Jake Destroying My Door, Help Needed

[hughes0]

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we recently (2 weeks before christmas) moved jakes crate into the dining room as we were reflooring the kitchen and it was not safe...reflooring because it had been ruined by dog wee!

he is now well house trained but sometimes wees first thing in the morning if i am not quick enough to let him out.

any way...the floor remains unfinished as do most of my husbands 'projects'!! so he is still in the dining room

i dont lock him in his crate, tried to for several unsuccessful weeks and many many poos spread around inside it and him.

he sleeps in it with the door open, and i also leave him in the dining room when i do the school run.

he unfortunaltly has taken to scratching at the door, so badly that he has incurred splinters in his feet and the door is ruined and he has even made himself sick....what can i do!! should i just lock him in the crate for his own saftey and the sake of my house, or what, trouble is he so ofter poos if locked in the crate and i cant cope with the mess, its always me that deals with the clean up as there is a distinct lack of 'volunteers' in this household.

advice greatly appreciated....i did look through FAQ'S quickly first, but couldnt find any tips there.

jake is 7 months old and does not do this behaviour at night, just first thing in the morning and when igo out.

 

[hughes0]

some more pics of damage, and culprit :clown:

 

[jezza]

Looks very much like separation anxiety to me but I'm no expert :wacko: perhaps do a few searches on google on the condition (and on here) for tips on how to help him. Can be a tricky one to 'cure' and I don't think its always possible. I think a few people on here have had whippets with this problem (TC I think). If I were you I'd thoroughly research this condition and see if you think this is what it is first. Good luck with him :luck:

 

[jezza]

Another thing, what was he like before when he was kept in the kitchen? Looks like he might just be trying to get back in :clown:

 

[hughes0]

he chewed the chair legs of all my pine chairs when in the kitchen, but i put that down to teething at the time. :wacko:

i am semi detached and so asked my neighbours how long he barks/whines after we go out and she said she hardly hears him, if he does bark its just a few minutes, and when we get home he is usually curled up in bed or just stood by the door, so why does he scratch it up in between times, it must hurt his feet??

at this age, would you just leave him loose in the downstairs of the house??

trouble is i have four children, toys etc... around (already lost one brand new pair of clarks shoes to chewing accident)

i really dont know what to do.

husband and i have fallen out over it, i want the floor finished so i can put him back in there, but i am also worried about it as i have brand new doors everywhere else and what if he starts doing it in the kitchen??

sorry for being such a dumb dog owner, but i am trying my best

 

[Tesa]

he is now well house trained but sometimes wees first thing in the morning if i am not quick enough to let him out.
the fact that he can sometimes wee in the morning means he is NOT housetrained yet... am sure with time his bladder will strenghten, and he will improve

i dont lock him in his crate, tried to for several unsuccessful weeks and many many poos spread around inside it and him.

he sleeps in it with the door open, and i also leave him in the dining room when i do the school run.

The answer is quite simple.... until your fella can be trusted then yes you need to close the door on his crate as he sleeps overnight

jake is 7 months old and does not do this behaviour at night, just first thing in the morning and when igo out.

Good luck, it will get better  :luck:  

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[jezza]

Do you provide him with enough things of his own to chew? I leave mine alone quite a lot, always confined to the kitchen, which is fairly large. They used to chew the kitchen chairs but I just started to give them loads of things to play with such as kongs. I fill them with stuff and sometimes freeze them to make them harder to empty.

They have also got one of those balls which you can put kibble in which they have to roll around the floor to get it out (I got one from P@H called something like molecuball and they love it - I still can't get over the look of disappointment Molly has on her face when it is empty and she's wondering why there is no food coming out :lol: )

There fave thing is a dental kong in which I put thin strips of cheese then melt in the microwave (can be a bit messy to prepare), only thing with that is they tend to fight over them but with Jake being on his own he won't have that problem.

Just need to be careful what type of things you leave for him to play with as there is always a risk of choking, I only leave soft toys after they have been desqueaked - which is about 5 mins after giving them to the dogs :clown:

I'm only a dumb dog owner too so I'm sure someone else will have more advice for you!!!

