Hi.. I have a 18mth Male corso that cannot keep his self from the dry wall when I am away.. He cry's long periods when left in the crate for the day. But other wise when he is left out does ok.. Please help I would much rather he be able to spend the day free then to be in the crate.. I do have a animal behavior back ground so to speak.. I have tried the bitter apple.. ( Boss loves this stuff.. ;)) I also have put him in a no bark collar.. I don't like this.. He seem to whine right through it and has a small scar.. Please help us throught his..  Note.. Purchased him in poor condition.. He is really attached to me and my son.. He is free when we are there.. Sleeps with either me or my four year old. Is being fully obedience trained as well as protection.. He has done great.. He was potty trained in 3 weeks! Now we must get throught the dry wall chewing..  HELP..

Loved1corso

Your dog is anxious when you leave him. You need to address the problem and deal with it, not shut him in a crate for long periods or use an anti-barking collar - thats just masking the problem :( How long is he left for?

I agree.. Your right.. I leave to go to work on average, at about 9:30.. I come home for lunch at about 1:30.. then I am home for the night about 7:30-8:00. I walk him when I come home for lunch..  Thanks for the response.. I am so greatful for any advice.. 
Loved1corso

Hi - OK, Corso girl is the one to talk to re this breed. I have danes who are anxious when I leave them as they are a breed which become extremely devoted to their family. I couldn't leave Willis for this amount of time as he would freak and completely destroy the house. Can you look at getting someone in to check on him and play with him in the morning and afternoon, and also look at a companion for him (again, Corso girl is the best one to talk to about this)?

Personally, I wouldn't crate him for any longer than 2 hours at the very very most. Willis also loved chewing walls but he has grown out of it now.

Its just too long to leave him alone I'm afraid... if it were me, I'd get him a friend, but you run the risk of the damage being worse - but it would be worth the risk for me. I'd also definitely get someone in to check on him through the day :)

Hi again.. Thanks for your advice..
I don't think that I could aford to have another dog in such small quarters.. Hum.. What about a ferret...? He loves my sisters and plays with him on a regular base (lol).. I don't know that I could aford another dog or have the space though it would be worth it.. I have had someone walk him throughout the day.. But.. As you might know as a large dog breed owner..  These breeds are not for the weak.. She was slammed into a wall.. She has not come back to walk him.. :( Thanks for your advice.. Is there anything else that could serve as company? Hum.. Thanks for your help.
Love1corso

Hi are you in this country?also you say that he is left all day in a crate? do you mean((( all day))) if you do mean all day then ofcourse he is upset in crate or out of crate you should not be leaving him all day, corsi are not that sort of breed they need to have things to do, please explaine( what hours he is left,) and leaving him with an anti bark collar on is "imo" wrong, this dog is bored stiff and needs to have more stimulation through out the day.

Sorry have just seen that you have given times of work, well i am not surprised yes this dog needs some one with him alot   more.

Corso Girl..
Most dogs spend up to full work day in a kennel.. It is a known fact that most people work a full eight hours and still sucessfully own pets.. I can't understand why he can not adapt.. I purchased him from a kennel where he had little to no human contact. I have worked for two diffrent Mich Humane Soc. All of my peers were pet owners who also crated their dogs during the day.. Don't get me wrong.. I don't totaly disagree. However I do not think that the dogs needs some one with him all day.. Most people who own pets work.. I don't belive I should have to give up my dog cause I am a single parent that works eight hours.. Please help there has to be another solution..
Love1corso..

