I have a 14 month male weimaraner whose behaviour has deteriorated leaving me at my wits end. I have made great effort to overcome his separation anxiety and destructiveness by getting him used to short periods of absense and by leaving him plenty of toys and chews whilst I am gone. In the past this has worked. But now I seem to be back to square one. He is not left much - just for shopping and the school run etc the same as ever. And I still leave him plenty of treats, toys and chews. But now when I am gone he has started rampaging - demolishing everything he can get hold of  destroying - everything from food (even in sealed cans!) to kitchen utensils. I come home not only to a trashed kitchen but also to an ever lengthening list of things that need to be replaced. Naturally I try to keep things out of his way - but he is  large and able to reach all kitchen surfaces. I is impossible to move absolutely everything.

I feel I am already doing everything that is normally advised. I have accustomed him to my occasional absenses and spent masses on toys. He has bones, pigs ears, kongs, balls the lot all at his disposal.

I do not understand why he has got worse or what I should do. I am considering putting a muzzle on him when I have to leave him - but this seems cruel. Sometimes I even consider getting rid of him. But I love him too much.

I work from home - but like most people do have to go out sometimes without him. he also sometimes barks when alone, which bothers the neighbours.

I knew weims don't like being left which is why I have tried to do everything to minimise his misery and didn't think I'd have a problem since I am here most of the time.

Any suggestions?
pfluendy

Hi,
From the sound of it, getting him used to being crated would be ideal for when you have to go out. For short lengths of time like that it will do him no harm, he can't damage anything (or hurt himself) and will be a lot safer than muzzling him, which will only distress him.
Good luck.
:)

Weimaraners are "people" dogs however they can be successfully trained and habituated to being alone.  The first thing I would say is please never leave a muzzle on an unattended dog. Even the "basket" muzzles which allow a dog to pant and drink water can prove dangerous if for example the dog vomits.  Correct muzzle desensitisation takes around 2 weeks anyway for the dog to become comfortable in it.  Also weimis are very strong and clever and most can remove a regular muzzle in 2 minutes flat!

Has the dog never been crated?  At least if he had been it would mean that he would be unable to access anything to destroy.  Have you thought of an outside kennel?

How much exercise and mental stimulation is the dog getting?  His growth plates should nearly have closed by now and so he should be having two good runs per day.  Weimis are very intelligent dogs and get frustrated if they have nothing to do; have you thought about agility, working trials, obedience, gun dog training etc?

AT 14 months your male has entered the "Kevin" stage and need careful management between now and about 3!

Have you tried stuffing kongs with goodies to keep him occupied during your absence; if you stuff a kong with goodies reserved ONLY for your absence this should occupy him for quite some time; especially if they are frozen!  If you do a search on KONG on the net you will find loads of differing recipes. 

If he is getting distressed during your absence a DAP diffuser may help.  These can be bought from your vet and plug in like air fresheners and last around 4 weeks.  They emit Dog Appeasing Phereomones which can calm dogs in various situations.  The stuffed kong and the DAP should help ease the destruction and the barking which, as you rightly say, can be very wearing on your neighbours and could result in environmental health getting involved.

If you would like further advice or help can I direct you to a Weim specialist forum Weimaraner-Forum.UK.org where you will find plenty of support; also Weimaraner Rescue will be happy to help with advice.

HTH

I really don't have much experience with this but our dog is exactly the same (apart from the barking) and my life is similar to yours (shopping, school run).
The way round it i find is that she will sleep after a good walk(just over an hour) for around 2-3hours or have a quiet period, i take her out between 9 and 10am and then leg it round the shops ;) I think she was so knackered she didn't care where i went, so i can even leave her now before going for a walk and she isn't as destructive. But anything lying around will get it but she won't go looking for it anymore.

Kind regards.......Sarah

Our Sachiko was quite destuctive and she is an outside dog so we built her an activity centre,she loved it,her fave was a ball on a rope hung from the roof of her run,she literally used to fly through the air and hang on it,it really worked and even when we were there she still went and played with it,sandra.