Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

[scouttex]

Dozer is 8 months old. We crate trained her in the beginning. As she got older we took the top half of the crate off and left her bed in there to sleep. We have been gating her and another one of our dogs in the kitchen since this summer. All of a sudden she has turned into the Destroyer! One day last week we came home and she'd chewed a hammer that was on the counter. The next day she pushed one of the gates down, ate a fly swatter, chewed some toys and got into a bowl of poppourri on the coffee table. I think that gave her the "runs", which was EVERYWHERE! The next day I double gated the kitchen and cleared the counter tops. She somehow got the paper towels and undid the roll, tipped the water dispenser over, dismantled it and chewed it. And knocked the portable phone off the hook and chewed it apart. The next day we put a brand new bed in the kitchen for her and a basket of toys. She tore open here bed, emptied the basket of toys and chewed a hole in the basket and peed on the floor. So...we went back to crating her. Today she went #2 in her crate and then had the "runs" the rest of the afternoon.
I am at the end of my rope! Her cuteness just ran out!! Heidi
P.S. We are in our 3rd week of "school". We go once a week for 7 weeks for basic training. She has not been "fixed" yet either.

[Cujasky]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

Not an expert here, and I can't give you any advice about the peeing, but sounds like Dozer is bored. How long is she crated? Do you leave her anything to do when you leave? Like a special bone or toy? Does she get enough exercise before and after being crated? Does she play with the other dog she is locked up with? Sorry for all the questions, but it may help to figure out what is making her tick. At eight months old, danes have alot of energy.You might try to tire her out a little bit before you leave and instead of destroying things when you are gone, she may rest. You may try to leave her with a natural bone filled with treats to keep her occupied while you are gone. Something is obviously bothering her. Maybe the peeing is a way to get your attention or she may even have to go before you get home. Does she drink alot of water? Sorry again for all the questions.

[dina]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

Sounds like a normal adolescent dane to me. Seems like most dogs go through a "terrible teen" phase between 6 mos & a year old. Scoobie went through a chewing phase about that time as well. She chewed every action figure my son got for Christmas one year and managed to find every one of the brand new bras I'd just bought & chewed those up (left the old ones of course <G>). This was when we were home & we were just busy with other things, so I can't imagine what she'd have done if we'd left her unsupervised loose in the house. Her real bad chewing phase only lasted a couple months, but we still had to keep her crated when we were gone until she was a bit over 2. So, don't worry it won't last forever. Making sure she is getting enough exercise and a structured enough enviornment will help.

For now, not only do you have to worry about keeping your things safe from her, you also need to keep her safe from your things. So keep her in the crate and don't put anything in her crate she could ingest & get stuck in her intestines. I would guess the pottying in her crate had to do with whatever she ate that she shouldn't have the day before and shouldn't be an ongoing problem.

It's great that she's starting basic class. Did she already go to a puppy or other beginner class? If not, you'll have to be patient with her as she adjusts. The first few weeks might seem as if she's not making progress, but stick with it & you'll see the difference at the end.

Good luck!
Dina

[DellaDane]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

<--- MERLIN



Ok I think this is a good post for me to answer, because I have a 10 month old male Not fixed. He can chew through anything and can be very wild. Buy the book, "Potty Training is Possible" you can get it at petsmart. it really helps you get a grip on your dog and get your dog on a schedule. I have a prong collar for Merlin and we do basic obedience. One day the lightbulb in his head just clicked on in his head. He now respects me and knows what makes me happy. I also buy tons of toys for Merlin. Stuffed animals and bones. I just bought him a GALILEO bone. He cant destruct it and cures his boredom. Merlin NEVER romes the house when I am not home. When I am not home, he is crated. This is much safer for the dog, and is cheaper for you instead of having to replace all your belongings. also to help cure boredom, excersice can help. I play ball with merlin or frisbee. or we rollerblade or walk. afterward, he is very content to srprawl out somewhere and sleep. they cant be detructive if they are sleeping! Your dog loves her crate. This is the dogs den and usually they dont eliminate in the crate. Its not cruel and they dont mind it, if not for a long time. Buy a tennis ball and throw it around. Your dog will tire and become less bored, and better behaved anticipating these play sessions. Hope this helps.
Cindy and Merlin

[reeds001]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

Along with what others have said, I'd suggest getting a check-up at the vet. Maybe urinalysis/fecal exam, because as Cindy said, they don't normally soil their "den".

For the runs, try a tbspn of plain or vanilla yogurt.

[jpy]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

Adolescence. Ah-what<G>a lovely time for dogs as well as human kids! Up the disclipline & exercise, increase the structure in her life, & go back to the crate to save your sanity as well as hers! (Neutering can help too.) Other than that all<G>you can do is say to yourself: "This too shall pass." At least she doesn't need a college fund and she isn't borrowing the keys to your car. There are a few bright spots in it being a brat-pup rather than a brat-kid!