I'm trying to look for a webpage which I read once which listed symptoms of SA but I can't find it, I'll keep trying. Its good that he's not barking, so it could just be that he is a bit bored when you leave him.

 

[Tesa]

he chewed the chair legs of all my pine chairs when in the kitchen, but i put that down to teething at the time. :wacko:
i am semi detached and so asked my neighbours how long he barks/whines after we go out and she said she hardly hears him, if he does bark its just a few minutes, and when we get home he is usually curled up in bed or just stood by the door, so why does he scratch it up in between times, it must hurt his feet??

at this age, would you just leave him loose in the downstairs of the house??

You need to be vigilant at picking up and putting out of harms way anything he is not allowed to chew on it...e.g remotes, mobile phones, chocolate bars, medication shoes. 

trouble is i have four children, toys etc... around (already lost one brand new pair of clarks shoes to chewing accident)

i really dont know what to do.

husband and i have fallen out over it, i want the floor finished so i can put him back in there, but i am also worried about it as i have brand new doors everywhere else and what if he starts doing it in the kitchen??

He does sound as though he is bored.  Has he got any of his own toys. His teeth are still trying to settle in,  Does he have things that might be good to chew on?  If not why not pop down to your local pet supply's and talk to them

sorry for being such a dumb dog owner, but i am trying my best

It is not dumb to ask questions,  keep trying.

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[Tesa]

Do you provide him with enough things of his own to chew? I leave mine alone quite a lot, always confined to the kitchen, which is fairly large. They used to chew the kitchen chairs but I just started to give them loads of things to play with such as kongs. I fill them with stuff and sometimes freeze them to make them harder to empty.
They have also got one of those balls which you can put kibble in which they have to roll around the floor to get it out (I got one from P@H called something like molecuball and they love it - I still can't get over the look of disappointment Molly has on her face when it is empty and she's wondering why there is no food coming out  :lol:   )

There fave thing is a dental kong in which I put thin strips of cheese then melt in the microwave (can be a bit messy to prepare), only thing with that is they tend to fight over them but with Jake being on his own he won't have that problem.

Just need to be careful what type of things you leave for him to play with as there is always a risk of choking, I only leave soft toys after they have been desqueaked - which is about 5 mins after giving them to the dogs  :clown:

I'm only a dumb dog owner too so I'm sure someone else will have more advice for you!!!

I'm trying to look for a webpage which I read once which listed symptoms of SA but I can't find it, I'll keep trying. Its good that he's not barking, so it could just be that he is a bit bored when you leave him.

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I was typing my post while you were posting your's Jezza. Food balls are great, mine loved them :wub:

 

[jezza]

I can't find the particular website I was looking for :wacko: but Gwen Baileys website/books have good advice to offer.

I think I'd start with getting him loads of stuff to play with to start with, also wear him out with a game before you go out. And get on at your husband to get the floor done!!!!! I am still waiting for my kitchen to be completed - nearly a year on from when it was started (w00t)

 

[Tesa]

I can't find the particular website I was looking for  :wacko:   but Gwen Baileys website/books have good advice to offer.

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I have Gwen Bailey's book. It's called "The Perfect Puppy". A must have for all first time owners :thumbsup:

 

[jezza]

Heres the food ball I use and the kong with cheese in it, prised from Mollys jaws only a few minutes ago :lol:

 

[hughes0]

thanks for all your help and suggestions, i got on to hubby at the weekend and the floor is almost finished so i think he will be back in the kitchen very soon, i got a kong and put melted cheese in it and i think he enjoyed that, and at night when he is barking and scratching at the door we have tried sprinkling a bit of water at him when we say 'NO' and last night i only went down to him once, he gave up then and went to bed so i think he may be getting the message,,,slowly.

thanks again for all your help, i was starting to feel quite desperate friday but i feel more in control again now, armed with my kong and my water :clown:

 

[beaubeau]

Hiya,

I go to the car boot sales and buy old teddies and and any other stuff for my little one to destroy. I also have the kong toys which I stuff with those softish treats.I have one with a cog like structure where you can push dried sardines or jerky stuff in between and this has proved very favourable as it takes ages to get them out My little monster gets on the table and chews the kids colouring pencils, eats my vitamins drinks my tea...and that's when I pop to the loo!!!

