What can I do with my dog, he's destroying everything?
We have an 8 months Old English Bulldog Otto. Adorable!
I’m going to tell you the whole story so anyone can picture how this dog is and see if someone can help us with his behavior.
Since we got him 4 months ago a series of all kind of events have occurred: almost choked to death with his choke chain; elbow surgery (congenital problem) where he was not allowed to walk for 2 months, he had 2 pins locking the movement of his elbow; a bee stung him on the tongue, and allergies, allergies, allergies.
Due to all this events he has been very pampered, but I liked to call it loved. Imagine, a puppy of 5 months old that cannot walk!!! But I have to say very obedient too. I work at home, so during the day I took him out of the crate so he could feel a freer. It broke my heart to discipline him when he tried to walk… poor thing. But he behaved like an adult. I told him “Otto, Stay There! And Don’t Move!!, and he did not move.
Well, since the day he choked we let him sleep with in the room with us in his bed, during the surgery of course he had to sleep with us in his crate, because being a puppy he urinates and defecates every 2 minutes… so I had to take him out 3 times a night. We got used to him in the room sleeping with us.
Lately I’ve been working a lot and not paying as much attention as when he was with the pins in his knees. Then, he started chewing all the tables and chairs of the house. Everything has teeth marks.
Lately, my husband and I are a little tire and sometimes the dog’s snoring do not let us sleep (bulldogs snore like a 200 pounds man…) so we are taking him out during the night. But last night we told him, “Boy, tonight you’ll sleep outside! And he destroyed a chaise cushion. I’m afraid now that he’s going to destroy every piece of furniture inside and outside the house, even if we leave him alone during the day. I’m afraid that if he sleeps out tonight he would destroy another cushion.
I think he’s mad at us, or at me, because the “lack” of attention since I took my life back after the surgery’s recovery. And I’m the one that takes him out of the room at night.
Even when I know how to train and discipline a puppy, this is really getting out of my hands. How can I discipline him of I see the mess hours after he did it,
What should we do???? Help!!!
Thanks to everyone that wrote.
I want to clarify a couple of things, the dog has all sorts of toys, and every night when my husband gets home we both play with him until he gets tired. He receives training every day (sit, lay down, come, etc) and I sit and pet him every night while we are watching the TV.
Even though I work, I’, all they checking on him, and talking to him. That’s why for me is a little difficult to understand that he’s bored.
I do not pay as much attention as before, but before was 24/7… now is like 16/7 (sort of speaking).
another thing… he doesn’t sleep in our bed, he sleeps in our bedroom in one of his pillows.
Outside he has a house with a pillow inside the house… and he has slept there in the past… What I do not know is what happened yesterday that he took his chewing t another level. He chewed a cushion that he loves to lay down.
9 Responses
Praying for Zoe
09 Feb 2010
ifar
09 Feb 2010
Dear Friend,
i’m very much proud of u..even though the pup gives this much trouble, u r till taking care of that..
i just suggest you the following website that contained the list of the dog trainers..
hope shared your burden
Dee
09 Feb 2010
I had a 200 lb lab that use to do this. As much as i hated to i had to crate him when i wasn’t home. I tried to leave him in the kitchen with gates up and he chewed the gates. You can also try to give him a large chew bone when you have to leave him so that he will be occupied with something else other then the furniture. Good Luck
Hayley
09 Feb 2010
Yes he needs your attention. Don’t leave him unattended. That’s when they will mess up your things. You have to catch them doing it an correct the behavior. I say NO loudly or AH. Just a loud short sound, to get his attention on you. Put away the item he was tying to chew on, or take him away from it.
When you have to leave him alone put him in his crate. I do this with our dog, anytime I have to take a shower or bathe my kids he goes in his crate. And of course if I leave the house and if I cannot take him he goes in the crate.
racecarsnotdogs
09 Feb 2010
First I take it youve now dumped the choke chain! Horrible things that can do all sort of damage.
Secondly when you say you take him out at night – are you actually leaving this puppy out?? If not when he goes out you do – keep an eye on him (he sounds accident prone anyway). If you are – what did you expect you pamper him one minute then abandon him at night! Once confused puppy I should imagine.
He also sounds very bored which can be difficult if he is restriced on exercise but there are other ways to tire him and give him some stimulation! Training new tricks, making him use his brain eg puzzle toys or search for the treat. He really does need something to occupy his mind.