I am in the US Michigan.He was at first not in the crate.. I had a break in.. (an x boyfriend ) He was left loose for 2 weeks.. Then the second week Boss begain to chew drywall and eat plants.. I moved the plants and could not get him to stop chewing the drywall.. So I put him back in the crate during the day.. He is almost never in the crate when I am home.. I leave for work at about 9:30.. I come home for lunch at about 1:30 is when I get there.. I walk him. Then I put him back in till I return home.. I had been leaving him out, with about 2 kongs.. (stuffed with goodies..) One bone.. HUGE! and I would hid other little treats throughout my apartment... He would often times still resort to eattin at the dry wall.. He only crys for about 15 mins. ( I am told by the really nice people next door..) They have 2 smaller dogs that bark alot.. The don't mind but I would hate to have this become an Issue for someone else..  Hince the bark collar..  So here is where I am at... I don't want Boss in a kennel all day.. He does not cry if he can see out of the windows and is free.. However he is distructive.. ( I have become  the whip at drywalling..) Please Help.. He has tons of toy's..  I even keep some of them up just for the newness factor for when I leave.. Hum.. One thing I did notice.. Is that when I leave and he is out in the morning... He does not seem as distructive in this time period.. Funny Hun? Anyway ideas I would be so greatfull.. This is the second corso I have had.. Note my name Loved1corso.. He was stollen by his trainer and sold... We stayed in a small apartment and he adapted just fine.. Please Help..

Thanks in advance..
Love1corso oh and Boss thanks you too. ;)

Hi, I am afraid I am not familar with the breed, but I have a couple of thoughts....

Do you still live in an apartment, if not and you have access to a garden, would it be possible to build him a kennel and run for during the day, not ideal but a lot better then a crate.

You say you used to work for a humane society (I am assumming this is a dog rescue), would it be possible for you to leave him with them during the day in a kennel and run, making a weeky donation to them and picking him up after work.

It is not unusual for a dog to settle for a few hours during the morning, I expect he gets a better run in the morning and is ready for a nap when you leave, by the afternoon he is very bored.  Could you arrange for someone to dog sit in the afternoons?

Unfortunately I can only see your problem getting worse unless you can re-arrange either your day or his.

As I say just some thoughts, don't know whether they are any help or not.

Regards
Sandra

Sandrah,
Thanks for your advice.. Hum.. *Thinking..* But leaving him at the shelter would not be a good idea.. He would be more likley to be infected with something.. This type of shelter has to deal with a number of sick animals on any given day.. Also the do not offer boarding.. ( even if they did I could not afford as a single mom the fees to keep a dog at a kennel every day.. The dog on his own is a deterant for anyone wanting to enter the apartment unanounced.. Thanks for you help..  I will try to continue to have someone come and see him during the day.. But this is hard cause few people can handle him.. Plus if he bites someone I stand the risk of being sued..

Thanks..
Love1corso

Could your neighbours maybe keep an eye on him and spend some time with him in the afternoon? I too leave my dogs for 8 hrs and some are kept in a kennel (is much shorter then 8hrs cause my husband works different times), but 9:30-5:30 is 8 hrs. Just wondering why you are not home by around 6 or so?, 7:30-8 is alot longer then 8 hrs, you say u are home around 1:30 to let him out for a walk and then not home till 7:30-8 thats like another 6 to 6 and a half more hours. Just don't understand your time schedule here....He is bored due to being home alone for sooooooo long...You really need to find something to stimulate him....Do they have doggy daycare there, something you could maybe put him in for the afternoon since he is fine in the morning?

Really can't come up with anymore idea's, hope you find one that works for both of you.:) Good luck

Hum... I work the 10-7 shift.. Normally.. Or the 9-6 with a hour lunch.. So Nine hours.. He is left total of about eight hours.. But not more than six hours total by his self.. Understand? I added in my travel time.. So It takes like 15 min to get home.. But worst case I put 30min.. Provided the old lady crossing the street.. The sunday driver.. You know.. But he is home no more than about six hour strech..
love1corso.

I do understand that dogs live in apartments more in your country and lots of things are done differently but i still have to say that you will have more problems with him as time goes on he needs some one or some place where he can get out and do things for a few hours in the afternoon, i realy am sorry i know money is tight but the dog is not happy i can tell by your posts that you love him, but it's not working out real good is it? do you not have a man you can trust that would come over and take him out for an hour or any person that could control him, and would he let them in to your place? as i know mine wouldn't. the other thing is can you not put baby gates up to stop him from going into different rooms but can still be free, leave the radio on for him, just sit and think of other ways around it just so he doesn't have to be put in a crate. ps would love to see a picture of him if i send you my email do you have any pictures you can send me.

