Seven Months Old And Still Destroying Everything!

[IncrediJack]

All the trees in the backyard, countless numbers of matchbox cars, toys, balls, books, three bikes, a trampoline, a swing, a barbecue cover, wagon, scooter, two chairs, shoes, THE HOT WATER HEATER, a pigeon, and his own crate. The BBQ cover and the wires on the hot water heater, I sprinkled with chili powder. This did not deter him. Most of this destruction happens in the backyard, where I put him for an hour each morning, while I get the kids ready for school (or for a few minutes while I'm hanging laundry). If I'm going to be gone for a few hours, I lock him in the laundry room with his crate. And he always settles down. Last week, I put the crate outside for him when it was raining, and he dragged it into the middle of the yard and started chewing it! The kids have no bikes left! He takes any opportunity to destroy them, waits until you turn your back for a second and then goes for it. I have to keep him on a lead when the family is outside playing together.

I walk him. I train him. He's been to puppy preschool, obedience one. I buy him bones and Kongs, which he digs massive craters to bury!

He is constantly in trouble and is costing us a fortune! Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

[WreckitWhippet]

Yes, remove anything that you consider not to be his, give him plenty of his own toys, kongs, treat balls etc. Play with him with his own toys and encourage him to use them. Get the family out the back and play with him. Arm yourself with treats and practice calling him between yourselves, running between you and being rewarded is good for his recall and also it's more exercise.

Give him his own sandpit and show him how to use it, encourage him to bury his things in there.

Put tree guards up and remove potted plants until things settle down. Fence off the BBQ and the hot water heater.

Make sure he's getting plenty of breed appropriate exercise and also obedience training, occupy the mind and exercise the body.

It helps but it's no guarantee.

ETA: get up earlier and walk him first thing in the morning

Edited June 6, 2008 by Warley

[IncrediJack]

Yes, remove anything that you consider not to be his, give him plenty of his own toys, kongs, treat balls etc. Play with him with his own toys and encourage him to use them. Get the family out the back and play with him. Arm yourself with treats and practice calling him between yourselves, running between you and being rewarded is good for his recall and also it's more exercise.

Give him his own sandpit and show him how to use it, encourage him to bury his things in there.

Put tree guards up and remove potted plants until things settle down. Fence off the BBQ and the hot water heater.

Make sure he's getting plenty of breed appropriate exercise and also obedience training, occupy the mind and exercise the body.

It helps but it's no guarantee.

ETA: get up earlier and walk him first thing in the morning

Thanks, Warley. I feel like I do do a lot of these things. He has so many toys and gets so much attention. We do recall exercises. The trees are gone, so they're not a problem anymore, and we are in the process of putting up more fencing. I've thought of the sandpit but am reluctant about having sand constantly dragged in the house. I pack away as much as I can, but it's the kids' backyard too. I am sure that not letting him run around with the family perpetuates the problem, but having him off the lead always ends in tears. I will give him another chance this afternoon, though.

I think a walk in the morning would do a world of good but not going to happen. My kids are too young to leave alone, and there's no way I'd get them to walk with me before they've had their milk and wake-up time. Perhaps I will try a morning training session or game of fetch instead.