Please Help!

My 14 month old Boxer is destroying my house.!  India WAS really good, we crate trained  her and in matter of 6 weeks she was fully house trained and obviously we had a few little mishapes chewing, ripping things up, but she soon learnt that this was not allowed.  Just after she finished her first season  in October of 2003 we thought she had milk and we knew that she could not have been pregnant as we have never mated her however the Vet confirmed that it was a false pregnancy and she would probably come out of it soon. I dont know if it is this that is causing her to wreck mine and my fiance belongings but every time we leave her lately we have come home to a mess.  She does not seem to be making a bed or anything as the stuff is all over the place!  She has chewed my bag, My partners trainers, a cushion, my socks - anything but her own toys.  She has become really naughty and  will not do anything I or my partner tell her - I just do not know what is wrong.  Could it be that we have been at home more than usual over the christmas period and now our routine is back to normal, and therefore she is being left in the afternoon, she is objecting?  Please help

To be honest - it sounds like the teenager stage. How long is she left for and what is the routine leading up to her being left - is she walked etc? Both of my dogs went through the same stage, and nothing was left untouched :rolleyes: :D

Hi chloe,

thanks for replying.  She is feed a 12 and then she is walked as 12.30 she is normally left around 1pm and we are back no later than 3.15pm   Maybe she has forgotten the routine!  Should be revert back to the crate training?  Could it be something to do with the false pregnancy?

Hi

OK. you need to swap it round. Feeding then walking/exercise can result in bloat which is a killer - and if you are out could easily be fatal. I would walk her, then play/do a bit of training, then feed her before you go and let her out for a final wee. That way she will be tired and sleepy with a full belly - too tired to get up to anything for just 2 hours :)

HTH
C :)

PS - You could revert to the crate for the 2 hours if this stops working, but either way is fine. I don't think the phantom is too much to do with it, although they will mother toys and gather things when going through it - it just sounds to me like she's bored when you are out :)

Hi Chloe,

Thanks for the advice  - I will try it.  Fingers crossed x
Claire 

No probs :)

Leave as much time as you can between exercise and feeding... you could even give her the meal in a couple of kongs so she eats it slowly...that would work well. Make sure any dried food is soaked too if you do have to feed her fairly close to exercise :)

Good luck - make sure you let us know how you get on :)

The dog could be mad because you went out. I put mine in the crate every time. It's better than coming home to everything trashed. I'm only out maybe 4 hrs. max once a week so it's not so bad. If you are out more maybe you could get a bigger crate or gated area. It's the only way to protect your stuff.

Thanks For replying.  I am really puzzled as India has been left in the house since the age of 6 months for a couple hours every day and destroyed nothing.  The crate did wonders in the beginning but I did not know if it would confuse her more if we brought it back out!  we have got a a really big crate and therefore I dont need to buy another one but I really did not want her to go back in it.  It is the only option though if she is going to be a terrible teenager! Do you think she is trying to show me who is boss?

'i agree that you really do need to restart the crate to break this trashing habit...you may well be able to dispense with it later. :)

Hi Claire-India

My 11 month old Boxer decided to chew the kitchen just before Christmas (he was allowed to move freely around the kitchen) now he's in his crate if we go out - I hate to do this but Boxers can be destructable and I can't allow him to chew anymore of my new kitchen! He didn't like going in at first but he's ok about it now ( I got my partner to put him in the first few times we went out - didn't want my dog to love me any less for it!). I know someone who has used their crates for their 2 dogs even at bed time and the dogs get really excited about being put in their crates - weird eh?

Good Luck

Dexy

Hi, I have just bought a crate for my 16 month boxer. After having her for 8 months I can no longer put up with her wrecking my house when left. Many people told me to crate her but then I would have a couple of good days with her. Finally enough was enough and I bought a crate. I am still trying to get her used to it have left her a couple of times for half hour or so in it. It has been heaven to come home to the house as I left it. Can't believe I didn't get one sooner would have saved me an absolute fortune in damage shes caused. I am now looking forward to not having to take out the rubbish,sellotape up the fridge, lock kitchen door,clear sideboards, the list was never ending even stopped me going out sometimes as I couldn't be bothered to do it all. Must be a boxer trait as they just hate to be left as they are so loving when your with them.

hi

gosh my boxer is 8 months and i thought she was going through the teenage stage now but yours are much older! so i must have worse to come OH MY GOD!

gutted
jojo

It could be the false pregnancy,my girl did the same after hers.She might laso have developed seperation anxiety,teke her to an animal behaviorist,psychologist if she dos not get better soon.Retha.