is it a destructive dog

[Fishingfool]

we just got a new little boxer girl last may when she was 6 months old. we also have a wonderful dog who is going to be 4 this march. the problem is that when we leave the dogs, we let them have the run of the mitchen and the basement. the younger boxer will not go down the basement stairs so she has the kitchen to herself. the older boxer goes down the basement and sleeps the time away in blissful igmorance. the problem lies with when the younger girl breaks out of the kitchen and gets into the rest of the house. to say it looks like a tornado went thru it would be an understatement. if it can be shredded, chewed, drooled on, or ripped, she has gotten to it. i love the little girl to death but my wife has the notion that the cage is the next step for her. when we picked her up from her original owner, the woman said that she tried to cage her for a while but it was a losing cause as all she did was drool and pee in the cage. sorry for the rambling but i could really use some help on this one.

 

[gmacleod]

It sounds rather as though she suffers from separation anxiety (particularly the drooling part). That's actually a psychological disorder, not just a bit of stress. So it takes quite some work to overcome.

Very likely it relates more to the people of the house being gone - but it would still be worth trying her with the other dog. If she won't go down to the basement with him, how about trying leaving him up in the kitchen with her? Can't guarantee it as a solution, but it is worth trying.

A book that deals with separation anxiety and how to treat it is "I'll be home soon" by Patricia B McConnell. It would be very much worthwhile getting.

 

[cwelch]

There are sources on the web that help with crate training. From what I've read and experienced it's unusual for a dog to soil the crate if they are not left for a period of time that is unrealistic. My puppy did not like her crate in the beginning, but after working with her she goes in willingly and adapted nicely. I look at the crate being for her benefit. I want her to be a successful addition to our home. It wouldn't be fair to expect her not to follow natural instincts, especially if she is alone and bored. I would certainly try a crate with her until your have the behavior you are expecting.

 

[ELubas]

original owner, the woman said that she tried to cage her for a while but it was a losing cause as all she did was drool and pee in the cage. sorry for the rambling but i could really use some help on this one.

If you want to go this route you need to do it very slowly. If you just put her in and leave her she will probably get worse. But done slowly they can adapt. My girl now had some issues that way but we started very slowly (door open, door closed for a minute, five minutes-REALLY slow) and having her big brother in the same room really helped her. So perhaps a combination will help your pup. Good luck

 

[angleheart]

Yes, I also think it sounds like separtation anxiety. Harley had it, and my number one goal w/ my next puppy is not to do it again. There was always somebody home when Harley was little and I don't know if that was the cause or if it or if it is something that some will have regardless, but it was the hardest thing to see him suffer with it. Luckily, I was able to work around it and 95% of the time was able to make arangements so he would not be alone whether it meant taking him with me, leaving him with family members that he loved and was comfortable with or have them come to my place. I felt horrible, didn't realize I was doing it and never was able to fix it. Of course he was a few years old before I realized what was going on had a name and was a real disorder. If it is truely separation anxiety, maybe since your baby is young, you have a chance to reverse it properly...it's worth trying and you will be helping your baby live a happier life. Trying to leave the dogs together definately sounds like a good first step. Don't give up and please let us know how it goes.