Dogs dont get mad thats a human emotion they do however get bored and lonely.
Oh and finally there is no way to discipline him after the event you have to catch him in the act and even then not discipline but teach acceptable and more fun behaviour.
"the"
09 Feb 2010
if you know how to discipline then you are half way there.one or two things going on in that doggie head.probably both.you took the pup out of the dog by creating a "posh" enviroment that you couldn’t maintain.pups love to be loved and ,because of the circumstances,he got it alot.take that away and you get a spoiled child.the other is just plain desertion.same concept.remember going to pre school the first day?the catch is you got to meet friends in school.first I would recommend a safe haven…yes the dreaded crate.I also recommend this as the reward place too.My dalmation mix is so trained to this that she ran in the smallest crate one time and was sudo stuck for a minute.the main thing i see you lacking is the quality time you used to spend.this could just be as simple as sitting on the porch with him while he plays in the yard.also relieve the anxiety by leaving for a few minutes and coming back.this will let him know you aren’t going forever.
little girl
09 Feb 2010
I know this sounds mean but try yelling at him or slapping him. ( Not to the point where ever you put your hand up he is scared, but not too hard just a tap but make it hurt a little.) If that doesn’t work get the invisible fence with the electric collar I trained the dumbest beagle in the world with it! hope i helped! xoxoxo
Susan B
09 Feb 2010
little girl – I would like to slap you (just to make it hurt a little). You should never own a dog!!!!
As far as the asker: There are several things going on here with your dog and some have given you very good advice. First off your dog is bored. You need to provide him toys and chews to play and chew on. Teach him what is correct to chew on. Secondly, he has separation anxiety. You have kept him in the home with you and in your bed. Then suddenly (as far as he knows) you leave him outside all alone. Now that is scary. He doesn’t know what he’s done to be punished and why you won’t let him be with you as before. I would suggest that you keep him indoors at night. Crate him in your room and over a period of time move the crate out of the room. Baby steps so he can get accustomed to the changes. If you would like to discuss feel free to email me.
Caitlyn W
09 Feb 2010
Hello, while hitting a dog may help reduce the behavior, you don’t want to do this as it would make your dog even more sad and he would probably hate you for it. Well, he obviously is doing all the biting to get your attention + he is bored.
Here’s my advice
1. give a big bone to him everyday, this would keep his occupied for a while AND take him out on walks more in the evening, making him tired and spending more quality time with one another would definitely reduce the biting.
2. buy some chilli spray that you can spray on the furniture. The dog tasting the awful taste would stop biting it (this spray only works for some dogs)
OR
3. everytime he bites something, don’t say anything and (pretend to be mean) and grab him by the collar and isolate him in a room by himself for 1 minute.
Then let him out. If you do this, everytime he is biting something, he’ll be classically conditioned to stop biting the things 
This way, your dog can live outside or inside after some time.
Good Luck and best wishes. =)
When you can’t watch him and when you go to sleep at night, then put him in his crate. He should not be left outside all alone! It’s scary out there for him all alone and it won’t help with the problem you are having. He can get himself into a lot of trouble out there too! If his snoring bothers you and your husband, then put the crate in a different room. That’s the only way that you will be able to keep him safe and avoid him destroying everything when you are not able to watch him.
ADD: Lil Girl! Stop advising others to hit their dogs! You should be ashamed of yourself for even suggesting that! I’d like to slap some sense into that head of yours myself! You never, ever, for any reason hit a dog in any way. What gives you the right to advise people to disipline their dogs by hitting them? That will not solve any problem and it’s considered to be abuse. Electical Collars are unnecessary and Cruel. Shocking the heck out of a dog isn’t going to make it obey you! It’s not your Beagle that’s the dumb one, if you get my meaning. You just don’t know how to properly and humanely train your dog. Hitting makes the problem worse and makes your dog more aggresssive, fearful of you and again, it never fixes the problem. Be very careful on the advise that you give to others! Find your dog a new home with someone who will love him or her and treat them with respect, the way a dog deserves to be treated, since you think that hitting a dog and Electric Collars are ok to use to disipline your dog with. You could not be more WRONG!!!You don’t deserve a dog, since you obviously don’t know how to properly take care of one.