Buddha not finding his Zen

[aneuman]

Hi, I'm a first time poster. We have a 15 month old White Boxer whom seems to be finding a wild side lately. he's always been crated while we are away from the home, tried to leave him out a couple times and decided it just wasn't meant to be! In the past few weeks Buddha has gotten very cranky he has been having BM's in the crate, granted he wasn't feeling well for a few days due to eating our cala lillies, but he should be better now according to our vet. So due to that we decided to leave him out in the yard yesterday and today. Yesterday wasn't too bad but he seemed to have broken out of his crate...Hubby tried to crate him outside. So, today he stayed outside all alone in the yard. We came home to a disaster! He had dumped out potted plants, our daughter was heartbroken as these are hers! He tore off the screen door to the patio and bent it up! He chewed up my mop that was drying out there from cleaning up the kitchen from his crate mess. HE chewed up several things mostly all plastic stuff....he tends to do that, We are at a loss. for a few weeks he has is sneaking stuff outside with him when he goes like our shoes my daughters toys, and ate open a box of sidewalk chalk ate it all and chewed up the whole box...... We find things out in the yard destroyed. We have a large yard. don't have a dog run, because he's crated when were away in the house we felt it would be mean to put him in a dog run when he's outside.
We really think he is having a serious separation anxiety issue, which we have felt since he came to us as a pup. Thought he got over it but this past month has been so awful I'm seriously ready to find him a new home. I just can't though, my daughter would hate me! Any suggestions please! I'm going crazy!
sorry this was so rambly...I can clarify if I confused anyone.

 

[Caney Creek]

Sorry to hear you're having so much trouble with Buddha! I have a white female, also 15 months, and she is definitely not ready to be left out of the crate when we leave! A few weeks ago I tested her -- all 3 dogs were sleeping (the other 2 are 7yrs old), so I thought I'd run to the grocery store and she'd be fine -- NOT even close!! She had gotten into all kinds of things! I keep waiting for her to "mature" to that point, b/c I hate leaving her in the crate, but I just have to. Sounds like Buddha is not ready for that freedom either.

Is he getting enough exercise and stimulation? Boxers really need a lot of exercise. If you could manage a good walk with him every morning, he might be a little worn out and more willing to stay in the crate while you're gone. This will also be helpful when it comes time to leave him out of the crate -- he won't feel so restless. If you can't do it in the morning, find a way to wear him out in the evenings. Caney has a friend (a 1yr old chocolate lab owned by a neighbor of ours) who comes to visit sometimes in the evening, and they play for hours -- she is always wiped out the next day! Don't know if you could arrange a play-date for him, or get him to the dog park for more socialization and exercise... but it's worth a try.

 

[DiverDiva]

... In the past few weeks Buddha has gotten very cranky he has been having BM's in the crate, granted he wasn't feeling well for a few days due to eating our cala lillies, but he should be better now according to our vet. ...

Mabe the reason for the crate accidents is from eating the lillies or something else that he shouldn't have eaten. Have you tried just going back to crating him? I would be afraid to leave him outside. Not only can he get himself into trouble, but he is in danger of a passerby being mean to him or taking him.

 

[reggiesmom]

I don't think that it is separation anxiety as more than just plain boredom from the sounds of the "disaster" he made while left outside. He is also 15 months so he's still very young and full of teenage boxer energy. It wasn't till my boy was about 3 that he was fully trusted outside his crate; male boxers don't really mature till then and it's not just physically it's mentally too. The things you described him doing inside also sound like he is just bored and trying to find a means of entertainment, they often find things entertaining that we think shouldn't be.

I understand it's stressful, put please don't give up on him. I am new so please forgive me as I don't know Buddha's history. Young boxers are like toddlers, there at times when you love them and there are times when you want to pull your hair and scream, but we still love them and they still love them.

Has he had any formal obedience training? A class can help focus energy and stimulate the mind.