Question:
Hi, I have a one year old labrador who is slowly eating the kitchen. The tally so far is 4 chairs, 1 table and a rather nice sofa that now has a distinctly distressed look. He does not get left for long but when he is left he really gets the hump. Anyone any ideas how to stop him. Alan
Response:
> I have a one year old labrador who is slowly eating the kitchen. The tally > so far is 4 chairs, 1 table and a rather nice sofa that now has a > distinctly distressed look. > He does not get left for long but when he is left he really gets the hump. > Anyone any ideas how to stop him.
You haven’t given much away but it does sound like separation anxiety. IF the dog is fine – and appears to be particularly fond of you or others in the household while you are around -then that’s where I would make a start. It would be easier if you gave lots more detail so that we had a clearer picture of what is happening. In the detail give things that you think are particularly strange – might be that it tends to scratch at the door or eats the arms of the chairs or the cushions etc. If I can help I’ll try to get back to you. Don’t expect quick fixes for this type of thing – it can take quite a while. If you can’t stand that I believe there are medications which can help to reduce the anxiety while you get to grips with the behavioural approach. Regards David
Response:
>Hi, >I have a one year old labrador who is slowly eating the kitchen. The tally >so far is 4 chairs, 1 table and a rather nice sofa that now has a >distinctly distressed look. >He does not get left for long but when he is left he really gets the hump. >Anyone any ideas how to stop him. >Alan
Yes, you have a lab. :-) Have you not heard of crate training? You can get a crate from the petstore and help your dog to like and get used to it, and you can keep him crated when you can’t supervise him. Most dogs, and especially sporting breeds like labs, will be destructive when they are left alone. Some grow out of it, with the right training, but in the meantime they need to be crated to preserve their relationship with their human and to keep them from hurting themselves. There is a crate training faq somewhere on the web, and I believe Diane Blackman’s site has info too — www.dog-play.com take care, Daisy
Response:
Get a crate. Good Luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi, >I have a one year old labrador who is slowly eating the kitchen. The tally >so far is 4 chairs, 1 table and a rather nice sofa that now has a >distinctly distressed look. >He does not get left for long but when he is left he really gets the hump. >Anyone any ideas how to stop him. >Alan
Response:
> Yes, you have a lab. :-) Have you not heard of crate training? > You can get a crate from the petstore and help your dog to like > and get used to it, and you can keep him crated when you can’t > supervise him.
What about the distress that the poor dog is experiencing. The destructive part of the problem will cetainly be stopped by putting it inside a steel cage but what about the problem happening inside the dog’s head? Regards David
Response:
> What about the distress that the poor dog is experiencing. The > destructive part of the problem will cetainly be stopped by putting it > inside a steel cage but what about the problem happening inside the > dog’s head? > Regards > David
Oh, how right you are. Crates are great for dogs who are used to them and who have grown to actually like them. BUT not for a dog who is used to freedom. We have an Airedale who ate my entire main floor when we were out. We tried putting him into the crate but he was so stressed by this that he would reak of sweat and actually hurt himself even when only in it for half hour. We ended up creating a ‘dog’ room. (In english, this means a room that you expect to make repairs on in the future) Once we resigned ourselves to the fact that this room would be his to destroy, things improved greatly. We’d come home and not be upset with him and in time he mellowed out. He now is fine all alone for up to 6 hours. (and the room never needed more than a good carpet cleaning.) If you’ve not used a crate before I don’t recommend starting now.
Response:
I’d recommend a crate before the dog eats something toxic or something that obstructs the intestines, or bites into a live electric wire. Even dogs without separation anxiety can be bored and decide to experiment with furniture refinishing. But don’t feel too bad. I heard about a lab who ate thru a wall and trashed the neighboring apartment!! Mary Alice
Response:
: to keep them from hurting themselves. There is a crate training : faq somewhere on the web, and I believe Diane Blackman’s site has : info too — www.dog-play.com No crate training FAQ on my site – just links to places that have it. Also you can get the same information via the web start with try http://www.zmall.com/pet_talk/dog-faqs/ for one crate training faq or follow some of the links I have on http://www.dog-play.com/behavior.html Diane Blackman Play is necessary to the fullest development of any intelligent being. http://www.dog-play.com/
Response:
>What about the distress that the poor dog is experiencing. The >destructive part of the problem will cetainly be stopped by putting it >inside a steel cage but what about the problem happening inside the >dog’s head? >Regards >David
Very true, the real cause of the behavior must be dealt with, but as you yourself said, it isn’t a quick fix, it’s gonna take a while, and I think you know that drugs aren’t a good solution. The crate will protect the dog from chewing something that could kill him as well as protect the owner’s sanity in the meantime. Plus, a dog that has been properly introduced to the crate will feel more secure while inside it, and that could alleviate the situation, too. Denna Lasik "Intelligence is like a river; the deeper it runs, the less noise it makes." Please remove "NOSPAM" from address before replying.
