Separation Issues!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Last year, I thought he was just a puppy so the destruction was chalked up to that. Last school year he destroyed a couch, a loveseat and a lazy boy chair. Not to mention the video tapes, books, garbage and anything else left out. We learned to pick everything up. We leave out marrow bones stuffed with dog food or cheese. We tried finger wagging and ignoring him. He seemed to get better as June approached.

I'm home with them all summer and there were no problems for the short trips out. I go back to work three weeks ago and the first week there was no problems. Yesterday, I come home and 2 of my son's textbooks are chewed up and the moulding on the walls is pulled off.

He has his brother and sister for company. He has a dog door to get outside to the yard whenever he wants. I am at a loss as to what to do. I cannot stay with him all day, I have to work to support his wonderful lifestyle (and my families). I teach "crazy" juveniles all day, while a "crazy" juvenile doodle tears apart my house.

I have read the books, watched the Dog Whisperer. Anyone been through this and found a solution? Any ideas?

[Kate and Maci]

Hi Lynne - how old is your puppy? I would think if he is a puppy, he has too much freedom but I am no dog trainer. Do you use a crate? We crated Maci until she was about 9 months and little by little let her out on her own for short periods of time and we haven't used the crate since she was a year old. I lug it with me everywhere we go on vacation, but it always ends up staying in the trunk of the car. If you have the time, maybe take him/her for a good walk in the morning. Also just do little snipets of training with him/her - doesn't have to be anything serious, 5 to 10 minutes. These dogs like to use their brains. They say a tired dog, is a good dog. I am fortunate, Maci has never chewed on anything that she shouldn't have. I probably wasn't of any help.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Kate, Jack is a few months over a year old now. He cannot be crated as he was left to die in one as a young pup and was rescued near death. When I adopted him from the ASPCA it was as a foster because they couldn't cage him. He has access to the fenced in backyard all day through a dog door and has 2 other dogs for company. I leave him frozen marrow bones and the TV on. I don't think it's boredom. It seems to happen if someone comes on the property, like the mailman or a delivery. My son runs him before school and this still happens. I cannot afford a day care at this point as we just added on to our house and redid the kitchen and the bank will own me for a few years. I think it's me leaving as the problem. He is very attached to me, follows me everywhere when I'm home. I will try what Karen suggested and leave some of my clothes out for him. We'll see.

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

One of my doodles was like that... I conluded she was bored, and had way too much excess energy. Getting another dog for company did not help at all, so I made a point of exercising her for at least 1/2 hour in the morning (she was about 7 months old when I started running with her), and I hired a dogsitter to come and walk both dogs mid-day for an hour. I also confined the dogs to our fenced-in patio, where it was safe for them to spend several hours by themselves (they had shade & shelter, and water and some grass to pee on). That strategy worked really well, and I've never had to crate her. She still has plenty of crazy energy and occasionally chews up a sock or a book, but nothing major. I think LOTS and LOTS of exercise and mental stimulation may work for your doodle too... especially if he's highly intelligent and gets bored easily! Good luck!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm so sorry poor Jack is having such a hard time with Mom's return to work. I haven't read the advice in the books, etc., and maybe you've already tried this, but my Jack comforts himself when I'm gone by "stealing" one of my pajama tops or T-shirts that I've slept in from my dirty clothes basket. (I leave it accessible to him on purpose now.) He sleeps with it like a "bankie" when I'm at work, guess the scent comforts him.
Wish I had a better suggestion. I hate that you guys are having such a hard time; hope it gets better soon.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

I hadn't thought of that, I'll try that today and let you know. Thanks.