My dog is driving me insane... *LONG*

Ok, so I have a Boxer male who is about 1 year 4 months old. As a puppy, he was crated throughout the day but after he was 10-12 months old, we started leaving him out of the crate a couple of days a week to get him used to it. He was doing SO WELL! We got rid of the crate completely a couple of months ago. We would occasionally come home to an accident throughout the day... no biggie. My DH works very close to home so he goes out 1-2 times a day to let him out.

For the last week or so, I've been coming home to poop/pee on the area rug and random household items destroyed in the middle of the room. He knows he is doing wrong bc as soon as I walk through the door, he hides under the dining room table and I can't get him to come out! I literally have to reach in and grab him by the collar to get him to go out in the yard. He's destroying the most random things and I really can't understand why! (ie: Umbrellas, Shoes, Hats... etc.). We leave him with a TON of toys/bones to keep him entertained so I don't know why he is resorting to this. We also walk him 1-2x a day! He uses the facilities in our backyard, so we basically just walk him for the exercise.

So my question is...
How do I discipline him for doing these things? I know that you have to catch him in the act for it to have an effect, but when we are home, he is a perfect little angel!!

Thanks so much for reading this far!!! I'd really appreciate the feedback!

Re: My dog is driving me insane... *LONG*

i would say he is looking for attention, he might need a nice walk for about a hour a day if you can. I know my friends dog was like that she started to walk him and he was fine.

I would say show the destroyed items and say no over and over again but i am not that much of an expert on dogs.

Re: My dog is driving me insane... *LONG*

I'm sorry you're dealing withthis.

I'm curious how much exercise he is getting - as in walks or good long runs in the park playing fetch, etc.

All of the Boxers I have known (quite a few) were very high energy and very smart and many would get themselves into trouble like this when left alone if they didn't get enough exercise and stimulation.

ETA - and nothing against Boxers at all. I love them, but they are usually pretty smart / high energy and need a lot off exercise and interactive play time.

Message edited 2/24/2010 6:18:32 PM.

Re: My dog is driving me insane... *LONG*

My friend had the same problem with her Boxer. He was just looking for attention. She is unable to walk him (which I feel terrible about). Shes not disabled or anything, she is just lazy. So she brings him doggie day care all day 2 days a week and he's content with that. No more accidents or chewing things and he was 3!

Re: My dog is driving me insane... *LONG*

Thanks everyone! I guess we are going to have to step up the exercise that he is getting. We take him for 1-2, 15-20 minute walks a day but I guess that clearly isn't enough for him. You are right, Boxers are insanely hyper and after DH and I come home from a long day at work... the last thing we want to do is run around withTyson and I feel horrible about it! I can't wait for the Spring so we can start taking him to the dog park more often! Do you think there is anything I can do to discipline him or would more exercise help the situation??

Thanks again!!!

Re: My dog is driving me insane... *LONG*

I have had similar problems with my pup. He is 9 months old now and an angel when we are home. We started leaving him out and he would destroy the most random things like the blinds, a wheel on my parents' vacuum, etc. We set him up with a ton of toys, boxes to play with, and even some special toys that hide treats, toys, etc that are supposed to decrease boredom. It is still random and not everyday. (Although he never potties in the house at least.) We stopped letting him have his freedom unfortunately and he is confined back to his ex pen when we are gone for more than 3 hours. I feel bad but I can't have him destroying my house or hurting himself by eating something that he shouldn't. At least he has more room in the ex pen than a crate provides. My hope is he will grow up a bit more and not do those things. All dogs grow up at different rates and maybe your dog still needs some growing time. The exercise will help a lot too!

Re: My dog is driving me insane... *LONG*

Can i ask why you got rid of the crate all together? Is there any way you can leave it out with the door open so he can use it as his safe haven? Maybe he also has seperation anxiety.. I agree the number one solution is to do the longer walks also but I am thinking to put the crate back up so he may just go in on hi own and stay there while you are out.. G/L

Re: My dog is driving me insane... *LONG*

Good advice here about more exercise. Also, change your perception that he's in need of discipline. There's nothing you can do about it after the fact that would help. He's hiding from you not because he knows he did something wrong. He's hiding because after a long absence when he just wants to be happy to see you, you are angry with him. It's sad to have a confused dog that is afraid of you. You know why you're angry (and I would react that way too) but he doesn't.

To help, give him more exercise, even if you don't feel like it at the end of a long day. I can totally relate (believe me, I do!) but if you don't want your possessions destroyed, you just have to do it. It feels wrong to give even more to a dog that's taking from you. But it's the answer and any other solutions won't work and be a waste of time.

Re: My dog is driving me insane... *LONG*

We have two boxers, the male is 4 1/2 our female is 3- every once in a while they still get things on us. If we come home and they are hiding- usually they've chewed something they shouldn't have. We never really know what to do either, and now it happens pretty rarely. They are very smart and definitely need a lot of excercise. We've just learned to try not to keep anything out we think they might like to chew on. It keeps the extra shoes away from the front door

Re: My dog is driving me insane... *LONG*

I have an almost two year old boxer and he does that too every once in a while. I guess they just get bored. I always notice that when he pees or poops in the house, he also always destroys something. So I don't know if destroying something gets him riled up and then he goes to the bathroom as a result or if he goes to the bathroom and then figures ehh, it's already messed up I might as well go crazy.

In the past when I've come home and gotten angry and yelled (not at him - just a general F bomb or something to that effect) he starts peeing because he's scared. So now I just dont yell, clean it up, and hope it doesn't happen again.

Re: My dog is driving me insane... *LONG*

does he have a kong? fill it up with peanut butter and freeze it. it may keep him occupied and less likely to chew stuff up.

this is what our trainer recommended when we would leave our pup home.

I actually am lucky and can take her to work with me but i couldnt imagine what she would do if i had to leaveher by herself all day