Hello all! Need some experienced advice!

[spartanws6]

First of all I apologize for this being my first post, but this is the reason I went on a search for a forum:-) I am a first time dog owner of three weeks. I went to the pound and "saved" my girl Haley. She is a shepard mix that is roughly 1 year old. Now, on with the novel....

When I am home she is generally pretty good (short of trying to eat small rocks, poo, etc... working on that one) She always follows me around and hates when I leave (definate seperation anxiety)
The problems occur when I am not there. By "not there" I mean everything from taking a shower to actually leaving the home for work, errands, etc. If I am sitting and watching the tube, she plays with her toys or lounges on the couch with me. As soon as I step away, clothes get eaten, socks get spread out, cell phones get crunched, toilet paper (a personal fav of hers) gets chewed, shoes walk by themselves, etc. I have worked with her on this (my house has never been this clean now... I have hidden almost everything) but today I found out from the GF that she managed to smash an expensive piece of glass and munched my IPOD to pieces. Problem with that is they were on top of my counter. Only way she could get to them would to be physically be on the counter walking around. I have never seen her up there let alone even try while I am home. She has plenty of toys to play with while I am gone, and I hate to put her in the kennel for 9 hours while I work, but I am desperate.

Basically, how do I train a dog that only does these things while I am not physically there?

So, after my novel (I apologize:-) what do you all think? She is a handfull and I love her to death, but this is getting out of hand! please help!

[Proper BO]

I would personally use CCTV cameras to make sure that it's not really robbers enetering your house when your not there and destroying your stuff. Secondly, i'd try and find an obediance trainer, and seek his advice. Thirdly, i'd suggest waiting for another reply, because i'm sure your thinking by now "this guy is a nutcase"

Thanks

[weimlover0816]

Well, you are on the right track with picking everything up... as for the crating, at this point it really seems to be the only option, fo rher safety and your sanity. My sister's dogs ate 2 of our cell phones, and besides being livid about it, I was really worried about her injesting the acid in the batteries. We have started crating her when we aren't there, and she has been wonderful. Though, in your situation, 9 hours is a loooong time. Is there any way you can get someone to come over half-way thru the day and let Haley out for a potty break and a romp around the yard?

Another option would be to find a room that she could be gated in for the day, without the fear of her destroying something that could be harmful to her? Perhaps a kitchen with NOTHING (not even small appliances) left out on the counter?

Also, you could try working through the separation anxiety, by leaving for a few mintues, then coming right back in (myself or someone else here can go into more detail for you on this if you want to try it). You need to create a routine for her, so she knows you are coming back.

Do you give her treats before you leave? A Kong filled with peanut butter and/or cream cheese and frozen, will keep a pooch busy for a while.

Good luck, and I hope to hear more from you and Haley !! Welcoem to the forum!

[GretaJack]

I hear your pain. I am dealing with a case of separation anxiety with my newest lab. It is getting better slowly but surely. And I have had him about 3 weeks also. He is a panty stealer, a sock hider, whatever is mine that is on the floor (yep, definitely time to clean). But I also have two other labs so Tanner is never completely alone. And I think that is making the difference.

I know how hard it is to crate, especially when you have a dog from the pound that was locked up for so long. Weim's idea might work, isolate in a room with nothing to chew. But what I found that worked (with a Dane I used to have) is that I gave her an old blanket that I had for a while. It smelled like me (I guess) and I kept it in her kennel. She loved it.

PM Smetha1 about some pheremone treatments. She said it has done wonders for her. She said it has made her dog relax more when she is not around. And it sounds like something that you can eventually wean them off of. Good Luck with Haley. It will definitely be rewarding

[Blistering Wind]

I had to crate my husky for the first part of his life till he learned how to behave, and only recently has he been allowed to be in the house by himself. I had a female husky, OH MAN could she eat and destroy.

Crating, unfortunately, is the only thing to do for now. BEcause without you home, there is no punishment or reinforcement availability.