She's taken the insoles out of my hubby's slippers and boots (well he leaves them in the kitchen :lol: ) Regularly have to search the garden to see where the other shoe/sock or anything is that she's pinched and left outside. But until I get another then I expect that she will get a little fed up on her own. But don't you just love em... We don't put her in her crate at night anymore as she can be trusted a little more now and I can't bring myself to get her off the sofa. Good luck ..

 

[TC]

Looks very much like separation anxiety to me but I'm no expert  :wacko:   perhaps do a few searches on google on the condition (and on here) for tips on how to help him. Can be a tricky one to 'cure' and I don't think its always possible. I think a few people on here have had whippets with this problem (TC I think). If I were you I'd thoroughly research this condition and see if you think this is what it is first. Good luck with him  :luck:

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(w00t) Your memory is good Jezza!!!

Hughes0, you're definitely not dumb, these hounds seem to be able to throw everything in the book at us, and sometimes it's great to just ask others. It's always good to get advice from people outside so to speak, as they will often pick up on things that you may not find relevant.

I'm glad to hear that things are getting a little better, and thought I'd link a couple of threads that were helpful to me :thumbsup:

I did have severe problems with seperation anxiety, although no messing, so that's a slightly different issue that seems to have already been addressed

I think you'll find this interesting reading, there's some great tips and advice in it, however my personal outcome may not be for you (w00t) :- " :teehee:

Kongs and SA!

Thoroughly enjoyed reading the posts on this thread, although traumatic, it does show that there is hope for everyone.......

SA More Info

Good luck, and please keep up with the updates, we all worry about everyone's dogs on here, an it's always nice to find out that everything is okay :huggles:

Tracy

edited to say....I really must proof read before pressing the submit button :b

 

[Nicola]

I can't offer much in the way of constructive advice.

However, thank you for reminding me what devils whippet pups and adolescents can be. (w00t) Fred was the same when he was a pup, and I didn't have a useful website I could go to for advice in those days, and the kong hadn't been invented, and cages were unheard of for pet owners. I don't know how I coped :wacko:

I remember using all sorts of resources for protecting furniture (ropes wound around table legs, tiles taped to the corner of shelving, bitter apple sprayed on areas I didn't want him to chew). I must admit he never did that sort of scratching damage to a door though , despite his destructive tendencies, so I do think there is separation anxiety involved here.

Fred is now the most laid back and obedient whippet, so it should get better with maturity...honestly. Good luck and I hope some of the above advice from K9'ers proves helpful :luck:

 

[hellybobs]

Your little one has similer makings to my Dippy. Sorry about the pic, I can't find one without anything in her mouth. (w00t)

She hated been crated and would poo in it every time she was left locked in it. I started leaving her out at about 5 months. She too is a chewer but if she has plenty to occupy her she's usually pretty good, she still has her moments though.

 

[saraquele]

would you be able to take him on the school run with you ?

will be good for him to walk or if your in a car pop him in a cage in the boot ?

if this is his worst time he sound like he is anxious about being left :thumbsup:

 

[neave]

When your leaving the house try putting the radio on. That way if he hears voices he may think that he isnt alone and therefore less likely to be stressed.

 

[jezza]

Looks very much like separation anxiety to me but I'm no expert  :wacko:   perhaps do a few searches on google on the condition (and on here) for tips on how to help him. Can be a tricky one to 'cure' and I don't think its always possible. I think a few people on here have had whippets with this problem (TC I think). If I were you I'd thoroughly research this condition and see if you think this is what it is first. Good luck with him  :luck:

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(w00t) Your memory is good Jezza!!!

Like an elephant!!!

I always remember because of the outcome :lol: