At wits end...

[AdamsBunch]

I haven't been on here in a little while and before I stopped signing in everything was just hunky dorey at the Adams house. Things are different now. It seems that Rufus is acting out or mad or something. He has started jumping our privacy fence, which we put up last summer so Oscar wouldn't jump anymore and we thought no dog would be able to clear this privacy fence, wrong. We have no idea why he jumps or how but he is and we can't get him to stop. So that's problem number one. Problem number two, he has destroyed everything in the house. He has eaten the coffee table to shreds while we were at work one day, he has destroyed a blow dryer and 5 pairs of shoes, remotes, bras, the headboard, all of these things have been set up out of his way and he gets up on the dresser or counter and finds certain things to eat and destroy. It started out that he would chew things up in between when I our the DH comes home to feed them on lunch and when we get off work, now he does it when we are in the house just in another room. I know crating is an option but since he has been with us we have never crated him,but up until now there hasn't been a need and if he does this while we are home, I do not want to crate him while we are here. I'm just getting to my wits end, I love Rufus and he can be a wonderful dog and I want to stress that we are in NO WAY considering giving him up, he is our baby boy, we just want him to be happy and stable in our house like the other two dogs are. Please any help or similar stories would be so helpful. Sorry I know this is long, thanks ahead of time.

 

[lucasmum]

Sorry to hear about your troubles, the only way I can stop Luca being destructive is exercise. I just have to make him super tired and he's fine (most of the time). Has he only just started this, could it be an adolescent thing, or is he getting less exercise than normal? What about training and mental stimulation to redirect and tire him? Owning a boxer can seem like a full time job can't it!

 

[Dannie]

If your strapped for time due to work I would suggest a doggy day care a few days a week. I have a hard time meeting all of Bodhi's exercise needs as her energy lv is so high. She is walked morning, lunch and after dinner as well as the doggy park a few days a week. Still this wasn't enough and she would find anything she could to occupy her time while we were away. Enter doggy day care, only a day or two a week. Nothing can compare to a full 8 hours of going crazy with a pack of 20 dogs. She comes home completely exhausted and takes a few days before she is completely in need of another burn off. It has made our lives much simpler and Bodhi a much happier dog. We still take her out constantly but since the day care as been part of her schedule she seems to sleep more during the day as if preparing for her next all day play fest.

 

[sandy's mom]

My Napoleon was also very distructive until about a year ago, right after he turned 3 he just stopped. He had eaten window sills, carpet, bed frames, a couch, as well as every shrub and small tree in my yard, and dig. He woudl even drag things from the house outside and shread it. It seemed the more we fussed at him, the worse he got.

We started walking him twice per day and when he tore something up, we ignored him. Acted as though it was no big deal. I guess the attraction just wore off. If he wasn't going to get attention for it, then why do it...
He was also tired, we made sure to play with him, rough for 30 minutes to an hour every day.

Remember... a tired boxer is a happy boxer...
Hopefully you will find something that will work...SOON!

 

[MikaMay]

Wow! guess I've been lucky. Neither of my girls has destroyed anything...and I hate to admit it, but since my knee went out back in early January, we've just not done much walking at all, so they haven't gotten much exercise, either. Mika has always been good and is now 4 1/2 yrs., but Greta is just 1 1/2 yrs., but just chews on toys. Of course, I hope this doesn't jinx me

 

[bigboychief]

I couldn't agree more on the exercise. Chief has to be run hard or he will go crazy.. I won't even consider leaving him alone in my house unless he has been exercised. And a walk isn't good enough for him. I have to throw a tennis ball or something as far as I can about 10-15 times and let him run FAST! Then he is good for the whole day! ha!

I haven't tried the doggie day care yet, although I have been considering it.

 

[tastubbs]

Exercise. I walk mine in the morning and evening. It's a bit of a time commitment, but good for all of us and they behave extremely well in the house.

 

[ELubas]

Wow! guess I've been lucky. Neither of my girls has destroyed anything...and I hate to admit it, but since my knee went out back in early January, we've just not done much walking at all, so they haven't gotten much exercise, either. Mika has always been good and is now 4 1/2 yrs., but Greta is just 1 1/2 yrs., but just chews on toys. Of course, I hope this doesn't jinx me

What good girls!!! I am very, very jealous Call my girl "Devil Dog"