This is a very sad posting.  IMO crates are great I use/used them BUT your dog is crated for far to long during the day!!!  I'm sure if this happened here in the UK the RSPCA would not be happy about it.  I think you should listen carefully to what corso girl has said - she knows far more about your breed than I do (I have a Rottweiler) and I know that my dog would not be able to tolerate being alone that much during the day.  Everyone that I know that have dogs and work have many behaviour problems with their dogs.  It certainly sounds to me that your dog is very bored.  Imagine yourself being crated for that amount of time!  Please think about your dog's situation.

I agree try the babygates....I have 5 dogs 3 are in kennels and my big guy is in the porch with a baby gate up, the other runs free, and thats for like 8hrs. They all do fine and are out by 3 or 4pm for the rest of the night. I guess they kinda have eachother as company but they do sleep while Iam gone.

You said you give kongs and your dog is fine in the morning...How about everytime you come home at lunch give a stuffed kong another time give a stuffed marrow bone (I seen these at the petstore I think that is what they are called), always stuff with something different and try to give something different everytime just so your dog doesn't get bored, I beleive you can even freeze the kongs, I think I while back there was a post about what to stuff a kong with. 

There is also a great number of different type kongs out there, I can't rememeber the site but they maybe of some help.

:)

You say you walk him when you come home for lunch. Do you walk him before you go to work too? This would greatly help, if he's had a good run and some stimulation before being left. I work part time four days a week, and my dogs get a long walk/free running every morning. Yes it means getting up at 6.30, but I wouldn't consider not giving them that exercise, even though my husband is usually home in the early afternoon anyway.

Chinablue,
Thanks soo much.. I did not think about running him earlier before I leave.. I will adjust my time in the morning to make this happen.. Thanks again.. :)
Loved1corso

dollface,
Thanks, I have not tried putting up any gates or giving an extra treat at lunch.. Good stuff.. Thanks I am on it.. :)
Loved1corso

Lucytia
Thanks for your advice.. However while I do respect everyone's opionion.. I will not be threatened by what the RSPCA would thinks if you note my other posts you will find that I am trying to get help.. Not be treaten, also please note that I have worked in this field for years.. And I have also owned another corso who at first was crated through out the day.. ( and i could not come home for lunch..) He was just fine.. I did all of this with the knowlege of the Michigan Humane Soc.. Along with my peers who also owned dogs.. ( who they also by the way crated until the dogs could be trusted to run free..)  I have worked both sides of the fence.. By my hands alone I have had to put to sleep more dogs then you can imagine..As well as put up for adoption the same.. These animals were the product of homes that neglected them.. Beat them.. Chained them up out side.. Or just gave up on their so called behavior issues.. So I am thinking of my dogs situation.. I am also looking at the situation he came from.. So don't take my request for help and turn me in to a bonafide animal abuser.. ( This is not the case..) I nearly trying to get input..So thanks for your input.. But please keep out the threats.. I have worked along side many crulety cases.. Dogs with their necks cut open from fights.. Hundreds of birds being kept by collectors.. I say this to say.. This dog is in good hands.. Giving up cause you feel he is crated to long is not even an option.. I am here to get insight on how to stop the chewing.. So that he can be out during the day.... He has to understand he cannot go every where with me.. He is very attached.. So put your self in my situation.. He eats breaths and sleeps me.. When I and my son are home he is either in my sons arms or under my feet.. I love him just as much as he loves me.. I love him enough not to quit on him.. I am working on ways to improve his time home during the day...I will find a happy median.. ;) Thanks for your concern..
LOVED1CORSO..

Corsogirl,
Thanks for your advice, I will try to some of the things you suggested.. Yes I love him to death, and if I belived that he was truely unhappy I would love him enough to let him go.. But I do belive it is rank issue.. I think that he is also so attached that he thinks his place is with me no matter how long he is left at home.. So I will keep on trying to make it work.. :) Thanks for all your help.. ( l am leaving the Jazz on while I am at work..)  I will working on getting you a picture ASAP.. :) Thanks again.. Oh He is out today.. I go home at noon.. So keep your fingers crossed.. :)

Love1corso..

Every dog is different, even within the same breed.  I am surprised all your dog is doing is chewing drywall.  

For now I would try to give your dog some vigourous exercise during your lunch break, more than just a walk.   From your schedule it sounds as if you are only home at lunch for about 30 minutes, which is not enough time to tire most dogs out for an afternoon snooze.

I think you might also need to accept that your dog is unhappy and it might be best to rehome him with someone who has more time to spend with him. 

Stacey

Stacey,
Thanks for your advice.. I do have another way that does seem to tire him out in 30min.. He has serious ball drive.. :) So I will work on that during my lunch break.. Giving him up is not an option.. ( Last thing on my mind..) If you could have seen that condition he was in when I got him.. He has never had a home.. He hates to be outside or away from us longer than the time it takes to pee.. :) I don't think to rehome his is the best thing.. He is not a small dog and has bitten twice.. I would not put him on anyone else.. I knew that when I purchased him that he might come with some problems.. I am taking full responsiblity..  So giving up is a suckers move in my eyes.. I am in it till I can't do anything else.. ;) But thanks for your comments..

Love1corso..

sounds like a case of seperation anxiety, a friend of mine had a similar problem which spiralled rediculously out of control... first it was holes in the wall and the sofa, then it was the bannister and the doors, then it was the handles on the UPVC windows and out he got.

It is an unfortunate fact that some breeds (not sure about corso's) are very people orientated and will act that way if left for too long a period.

It can also come down to dominance issues - if the dog thinks that it is pack leader then when a lesser member of his pack (for which he will feel he is responsible) is away he will become very adjutated (sp).

i would address these issues asap with a good behaviourist. I say this because my friend ended up having to have one of the best looking ridgebacks ive ever seen pts because his was down to dominance and ended up with his neighbour being attacked.

Equally a subordinate pack member will become very distressed in the absence of the leader.

Jeangenie,
Thanks for your help.. Question.. So are you saying that he thinks of his self a qual..? I am doing several things to work on my rank.. I do not really see it in his actions while I am there that he sees his self as an equal.. Or above.. Any ideas??
Thanks
Love1corso

No, I'm saying the opposite! It could be (though not possible to say for sure without seeing him) that he is subordinate and confused, and goes crazy with apprehension and insecurity when the 'leader' (you) is absent.
:)

andy-s-80 this person can't afford a behaviorist which is why we are trying to give advice which will not cost, Corsi need the same stimulation as a border collie they love to be doing things which this person says they do but not in the week.:-)

andy s 80,
Hi, andy.. Thanks for your input.. I do agree and I do have a friend that is working with me to help.. ( We were evaluators together at the Humane Soc..) I am working on the domiance issues.. I do not want to have him P.T. S.. I know that this could easily become a problem.. Thanks again..
Loved1corso

Is there any possibility he's reacting to noises behind the plaster?  Water pipes perhaps - or mice?

digger,
Thanks for your input.. I thought so too.. ( at first) but no.. He does it at the windows.. He stands in the window til i am gone then he chews near the windows..
Thanks!
Love1corso

What about leaving him with one of your jumpers one that you dont wear ofcourse, i know mine like to lay on my stuff, you might have done this i dont know?? and i have to say what a lovely person you must be to have taken him on (WELL DONE) you must see lots of dogs that need love and care in your job.

corso girl,
Thanks.. I had not thought to leave him with any of my jumpers and such.. ( I will do that..) Also thanks for the compliment, :) I have loved and researched the breed for at least 2yrs before buying this one.. I no longer work for the Humane Soc. ( I was also a Euth Tech..) I put so many animals to sleep for lack of homes.. This took a tole on me and I found a diffrent career path.. I still love animals and hope to go back to this type of work later in life.. :) Thanks again for all your help..
Loved1corso

Is he very young, my sisters lab went through the phase of eating the drywall when she went to work (dog was about  8 months), and she was only working 3 hours part time.  She tried all the things you have tried (hiding treats, confining to one room, stuffed kongs, etc) finially she fitted a dog flap so she could get outside that seemed to work (by the way she wasn't the only dog there was another lab there)

It's difficult to think of something that may help. I doubt very much if there is any kind of dominance causing the problem if that is what you mean - take a look at www.dog-dominance.co.uk for a different view on what dominance is or isn't :)

It's a very informative and easy site :)

If he is OK after you leave originally ion the morning, and only chews etc for the longer period, he may be bored rather than suffer separation anxiety. SA tends to manifest itself straight away after the owner has left. So if you left him for just 15 mnutes and returned, you would find destruction of the wall. If he is bored, he may be chewing because the wall is more challenging and comforting....it may be just a habit....