Response:
: > : > Yes, you have a lab. :-) Have you not heard of crate training? : > You can get a crate from the petstore and help your dog to like : > and get used to it, and you can keep him crated when you can’t : > supervise him. : What about the distress that the poor dog is experiencing. The : destructive part of the problem will cetainly be stopped by putting it : inside a steel cage but what about the problem happening inside the : dog’s head? My Plott Hound Brindle(1977-1991) had serious separation anxiety. She’d been abandoned by at least two former homes before we adopted her when she was a two year old. When we tried leaving her loose in the house she was very distressed. Sometimes she destroyed things and sometimes she didn’t but she always howled miserably when we left, and was always frantic by the time we got home. When we used a crate she was much calmer. She’d cheerfully enter the crate when asked to, and there was no agonised howling when we left, When we got home there was no frantic pacing and whining-she was just glad to see us. She seemed to think that if we left her loose she’d be alone forever, but when she was in her crate she expected we’d be back. When we first got her we crated her whenevr we were not home and we tried to train her to be left uncrated. We eventually realised that we could never trust her not to destroy things *and* that she felt more secure and happy in her crate. Once we figured that out she was always crated when no one was home, and her distress and ours was much less.
Response:
: Oh, how right you are. Crates are great for dogs who are used to them : and who have grown to actually like them. BUT not for a dog who is used to : freedom. We have an Airedale who ate my entire main floor when we were It depends on the dog. As I just said in a previous post, Brindle had no trouble adapting to crate training and seemed happier for it. She had never been crated until she was two. Soon after we got her she was treated for heartworm and had to be crated much of the time for her own safety. Too much activity can be deadly to a dog undergoing heartworm treatment, and she never had any strong objections to being crated most of the time for several weeks as the vet ordered. Some dogs who are used to freedom have no problem at all with being crated, while some others don’t take it as well.
Response:
I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. I have a friend who was very anti-crate. When he got Maggie she suffered from a lot of anxiety. I was fairly new to crating, but he had seen how well it worked for my dogs so – fully expecting to hate it – he tried it. Maggie felt better in the crate. She sleeps in the crate and will not settle down until the door is closed. The "dog safe" room did not work at all for her. She just did better in the crate. As humans neither of us can really relate to that; I still find it mysterious how much my dogs rely on their crates for a safe haven. And we are really mystified as to why Maggie wants the crate door shut before she will sleep – we’ve given up asking why and just go with what works for her. Of *course* some dogs don’t like crates. But for some dogs with separation anxiety it actually makes them feel safer and more relaxed. It is worth a try. Ideally it won’t be the permanent answer, ideally the person will also work on desensitization and will work on getting the dog to feel comfortable when left alone – but in the meanwhile the dog is safe. If the dog exhibited a significant amount of distress upon being crated then I would look for a different solution – but it is an option worth considering. Diane Blackman _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ : : What about the distress that the poor dog is experiencing. The : : destructive part of the problem will cetainly be stopped by putting it : : inside a steel cage but what about the problem happening inside the : : dog’s head?
Response:
Over a two-year period, I home-trained 4 shelter mutts for a hearing dog program. All 4 had been picked up off the streets at 4 -11 months of age. I suspect one had never been in a house before! All 4 were crated while I was at work (with a 90 minute lunch break – I used vacation time to come home at lunch for the first 2 months for each dog) and cheerfully entered their crate each morning for their special dog biscuit. They had no more problem being crated than did a baby being put in a crib. I felt one of my duties as a home trainer was to not let these dogs develop bad habits. All were crated during the day for the four months they each lived with me. They then were crated when left alone at their eventual owner’s house for the first 2 weeks, and then adapted nicely to having the run of the house. They never had a chance to learn that furniture, carpet, or walls were edible. I don’t think these dogs would have objected to use of the crate for a few months in their lives – they were on death row if they had not been selected to come home for training. Mary Alice
Response:
> When we used a crate she was much calmer.
Glad to hear that the crate worked OK. Just out of curiosity did you investigate what the dog was doing for the duration of the time you were not present? She’d cheerfully enter the > crate when asked to, and there was no agonised howling when we left,
Quite often this is the case. Each dog is different not all get stressed immediately that’s why I was curious – re above. Some dogs show signs of stress long before they are left alone some others a while after they have been left. > When we got home there was no frantic pacing and whining-she was just > glad to see us.
