I don't know what else to do!

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beausmommy

beausmommy

Boxer Insane
Since I brought Beau home at 9 months, he has been crated when I'm not home. I have tried various types of bedding in his crate. He either shreds it, pees on it or both. I've even tried a 1" thick rubber mat and he somehow managed to pull it up and chew it into a million pieces. When there is nothing in his crate, he gets "rubbed" places on his joints. They aren't sores, but they are red places where his hair has been rubbed off. His current crate has a metal tray, so I ordered one with a plastic tray in hopes that it will be a little easier on his joints. I just can't seem to find anything to put in his crate that he can't or won't destroy. He has shredded countless sheets, fleece blankets, comforters and pillows. After he shreds them, he usually pees on them, too. I just don't know what to do with him. I thought maybe it was out of boredom, so I tried putting a kong in the crate with him. He couldn't care less about the kong. He preferred to destroy his bedding. I hate to leave him in his crate with nothing soft under him, but that's what I've had to do. Does anyone know of a company that makes bedding with a guarantee so that if he destroys it, they'll replace it? I've spent quite a bit of money trying to find something that will work, but it's all just been wasted. I'd really appreciate any suggestions you might have about either getting him to stop destroying his bedding or indestructible/guaranteed bedding.
 
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gmacleod

gmacleod

Elusive Moderator
Staff member
Have you ever considered trying him out of his crate? The shredding and peeing sound like a combination of boredom and anxiety... Possibly abandoning the crate could provide a solution. Some serious puppy proofing would be a pre-requisite, of course.
 
beausmommy

beausmommy

Boxer Insane
gmacleod said:
Have you ever considered trying him out of his crate? The shredding and peeing sound like a combination of boredom and anxiety... Possibly abandoning the crate could provide a solution. Some serious puppy proofing would be a pre-requisite, of course.
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I would LOVE to be able to leave him out of his crate. However, he seems to be able to find anything he's not supposed to have in about 5 minutes. I've left him out for a few minutes to clean out my car, etc. and he's been able to destroy remote controls, hairbrushes, checkbooks, etc. I live in a rental house, so leaving him out while I'm at work (8 hours max) really isn't an option since it wouldn't really be my house that he's destroying. I know he has pretty bad separation anxiety and HATES his crate (I basically have to pick him up and put him in it everyday), but I'm terrified to leave him out and come home to find that he's either hurt himself by getting into something he shouldn't or that my house is a wreck because he got bored.
 
Dutchess1104

Dutchess1104

Boxer Booster
Sounds like seperation anxiety, I know there are people that specialize in this and they are not considered a trainer according to one of the moderators in a previous thread. Sounds like you had gotten him at 9 mos. and he was not trained properly to begin with too. I have been told that they have to earn something to sleep on in there crate, so I did not buy Dutchess her crate bed till I knew she was pretty good in her crate. I could not bring myself not to give her nothing so in the beginning I would give her a baby blanket. Good Luck let us know how you do and what you decide.
 
PreciousMom

PreciousMom

Boxer Buddy
Precious at first got a good blanket. She ripped it to shreds. Now she only gets already ripped towels until she stops ripping them to shreds.
 
J

Jill's boxer

Banned
I use carpet remnants to line the bottom of my crate (I have the vari-kennel style, but this shouldn't make a difference). Most carpet sales places will have remnants that you can cut to size, or even carpet samples that have the finished edges would be better, harder to shred the edges and they are just about the right size for the bottom of the crate. Cleaning it if he pees on it will be a bit more work, but natures miracle will do the trick or a spray rug cleaner and brush. good luck! It does sound like he is bored or frustrated though--possibly he has a bit of separation anxiety, a behaviourist may be able to offer some advice.
 
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