FURIOUS!! can't leave him alone for 30 seconds

[dumerili03]

keep in mind while reading this that i just walked in on winston virtually IN the garbage can in my room. eggshells, napkins, paper plates, papers, EVERYWHERE. he was alone for 4.5 minutes. I AM FURIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGG!!!!!! this is NOT funny at all, please don't laugh.
winston is 11 months old, he has toys, and gets to run outside 4-5 times per day. he is virtually perfectly trained on and off lead (sit, stay, down, etc. he'll stay until i tell him to come) and is very good around other dogs, cats, people, etc. and he behaves when i'm IN the room. but if i leave to even go to the bathroom, i will always walk in on him into something, either on the couch, on top of desks, etc. he has an insatiable urge to find lost people food but he is well fed. i can't tell you how enraged i am right now. i trust him, then he does this.
he has a crate and sometimes i try to give him the benefit of the doubt and let him stay out if i'm not going to be long, but he always ******'s up and gets into trouble. damn puppy syndrome. WHEN IS HE GOING TO GROW UP!?!?!?!
please if you've had any luck with a similar situation, let me know. especially those who don't crate. eventually i want him to get to the point that i can let him roam when i go to sleep, but doesn't look like it's going to happen in HIS lifetime.
sorry for RANTING,
jim

 

[karens]

Boxers can be trouble makers behind those adorable faces. Sorry to hear you are having such a problem, it sounds as if, other than the behind your back shananigans, he is a very good dog. The only one out of the four living under my roof who does not get into anything EVER is my eight year old Nikki. It does fade with age. I think it's just a boredom, curiosity trait they all have. Though I am no expert, we curbed some trouble-some behaviour by first off, when I could not play big brother, watching them every moment, I would make sure there was nothing they could get into. Other times, I would set them up to fail, knowing they would take the bait and give them a verbal correction as I popped around the corner when they thought I had gone. Yes, it was a pain, and sometimes an inconvenience, but with some patience it worked for us.

I know I mentioned my Nikki is a perfect angel, but as a puppy I was certain she was Satan's spawn.......

 

[Jaclyn]

Well I'm not sure if i will be of any help, but I will try. I decided not to crate Ozzy. When we first got him we gated him in the kitchen, but that only lasted until he grew leggs! I took the responsibility of trusting him....and for the most part he is very good. But I have to keep in mind that he is a puppy! Since you decided not to crate your baby like I did.....messes are something that we are going to have to live with until they get out of the puppy stage (and with boxers it may be awhile). So my opinion is either to start to crate and have a happy face, or keep the situation like it is and learn to deal.

 

[Dodgn_AK]

I understand how you feel, but if I have learned anything from owning a boxer it is that you can not leave them unattended. Even if you step out for 5 minutes or go take a shower, etc. Tyson is never to be left alone in the house, he has to be crated. If I left him out he would eat everything in sight. Just yesterday he ate a tube of cat hairball medicine. Boxers are notorious for being counter surfers and garbage raiders and other mischevious antics. But just as Jaclyn said, you must remember he is still a puppy. I would also recommend crate training. It will benefit the both of you. Good luck.

 

[twinky91]

I do know what you mean

Let me tell you, Miah was worst than any child I could have ever seen. Although the messes do get smaller with age, eventually to fade to none, I hope. Her biggest mess was about 4 months ago, she is tall enough to stand up on her hind legs and get just about anything off of the kitchen table, etc... But this one day, was the worse. She had shredded both phone books, ate the cordless phone, a dressing bottle, a parmesan cheese can, a foot spa, two mini blinds and that is just to name a few things. I was so furious.
Well, now she just tears the shoestrings off my husband's work boots. Good Miah!!!!
I wouldn't give her up for anything in the world. And as soon as I graduate college, I want to get her a buddy...Mind you, I have learned not to leave her in the house for any period of time, I still love her...Good luck.

 

[MandyMom]

Hi Jim!
I feel for you. The only thing harder than having one in the house getting into everything, is having two.
I left the boys for about 5 min lastnight and Tyson had destroyed a whicker basket of my daughters. I was so mad! Then I went to the bathroom and came back to Cooper on two legs sniffing dinner on the counter.
But, they are just babies.
I don't think it will be anytime in the next year, at least, that you will be able to leave him unattened and not have problems.
There are those other owners like Dan though. I know he leaves his girls out with no problems. I read a post of his a few days ago with him talking about it. Ask him, or try a search.
GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Brando's Mom]

I completely understand. I have a posting called "Destructive Is Putting it Nicely" about my 7 month old Brando. They just go through this phase, I guess. He was crate trained from the start and we were so happy when we could finally have him totally housebroked and trust him. Then, about a month ago, he started just destroying everything! It's called Boxer adolescence, and as I understand, they outgrow it around 18 months. Hang in there, keep him entertained, and crated when you're not around. Seems to be the best plan. Good luck!

 

[Mommy2Cool]

Hi Jim,

I understand your need to rant completely, this is the only place to come, where you will find understanding Boxer lovers.

Nash will be 3 this month, and she does it too:(

I just had to learn to know where she is at all times, and make sure there is nothing around. It doesn't always work, but that is usually my fault for leaving a garbage bag with chicken bones, too tempting!

I too have tried setting her up, and scare her when I enter the room. It works for a while, then she tries again ....

I don't know what to suggest, it seems to be a Boxer trait, but with all of her other great qualities, I seem to be able to live with it.

Just keep your cool, and continue to rant with us here, it has worked for me!

 

[BXRmum]

I think it must be a boxer trait to love garbage! My previous boxer girl ate garbage, toilet paper, kleenex (especially used!) and anything else she wasn't supposed to have. She did this up until she was 2 1/2 yrs old!! So it's not just puppy syndrome. I know the frustration you feel. I eventually had to start closing all the doors in the house and making sure all other "off limits" things where well above her height. Although you want to avoid using a crate, I think it's a good idea because Ozzy may become bored and decide to destroy other things ie. furniture. But I guess if you aren't have any problems so far, good luck to you! Hang in there, they eventually grow up

 

[alaska]

the garbage can is the most enticing thing in household, my dogs are well trained, they are not allowed in the kitchen, or anywhere near the trash can, but they always try to sneak over to it, to take a smell. I scold them, occasionally if I find one of them has gotten into the trash or catch him in the act, I quickly reprimand him with an angry voice and take him over to the trash and yell NO!! it is the hardest thing to get them to stay out of it. I would put it in a broom closet or somewhere he can't get at it. I still have to tye the trash up every night before bed, (my dogs are only crated when I'm not at home.) it is rare that they get into the trash now, but I have to stay on top of it, if we had ribs or something for dinner, I make sure and tie up the trash securely or take it outside before I go to sleep. I wish I had a broom closet or pantry with a door I could put the trash in to avoid this problem.