Semi-destructive doodle....help?! anyone?

[Brent Lang]

Good evening community!

I have a golden doodle (Zoey), who will be 2 in June.  She's a sweet girl, great with my young kids (5 and 3).

While my wife and I are at work, the dog spends the day in her crate.  I hate it.  I don't want to keep her in the crate.  However, if we don't crate her, she has a tendency to be...mischievous.

I have a child proof lock on the garbage in the kitchen, she has learned how to circumvent this, and at any time, she could go through the garbage.  If my wife leaves her purse on a bench, or the floor, there is a good chance Zoey will go through it and eat whatever she might find...prescription drugs potentially (dangerous), dollar bills, eye glass cleaner, whatever might be in the purse.

I have used an electric collar to buzz her, to shock her, I've yelled, I've made loud noises, etc etc....We catch her, and she gets reprimanded, but she either isn't "getting it", or just doesn't care (that's what I think)

Part of me thinks some of the issue is that she spends too much time in the crate, so she has a ton of pent up energy.  Another part of me thinks it could also just be that she's still young (not yet 2 years old).

Just to be clear, my real concern is that she might eat something from the garbage or a bag or something that could make her sick...destroying one or two of the kids toys, or even cleaning up a small mess isn't that big of a deal to me, although it is something that is definitely aggravating to my wife, and I do understand her point of view.

How can I get her to stop doing these destructive things?  I don't know what else to try.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

My personal opinion is that when a dog is chewing, i.e., being destructive, 9 times out of 10 it is because they are not getting enough exercise.  If you are in a position to do so you might consider doggy daycare.  Many of the members here take their dogs to daycare 2 or 3 days a week.  It really wears them out so they don't normally need to go everyday.  Chances are if you are both working full-time and have two small kids, that the dog is coming in last when it comes to time remaining in the day.  Just a couple walks aren't going to be enough for a doodle.  Needs a couple hours of good hard play time, getting to run off that energy.  We always say "a tired doodle is a good doodle".  Hopefully so others will have some ideas for you as well.  

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I completely agree.  This is likely all about "pent-up energy".  I would increase the exercise especially before you leave her in the crate.  Then I would look into a dog walker or a day or two at Daycare.  Have you tried gating her in an area that has been "Doodle proofed" to give her a bit more room to move around?

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

I agree with Lucy and Jane...a dog needs a routine with activity.  When my dog was younger, I took her to many training classes for behavior and socialization.  We invested in a fence for our yard.  She also goes to doggie day care two times a week.  I am also able to take her to my office at least once a week.  She can also stay in our garage during the day if I need to leave her(she likes the garage).  She has free reign in the house.  I also invest in bully sticks, meaty bones, and stuff kongs for her chewing pleasure.  

Last year I took in a 6 year old doodle that a fellow needed to rehome because he was getting married to a lady that had an 8 year old daughter, a pit bull and the couple would be having a baby soon. They told me they just didn't have time for this dog anymore after having her for 2 years.   This doodle came with issues...destructive with open garbage and waste baskets, any thing on the counters and wild crazy behavior if she saw a squirrel, turkey, deer, truck, dog, cat, etc out the window, pulled horrible on a leash, and ran if she got through the door if we weren't vigilant.  However, I invested in her training, love, patience, doggie day care and my time playing games, walking, my mate runs her and after a little over one year of her living with us I have to say she is one of the best dogs I have ever had the honor of living with.  She stopped getting into garbage, of course I use containers that help her be successful.  She waits patiently for food, has almost impeccable recall, and is a joy to watch the two doodles play.  My mate and I run a busy dental practice with long hours. We love our dogs and realize the labor of love it takes to keep us all content.  Lots of work, but I would have it NO different.  They are more than dogs to me, they are my very special friends.  

[Brent Lang]

I understand the "special friend" feeling. I had a standard poodle growing up. She was awesome.

Zoey wil go through garbage, it's very annoying. She's pretty well trained (sit come stay down up drop etc)...let's put it this way, it's a compliment to her intelligence. She and I go downstairs together. I realize I forgot something upstairs, so I go back upstairs, she runs right over to the garbage. As soon as she knows she is "free", she does it. Not every time, just enough to be annoying!

She loves tearing up tissues and stuff like that from the garbage. She definitely doesn't get enough free time to burn energy. I figured it was something like that. I feel terrible about it, but she's great and she's still a good happy girl.

Thanks!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think she needs more exercise. I think she is bored. How about Doggy Daycare a couple of times a week or a dog walker, mid day, to give her some much needed exercise. My dogs are 6 and 7 and if they don't get two walks a day, we pay later. Vern will be up half the night. 

It is just part of the stuff that comes along with having a dog. There are many days I would love to skip the walks, but I don't because we all need to stay active. 

Take her to a fenced in tennis court and throw the ball for her for an hour. Invest in a jogging stroller and put the kids in the stroller and let her run along beside her. Work on training...mental activity can be equally tiring for a dog. Bottom line is Zoey is bored and someone needs to give her the exercise she needs.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I would try a dog walker or doggy day care. Usually if I take my boys to daycare in the middle of the week that seems to be good for them. We are usually very active on weekends so by the time it's Monday they are pretty tried so Wednesday daycare breaks up the week for them nicely, or at least I think. I do know some dogs that go every day their owners are working but my guys don't need that much exercise. Dog walkers are great if theres some one in your area, its nice to break up the day. You could also try to gate her into a small area of the house, say the laundry room, that way she has a little more room. I usually gate Loki in a part of my house that is only hard wood floors and has no couches or pillows because those are what he seeks out when he's bored. This seems to work well for him, Moose on the other hand can not be trusted yet to be gated in part of the house.