outside with the impulse collar, she stopped eating her poop. Now we are going to start using it to train her with listening to commands when outside.
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| Posted 8/25/07 3:17 PM |
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DRMom
Two in Blue
Member since 5/05 20223 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: I am losing my mind and I dont know what to do anymore.....
Yep well my husband talked me into that and the original dog could carfe less. They basically ignore each other-except to growl at each other once in a while
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| Posted 8/25/07 4:01 PM |
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