[scouttex]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

Thanks for all the great advise! Dozer and I started a morning "run" program today. Actually I run slow and she walk/trots fast. (I know danes shouldn't run before they are 18 months old or more.) Next, I scheduled an appt. with the vet...she will never be a mommy! And she is staying in the crate. I was really hoping to get away from that mostly from a visual stance. And I thought she would enjoy her new big bed. Because she definitely loves her recliner! I'll see how she does in class this week and then maybe go from the choker to a prong collar.

I thought maybe she was bored also, so I put her basket of toys in the kitchen. She dumped the toys and chewed a hole in the basket.x(
She had the new phone...which replaced the one she ate...in her mouth this morning! She doesn't sleep past 6am. Last night I had to take her and Copper out at 4am and she was ready to Play! It must be a teenager thing...I hope and pray!

Heidi and Dozer

[DellaDane]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

<--- MERLIN

Sounds like you are taking all the steps in the right direction. Merlin used to get up really early too, late night exercise (or right before you go to bed) Its take a strict shedule plan to get your dog to rise and shine and be on your shedule. I Merlin-proofed my whole house. I bought merlin a crate pad, I thought he would love it, and believe me, HE DID, to pieces literally. So now I dont offer him ANYTHING i dont want to be destroyed. I put a pile of old blankets in his crate, if he chews thats ok, because they are old blankets.

CINDY and Merlin

[scouttex]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

I thought maybe she soiled her crate because she got so worked up that she gave herself the "runs"....stress or something. I don't think it was something she ate because she only eats IAMS large breed puppy food...no people food..except carrots for a treat now and again.(Horses eat them so...) She was acting totally normal! She does drink alot of water...and then there's the drool but one thing at a time!

Heidi and Dozer (Destroyer)

[scouttex]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

Maybe she is just trying to help me lose that 10lb I've been talking about lately. Nothing like exercising morning and night to get things back the way they use to be!

Thanks...Heidi and Dozer...my new personal trainer...I'd say she is cheaper but right now that is a toss up!

[DellaDane]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

<--- MERLIN

Since I have gotten Merlin my arm muscles have doubled in strength. He is a much happier puppy now that my regiment with him has finally clicked on in his head. We wake up and he goes out. He comes back in and eats, and goes back out. He goes out several times during the day, and eats again in the evening. He has a play session (frisbee, ball or walking, rollerblading) after dark. We live in Florida and its WAY to hot out to play during the day. The most we can do is 5-10 minute training sessions outside. We also do a petsmart visit at least once a week and I take him to the vet probably once or twice a month just to be weighed (you'd be suprised how much energy your dog will burn off just from car travel) the prong collar is the best thing we have tried thus far. Also dog beaches and pet fair's are a good way to excersice and socialize at the same time. Merlin has calmed down tremendously in the past month, but we were up to longer walks at night and lots of indoor training and playing and petsmart trips just to burn off that energy. Then when he was crated, he slept the whole time, and before he knew it, I was home already. Merlin is turning out to be wonderfully behaved (even though he does have his moments) We are very proud of our doggy! Takes a lot of patience but it can be accomplished!

Cindy and Merlin

[reeds001]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

As a side note, don't feed her and then run her...or visa-versa for that matter. It's recommended that danes have an hour between any exercise and food.

[scouttex]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

Well...day two of our new morning routine. We get up and "run" before breakfast...6am. We end Our "run" walking and then they all eat about 10 minutes after we get home. Dozer woke me up at 314am...wide awake...so they went out for 5 or 10 minutes...and then back to bed. I refuse to go running at 3am! I have to draw the line somewhere! She is now curled up in her recliner...so we'll see.

The change in her energy the past week is sooooo noticeable...way up! And she is drinking tons of water...that may be why we have to get up at 3am.

Anyway...we'll keep you posted...Heidi and Dozer

P.S. It really helps hearing other stories. I was worried because when I was researching danes everyone just raved about them...I didn't hear these "teenage" stories and I was worried I may have gotten a "nut"! And she is a mantle merle and I did read some Not-so-postive things about them breeding-wise. So thanks again!

[DellaDane]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

<--- MERLIN


Maybe you should restrict water right before bed, so your pup and you can sleep through the night!!! (in the book I mentioned in an above post, it gives u lots of tips and tricks to get your dog to pee when and where u want!)

Hope that helps
Cindy

[jenni]

RE: Suddenly Destructive...HELP!

I just went through a very similar experience with Molly. She is 6 months old. She was spending her time when we were not home in our bedroom. I would put her water in there, throw in a bunch of toys, and put on Sports Center. She would be sound asleep on the bed when we came home. Last week she entered a very odd phase. She pooped and wet on the floor on Mon., chewed her dog bed on Tues., ran down the street on Wed., and wet on the floor again on Thurs. We had to unfold her crate and start using it again. I thought that she would REALLY fuss, but she didn't. Molly has never liked her crate, but she adjusted to being back in it. She now has all that cuteness back.