Home alone ....damage......

[pammyjean]

Hi as you know.....my daughter has just brought a boxer girl ......named POPPY she is 14 months old and has just come into season..........the poor girl has had three lots of owners so far......... but has responded brilliantly to my daughter and family...... clean in the house........ no chewing.... no barking.....a perfect little ANGEL...............UNTIL yesterday........ Katie and Hubby went shopping ...POPPY was left in the kitchen ....a very big room, with her bed, food , water and toys......... they were gone for three hours ............when they got home.....POPPY had all but eaten the living room DOOR and scratched the PINE DRESSER.......... Katies husband Paul was livid.....saying they should sell her......... I explained to them that POPPY must feel so insecure.......and probably thought that they would not return...... Hopefully they will listen to me and give POPPY some more chances.........BLESS HER...... Any ideas what they can do when they go out, normally they would have given her the run of the house, but because she is in season they left her in the kitchen, so she could not get up on the furniture, beds etc.

POOR POPPY..........I have never had a dog that chewed things up so I cant really help them. GINTY MY LITTLE ANGEL.......HAS NEVER EVEN CHEWED HER TOYS UP........ ONLY HANDLED THEM WITH CARE........ lovicon...... lovicon

 

[douma]

Hi Pam i remember that when Avra had heat her behavior was changing.....her hormones ....and after heat she had false pregnancy and was crying ...digging :( it was so sad
:(
I don't use crate but may it's useful for Poppy until she habituates herself to her new home.
Do Paul and Katie plan to have spayed her? it will be very usuful too.
Pam like you said ,i believe that Poppy feels insecure and wants her people and with your advice Paul and Katie will have a very good dog
Good luck
Kisses and hugs :D

http://photos.yahoo.com/sof22001

 

[Scorpio]

I never have had my older chew anything while away. I tried leaving him for five minutes, ten minutes and longer just to show him that we would return and it seemed to work. I would try a crate or take her with you if you can.

PLEASE GIVE HER ANOTHER CHANCE

Good Luck :(

 

[BXRmum]

CRATE CRATE CRATE CRATE CRATE!! If they are only going out for short periods of time, then it is perfectly fine to leave her in a crate. If she's a new family member, then leaving her alone in the house probably frightens her or makes her lonely and bored. Also, if she's moved around from family to family, how did she know they were going to come back for her? Shipping her off to another family would be an awful thing to do - she needs a stable, loving home. Give her a chance to get comfortable in the home, and crate her when she is alone.

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

Please do a search here at Boxerworld using the gray search button at the top of each page. Use search words such as "separation anxiety" or "destructive behavior" or "chewing" and you will find literally TONS of information on how to effectively deal with these situations.

It sounds as if most of the anxiety the dog is feeling is due to her being in season. I would also recommend having her spayed ASAP after her heat. It is so much better for a dog's health and your peace of mind to have them spayed/neutered.

I'm sorry your Son in Law feels that this behavior isn't worth working on and solving, but would rather take the easy way out and punish the dog for being a dog. Very sad. Selling her won't help her get over this issue. And when he decides to get another dog, he's going to have the same problems. He has to learn to be patient and learn how to train his dog to behave properly in a humane and fun way.

I suggest getting him a copy of "The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson and a copy of "Dog Behavior" by Ian Dunbar. These two books will set his mind reeling and undo all of his former negative beliefs about dogs and training and behavior problems.

Best of luck to you and do a search. There is a wealth of information on this site, easily accessible and all for FREE!! Take advantage of it.

 

[Augie]

Hi
I hope your daughter has not got rid of her boxer. Boxers are known to suffer separation anxiety and I would definitely endorse a crate for this poor girl. Re-homing heragain would be dreadful. A crate will give her the security of her own place. Remove all other bedding and make sure she uses the crate as her "sanctuary". They are not cruel. Dont let the kids or other animals into it. It is her sanctuary alone.
I also feel she should be spayed ASAP. She will be a much happier girl and so will your daughter.
You are lucky never to have had a Boxer who suffered from separation anxiety. ~We crate trained our Babe [who was a rescue] when small and now we can leave her alone but never for more than 3-4 hours, if that. The crate is stowed away. She just sleeps [no doubt with one eye open] whilst we are out shopping.
Boxers will wreck havoc, Labradors chew, children draw over the walls - need I say more? Tell your son-in-law to give his dog 12 months to settle down and with lots of TLC and love she will. Its because she loves them so much, she just does not want to be parted from them. Anything she has damaged has had their scent all over it - she just wants to get close and stay close......

Let us know how it works out.

Augie

 

[pammyjean]

Talked them round to my way of thinking...

Hi many thanks for your help......... Katie and Paul called to visit us today.........they got a sitter in to sit with POPPY...... they have only had her a short time..........and I know they both love her....... so with time and patience........I know POPPY will be the best dog that they could ever ask for....... Poor Paul.....he is not a mean lad..... but he was so annoyed about the door......he had spent many months sanding it, and getting it back to its original glory......... but once again.........I have made them see that poor POPPY was just wanting to be with them. lovicon