I thought licking was a problem , but having just returned from a shopping trip , duration approc one hour and a half to find a newly decorated bedroom wall stripped of its wallpaper, I think it may have been a bit rash to have left young Molly (eight and a half months) free to roam in the bedroom and hall. The trouble was she cried and barked when left in the kitchen and for the last few times has been fine on the bed and never done any damage. What I want to know is does this seem exceptionally destructive, or is this what puppies do. I am ignoring her at the moment because I am so cross, will this be an effective punishment do you think, and when is it possible to trust a dog in other parts of the house, she really does not like being shut in the kitchen but it is going to have to be that for a while. I feel really disappointed in her, is that unreasonable given her age? Thanks for anticipated replies, Jane

She's certainly got you well trained. She barks, so you let her stay on the bed! Sounds normal to me, so maybe you should invest in a cage. She'll complain about it, but you'll have to cock a deaf 'un until she learns that it's home.

Your right of course! I have got a cage which she was quite used to as she went in it as soon as we got her at 10 weeks, but as she can only turn around and lie down in it and I could'nt put a water bowl or anything in there I thought it was probably to small. Do you mean a very large cage I'm not quite sure how big these things should be to be really comfortable for the dog.

HI What breed is your dog, you will find all sizes of cages on www.stocknutrition.co.uk thats where I purchased mine and it was only £29.99. I have a westie puppy age 6 months who happily goes into his cage by himself when I am going out, I only have to lift up his Kong and he runs after me to make sure it is going to be filled with goodies (food) and then runs into his cage I also have a clip on water bowl that fits on to either the door or side of the cage, I then cover his cage with a blanket. leave a radio on and go out, he is usually still sleeping by the time I get back, my other dog is older now and she gets her kong in the living room and has the run of the kitchen and hall, but usually lies and sleeps, I have asked my neighbour if there is every any constant barking to let me know, so far so good. My dogs only get the kongs if I am going out or it is bedtime. Hope this helps, and Leigh I did not know if it was o.k. to put another web site on this page, if its not allowed im sorry. Irene

Hi Peaches, when I bought my, now 2 yr old gsd, Lacey, she was fine for about 10 mins. then when I went back to work I too left her with the run of the house, I wrongly thought my 12 yr old lab. cross would help keep her in check while I was out, for the first few days Lacey was great then one day I came home to find that she had eaten our 3piece suite!!!! There were so many holes & the cushions were totalled, that I decided to shut her in the kitchen where she couldn't do so much damage, this worked, though when she got big enough to reach the door handle we had to put a lock on it. Now when we're going out, she automatically goes into the kitchen, she gets a treat & seems to be happy till I come home & make a big fuss of her. Good luck, Nicky

Thanks for the help, I am now shutting her in the kitchen, with a treat, and hoping she will settle down to it, I don,t really want to buy another cage if I can help it ,I'll just consider the kitchen to be a great big one!

Just out of curiousity and I hope you don't mind I'm asking....but when y'all put your dogs in the kitchens and leave them, is there anyplace soft like a bed or mat that they can lie on????
toodles

Yup!!:D

Pam n the boys - of whom Buddy is very proud of his new bed - so proud he's played tug of war with it and torn a hole in it!!

Yes, Molly has a lovely bed which she tends to walk around with on her head its a bit like a pill box coming towards you! And it also has some rather large holes underneath! Jane

Molly sounds wonderful and a true Tibetan Terrier. I used to keep mine in a cage (from Argos-about 30" x 20") in the kitchen with a TV or radio on for company.(have heard this is common for TT's since they hate being alone but now I leave Toby in the bedroom since he can lie on the bed looking out of the window! Being a TT he loves that and the hall and kitchen is also open to him. Now he's so settled I don't even leave on tv.

Now he's so settled I don't even leave on tv.
LOL, yes you do, It's known to humans as the "window" ;) :D :D :D

it's nice to hear from someone with a TT, this is my first and she is everything we wanted.Jane

I absolutely love TT's! I find Toby's more entertaining than watching the TV! A friend had a Lhaso and fancied a TT but they're pretty rare up our way so she'd never seen one but once she saw Toby she went straight out and got one. Charlie's nearly 15 months now and he's destructive (chews phone wires, throws things down the stairs to watch them bounce etc.)She has to leave him in his cage in the kitchen whenever she goes out. I think I'm just lucky with Toby.
Dot

Molly likes making thinks bounce, she throws things up in the air, in fact she is quite self contained and plays for hours on her own.I really like the breed because you can cuddle them and my last dog got really hyper if you cuddled her.

Hi Peaches
Toby only lets me cuddle him when he wants a cuddle! I like the intelligence of them. You always need to try and be a step ahead! And I can usually see him trying to work something out and can see the sense of things he does.(maybe not always agree with them!).I also like when he sometimes gives me the runaround! Like when he gets bored during the night and pretends he wants out and when I get up to let him out he jumps back up on the bed!!
We had Golden Retrievers before Toby and I think you can't get a softer natured breed but they were so laid back they used to just loaf around but Toby's interesting to watch.
Dot

pardon my ignorance but what is a GSD?

German Shepherd Dog :)

Ginger soap dodger,

aka red setter ha ha ha ha ha ah