Separation Anxiety Poll

[Cody's Mom]

Cody has had separation anxiety from day one. We got him when he was 9 weeks old. He had flown on a plane with his brother at 7 weeks from Idaho to California. His mama remained in Idaho. We have had to crate him from the start as he immediately starting being destructive... answering machine, nintendo game, even knawed on the phone!

He is now three .... We have had two couches destroyed, blankets on our bed (yes he sleeps up there) books, magazines ....Sometimes he has gotten a terrible upset stomach from the fabric or paper, not to mention the problem with his bowels for a day or two. We have stopped letting him try his freedom in the house. We are going to possibly get another dog later this year for company and see if that helps. I prefer to have my dog indoors, but if there will be two they will probably go out.

Our previous boxer NEVER was a problem and he stayed in the house all day long. I hate putting him in a crate all day (it is the largest one we could find) but the alternative is not good.

Oh, did I forget to mention B]Cody is dearly loved every day[/B]

 

[Cody's Mom]

Oops! Just realized I did not post to the poll properly... This is how we learn ........

 

[leenasmom]

I think the first step would be solving the destruction issues with Cody way before even planning on boxer #2.

If you are and have been crating him while you are not able to watch him, when is he being destructive? Putting him outside might be the easiest solution, but with some training and being in the crate when not supervised would be easy too. Lots of luck.

 

[Cody's Mom]

I appreciate the comments. The story goes that when Cody came home with us we thought he could handle staying at home, alone, because our last boxer did without being destructive. So over the course of time when he is destructive, then he went back to being in his crate. We have over time given him more chances at being home alone. He will be fine for a week, then one day you walk in and the couch has been torn. What a guilty look. We have tried and tried, but now he is interested in paper-meaning our books, magazines, blankets. So he now has been in the crate for going on 9 months with no time out unless we are home. Fortunately he is in there less than 8 hrs a day when we are at work.

 

[Jan]

Most boxers can't be trusted with full run of the house until they are a couple of years old. I would guess that you were lucky with your first boxer. Some boxers do just fine at an early age, but the majority do not. :( Could you maybe just confine Cody to one room, like the kitchen or some other room that you can puppy proof. He is afterall, still just a puppy. Another alternative to a crate is an exercise pen. It still keeps them confined but they have a little more room to move around.

Cody probably just needs a little more time to grow up.

Good luck,