If he whines a lot though it does seem more likely he is lonely.

Hate to say it, but if he were mine, i think i would keep him out the crate just for his sanity :) (not being rude) and just pau out for repair to the wall ;-)

It's possible that he may improve as time goes by as 18 months can still be a very destructive time esp. for a slower maturing dog. Is it possible you can try other stuff on the wall? HOw about oil of cloves or similar? A spray of water and mustard? YOU seem to have been doing the right things with giving him stuffed Kongs etc.

Sorry not sure what else to suggest. Out of interest, was the no bark collar an electric one? I wondered what you meant about the scar.

Lindsay

Lindsay,
Thanks for your input.. No I don't think your being rude..( I have been leaving him out till I get home from lunch then crating him till I get home for the night.. ) So thank god I can dry wall and paint.. lol.. I got a tip to use deodorant on the walls.. I sprayed down all the walls and left saturday for about a half an hour.. Guess what.. He chewed the one spot i did not think to spray.. So thanks, I will try your suggestions! :)
Loved1corso.
Ps. Yes it was a electric collar.. The previous place I boarded him at suggested it..
I have not used it since.. ( Thanks for your concern.)

I do hope things work out for you and your big fella :)

Do you know how the dog got the scar with the collar? We rarely use them in the UK but have often been told that dogs don't get hurt or burnt with them. I wondered where the scar was in relation to the working parts on the collar, that's all (please dont feel i am condeming you at all, that's not my intention) and also what you think it was caused by? You can mail me by private message if you would rather.

Thanks for your honest reply, and well done for stopping use of the collar :)

Best wishes
Lindsay

Lindsay,
Thanks for your best wishes..
Well as far as the scar goes.. The first day I got the collar I put It on him as trial and everything seemed to be fine... The second trail day it was fine.. He did little to no barking while I left.. ( He was out the whole time..) The next time I left came back the light on the freaking collar was blinking.. He was not making any nosie I later talked to the people next door who said he had been quiet the whole week.. I took the collar off and to my surprise there was a small marks on his neck..So lesson learned..Regardless of what anyone say's these collars can have a mind of their own.. I still have not idea what trigger the collar to keep going.. the scar is small but I still do not trust the whole collar thing.. So Anyone reading this.. Electronic collars are BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know first hand..
Loved1corso

Ps.. The trainer say's that he has had one collar do this on one of his other clients.. :( So SAY NO TO COLLARS

Thank you so much for that information Loved1Corso, it's always good to get information first hand about this sort of thing :) I agree entirely with your sentiments :) and i do feel that anything with electronic parts can go wrong at any time.

I hope you will keep in touch about your Corso and let us know how it all goes :)

Lindsay

Lindsay,
No problem.. I really do hope that others can learn from my mastakes.. I hate to hear something like this happening to someone else.
Thanks for the support.. Boss my corso is doing well and is, ( as we speak is getting groomed.. :) I will be picking him up on my lunch break.. Thanks and Keep in touch.

Loved1corso

Do you not think it possible that this incident may have some bearing on his behaviour or was he chewing the wall before that?
Sally

Sally, thanks for your response..
No he was put in the kennel cause he was chewing the holes in the wall when I would leave.. Even if it is for no more than an half an hour he would do it.. Then when I would run out I would put him in the kennel and he would howl and bark for the time I was gone.. So I was told to put the collar on him.. Funny enough he does not seem to do this anymore.. I have not used the collar at all after that..
Thanks
Loved1corso.

Ebony2003,
Thanks for your input..  He is just over a year old.. But this is the first year he has had a family.. So this is new for him.. So I guess I could kind of exspect for him to still go throught the puppy thing.. :)
Loved1corso.