After some time, the dog should learn that good behavior allows her to be loose, but bad behavior gets the crate. Some learn some don't. Just depends on how persistant you are and intuitive the dog is.

[Ken Nielsen]

"I hate to put her in the kennel for 9 hours while I work"

How long are you actually away from her, as in from the last time you have her on the leash and she can potty outside, to the time you are back and she is on her leash and can potty outside.

This is just me, but I would (and I did) move closer to my job so I can come home at lunch time to let her out and give her a hug. I also have crate trained my dog so if she went through a period of wanting to see what the furniture was made out of, I can leave her in the crate for the 4 1/2 hours in the morning and in the afternoon while I am gone. Believe me, she has sorted this out after one or two times of having to leave her in the crate. My home is immaculate, considering a dog lives there and is entrusted with its care during the day. She now plays with her toys. iPods and things like that have to be put away, that means away, in a cabinet, desk drawer or other protected place.

Basically, just keep letting her know you lover her, but there are things that are no no's and you will be firm with isolating her from freedom if she violates certain areas.

[Rip's Girl]

Spartan,
Personally I would buy her a large kennel for her to stay in while you are gone. (Yes, you can get some that can go indoors, it doesn't have to be the huge, tall chainlink type)
9 hours is too long to keep her in a small crate, but in a pen, you could provide her with her food, water, and appropriate toys, and she could still get up, jump, stretch, and pace. There would also be room for a soft bed and possibly even a doggy door if you felt like installing one and had a yard. (Have the doggy door lead her out into ANOTHER pen, just for safety.)

The safest solution is to keep the dog confined. Most people can't dog-proof their entire house (I know I can't) and if you can't keep her confined to a dog-proof room, keep her in a crate or pen. It's for her safety as well as that of your things.

[spartanws6]

WOW! I appreciate all of the quick responses.

I basically cleared out a small room today and put her crate in it. Basically it has a futon that I don't care about and some stacked storage bins. She is confined to the room while I am away at work. This good or bad to you think?

As far as work goes I am in a transition... I just got out of the military and am awaiting the start of the police academy, so this is just a bad time as far as work goes. The GF does help out as much as she can so I am doing my best.

haley and I spend the entire day together prior to me going to work, and I am walking her almost every day (weather permitting). I just keep planning on a walked dog becomes a tired dog, especially as a puppy.

I'll keep plugging away, and I just signed up today for the obedience classes where I adopted her, so hopefully that will help out. Any other advice for this newbie is always appreciated :-)

[weimlover0816]

[quote=spartanws6] I just keep planning on a walked dog becomes a tired dog, especially as a puppy. [quote]

You hit the nail on the head with that one!!! And a tired dog is a good dog!!

I think you did well by clearing out a room for her while you're gone. Be sure to put only things she is allowed to chem on in there (and, really, she will more than likely get to those storage bins at some point, so, beware....) and perhaps leave a radio or tv on for her during the day. May ease her a little. Also, as GretaJack suggested, the pheremone treatments may work... (dog appeasing pheremones) as they simulate the hormones released by a pregnant/nursing mommy dog. Sorry to say they didn't do much for my crew, but loads of others have had GREAT results. They can get expensive, though.....

[Ken Nielsen]

"I just signed up today for the obedience classes where I adopted her, so hopefully that will help out."

There's nothing like an obedience class (or two) to establish that working relationship between you and your dog. Your dog will love it. She gets to be with you, and you will notice that she really does want to please you. The hard part is training the owner: be consistent with commands, alert others to the commands and how you want it done. You already sound like a good owner, so stick with training and you should wind up with an exceptionally good dog.

Have you read any dog books? I recommend 'Great Owners/Good Dogs' by Brian Kilcommons for insight into the whole process and into what these furry guys are about.

How are things in other areas with your dog? Vaccinations? ID Chip? Spay?