hi
i have 2 staffy boys, one is 3 yrs and the other is 11 months. my 3 yr (fergus) was always well behaved before we got the other one (dougal.) just recently they have been an absolute nightmare, chewed my leather sofa to bits, they do there business on the floor inside even if they've only just been out, if i leave them outside for a few mins without watching them dougal finds some way of escaping even though we have 6 foot panel fencing round the whole garden, they have a metal dog bed/cage thing that they are put in if they are naughty but have recently started doing their business in their bed aswell. they bark and make that horrible whining noise at everything and chew everything in sight. i'm 4 and half months pregnant and at home with them nearly all day apart from when i'm at work for 2 hours a day mon-fri. i dont really know what to do with them anymore but they're driving me crazy. any ideas???
thanks in advance
sarahlou

I wonder what kind of message they are getting when you put them in their crate?  When do you use this form of 'punishment' ?  Is it when you get home and discover they've been 'partying'?

"Partying", I like that digger. That's one I'll have to use when the kids complain "The dogs are working themselves" No, they are just partying.
At the moment my two have all the cushions off the sofa, dog bed in the middle of the room, toys scattered.
I am recovering from an op so have been told not to physically exert myself so dog walking with these two is out of the question, it has to wait till bf takes them out.
My youngest has definately been a bit naughtier since I have got the other dog but I don't mind as they have such fun together.
In reply to the original question ?????????????????????

I agree with digger, crates are not supposed to be used as a punishment. Also, are dogs supposed to share crates (I don't know myself)? Could this be a cause of them messing in the crate because neither of them sees it as his own? Also, do you see them messing in the crate? I'm assuming if you do you let them out to clean it up... meaning the dogs have figured out what it takes to get out of the crate!

hi
they've always had the crate since i first got both of them and have never done this before.i got fergus when he was 8 weeks old and the same with dougal. it's only started about 2 weeks ago. they are only put in there for about 10 mins if they've chewed something, etc. if they've messed on the floor i put them outside but have to watch that dougal doesnt escape as we live on a busy main road. i dont always see which one's messing in their bed which makes it difficult. they have plenty of dog toys about but we have to be careful otherwise they fight over them. when i'm at work i dont shut them in the crate and they dont sleep in there at night, at night they sleep upstairs in our bedroom and while i'm at work they are in the kitchen & dining room. i do agree it is difficult to keep them in their bed whilst cleaning out their mess so they have me figured out on that one.
in response to what someone else wrote, i wouldn't mind if they had toys scattered everywhere, cusions off the sofa, etc, it's just they destroy everything including my dining table and chairs. lol i love my dogs to bits and couldn't bare to get rid of them like loads of people have said to me.
can anyone suggest what i should do instead of using the crate for punishment?

'Punishment' only works if the 'culprit' realises what crime it's committed. If you don't know which dog has messed, you can't punish both, as neither will understand. That will confuse both of them and has the potential to cause further problems.

i do realise that. i just wanted some advise on what to do with them but there's obviously nothing i can do as it happens when i'm not stood watching them. so i still have no idea what to do with them.

I guess it's a bit like when your child brings a friend into the house who does things that you would not normally allow.  Your child then pushes the boundaries as well, and they egg each other on.  I have known this before, especially when another male is introduced into a home with a resident also young male.  They don't necessarily fight, but the older and previously well-behaved one reverts his behaviour to that of the new pup.  It's almost as if in forming a little 'pack' the pack rules have taken priority over the house rules, and they have blanked you out.

In the cases I have known in the past the owners have found another home for the youngster, who then went into a one dog home and quickly learnt the rules of the new home without the competition and distraction of another dog. Sorry, I know this isn't much help but as they seem to be the most trouble when you are out, I really don't know what you can do, except perhaps as you are only out for two hours a day, you could cage them separately.

I think in this instance, i would recommend getting some hands on advice from a trainer or behaviourist (www.apdt.co.uk, www.ukrcb.co.uk) because it sounds as if there is a lot going on and i suspect a "hands on" approach may be helpful :)

Lindsay
X

Is either boy castrated? You may find this all boils down to a dominance thing with two boys. If your first dog was about 6 or so then the problem may not have arised as there would have been a more significant age difference between them but I think that he sees the younger dog as a threat to his standing at the top of the canine tree in your house so he is reacting in a manner that is unusual to you. The young pup is also probably trying to gain the upper hand and is again causing havoc to try and stamp his mark. We've always been told you should never keep two entire males in the house at the same time or if we decided to that there was a chance there would be problems in the future. Have you spoke to an experiencied SBT owner to get there views on keeping two dogs in the same house?

It sounds like these two boys don't know where the boundries are or what is expected of them.

I would make some house rules here until they learn to behave.

1.  Restrict them to an area of the house with stair gates.  It depends on the layout of your house, but an area where they can do least damage.  By using the stair gates they can see what is going on and it not as extreme as closing doors on them.

2.  You need to calm everything down including yourself and your understandable reaction to them.

3.  Make their restricted area comfortable, but have nothing in there they can destroy.  Leave them toys of their own to play with.

4.  When this is working, let them into your living area under strict supervision.  If they misbehave, quietly put them outside in their den, don't tell them off they won't understand, but they should soon grasp certain behaviour will get them put out.  You may have to do this with them one at a time.

I have to say I am amazed at what dog owners allow their dogs to do in their home.  I am not saying that I am right or wrong, but mine are invited into my areas and are expected to behave and settle down when there.  They have their own play area and boistrous play is not allowed anywhere else.

Good luck
Sandra