This too is quite normal. Some dogs have a very fine tuned sense of time and some how know(probably from various cues) when the owners will return – hence they obviously calm down since they know there is an end to their separation. We’ve had neighbours who thought they had they quietest dogs in the world – that was because they were at work. Most folk only get to know of separation anxiety from the destructive sessions – if in a cage no destruction – but not necessarily no stress Once we figured that out she was always > crated when no one was home, and her distress and ours was much less.
I’ve no objection to that- sounds wise- no dog is ever 100% "safe" but I still feel uneasy about recommending crating with no behavioural element. Regards David
Response:
I am a BIG fan of crate training and you can start this at any age. Your lab ate the kitchen because he was stressed out because his area was to big. He will become used to the crate and this will become his "home" and his comfort zone when he is stressed. Did you ever think about where dogs in the wild go for safety and considered their home. A hole deep in the ground called a den. A crate is not cruel if you use it properly, 8 hours a day when you are at work, most dogs sleep during this time if they are not stressed. Good luck Krysten
Response:
This totally depends on the dog. I adopted a lab at a year of age that had never been in a crate before and I have successfully crate trained him. He has no problem with being in his crate now. I would much rather come home and be happy to see my dog than to come home and be pissed off because my house had been eaten. It’s worth a shot. Good Luck. Amy
Oh, how right you are. Crates are great for dogs who are used to them – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->and who have grown to actually like them. BUT not for a dog who is used to >freedom. We have an Airedale who ate my entire main floor when we were >out. We tried putting him into the crate but he was so stressed by this >that he would reak of sweat and actually hurt himself even when only in it >for half hour. We ended up creating a ‘dog’ room. (In english, this means >a room that you expect to make repairs on in the future) Once we resigned >ourselves to the fact that this room would be his to destroy, things >improved greatly. We’d come home and not be upset with him and in time he >mellowed out. He now is fine all alone for up to 6 hours. (and the room >never needed more than a good carpet cleaning.) >If you’ve not used a crate before I don’t recommend starting now.
Response:
> I am a BIG fan of crate training and you can start this at any age. Your lab > ate the kitchen because he was stressed out because his area was to big. He > will become used to the crate and this will become his "home" and his comfort > zone when he is stressed. Did you ever think about where dogs in the wild go > for safety and considered their home. A hole deep in the ground called a den.
Exactly but not for the same reasons and it’s not quite the same. Wolves (=dogs)spend very little of their time underground. The bitch will if puppies are around. Being in the open is apparently preferred - much easier to escape if things get tough! > A crate is not cruel if you use it properly, 8 hours a day when you are at > work, most dogs sleep during this time if they are not stressed.
"if they are not stressed" – good point to raise Regards David
Response:
A one year old lab should NEVER be out of a crate unsupervised. They are a retriever, and therefore any boredom is expressed with their mouth. Get a crate and some indestructible chew toys, such as a nylabone, and lock him up. How long before he gets under the sink and eats the brillo, ajax, and comet? Ebsie
Response:
When I first got my lab I did not know what crate training meant. Then I bought a book on pet training. Crate training has helped save what is left of my furniture he has destriyed and helped me house break him. A dog will not mess where they sleep at. Crate training is the best thing to do. Christina
Response:
> Hi, > I have a one year old labrador who is slowly eating the kitchen. The tally > so far is 4 chairs, 1 table and a rather nice sofa that now has a > distinctly distressed look. > He does not get left for long but when he is left he really gets the hump. > Anyone any ideas how to stop him. > Alan
Dear Alan- I laughed out loud when I saw your post. My Lab ate my kitchen too! He is now 4 &1/2 years old. When he was a year he: -found a way to open drawers and shred the cling wrap & ziploc bags Solution: Battery powered motion detector alarms inside drawer. Scared the socks out of humans frequently. -found a way to peel up a corner of lineoleum floor and then tore 2inch sq pieces off until there was a 3×5 hole in the floor. SOLUTION: New floor after dog was 2 years old. -reduced heavy plywood doghouse to splinters. SOLUTION: Plastic doghouse. Before anyone starts giving advice, we frisbeed this dog into exhaustion everyday. He spent hours in our company, and was not neglected in a way that would have "explained" why he did this. Myranda
Response:
> A one year old lab should NEVER be out of a crate unsupervised. They are a > retriever, and therefore any boredom is expressed with their mouth. Get a > crate and some indestructible chew toys, such as a nylabone, and lock him up. > How long before he gets under the sink and eats the brillo, ajax, and comet? > Ebsie
Also, give the dog a lot of exercise. Labradors are very active dogs that love long walks, swimming and playing fetch. It is cruel to leave a Labrador in a crate for a long time unless it has had enough exercise to tire it out. Also, try leaving a radio on for the dog. If a dog hears noises outside, like dogs barking, cats or kids, it may become a little disturbed by the noise and will really want to get out. A radio set on an easy listening station will keep the dog calm. Good luck! :-) Jessie Z.
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