Destructive Doodle

[Thuy & Hops]

Before leaving the apartment today, the boyfriend and I made sure the place was "dog-proof". Ipad, kindle, phones, purses, etc. were all out of a dog's reach. Approximately an hour later, we came home to a living room covered in tiny plastic pieces, which turned out to be the PS3 controller, and pages of torn paper. I instantly dropped to the floor and starting cleaning, without saying a single word to Hops, and he ran straight to his crate and stayed there until I called for him. How did he know he was in trouble? This was not even the worst thing he has destroyed, but I was more frustrated than ever since this was the fourth time, IN A ROW, that he'd destroyed something as soon as we left.

 

When Hops was around 5 months, I had to go back to teaching. On most days, Hops was crated from when I left for work until around noon, when my friend woud drop by to let him out for his potty break. He had freedom to the apartment from noon til when I got home from work. Every now and then he'd get into something he wasn't supposed to, but nothing too bad (some pictures below). He went to doggie daycare near where I work in Dallas on days my friend couldn't take him out.

 

Then came June and I could be at home every day. I'd hang out at the pool for a few hours, and I'd come home to a nice doggie greeting me at the door, with nothing destroyed. A couple days in July I had to attend professional development for 8 hours each day, and I'd come home to a peaceful sight. I was happy. I thought, "Hey, I can trust this dog now!" I was obviously wrong.

 

Something my boyfriend and I noticed--Hops was okay when he and I left the apartment at different times, but whenever we both left together, we'd stand downstairs and hear him whine and scream for about a minute. He did this for maybe the first 3-5 times we left him (uncrated). All the sudden he stopped. He knows now each time we're getting ready to leave him (grab our phones, keys, purse, shoes, etc.), and instead of waiting at the door so that we'd take him with us, he goes and lays down somewhere away from the door (usually the sofa) and just watches us leave. These are the days we'd come back with destructions.

 

An hour ago, I search "destructive" on DK to see if anyone else went through a similar experience with a non-destructive puppy who turned destructive around age one (Hops turns 1 next week). I found just what I was looking for and now I feel better. I'm hoping that this stage will pass before he turns 2. I want to now share some pictures I've taken with my phone of the destructions caused by my precious Hops. Anyone else with a young, destructive doodle--you are not alone!

 

 First time at around 6 months. We no longer have fake flowers at our apartment.

 

 Second time, probably around the same month. We no longer have decorative pillows inside the apartment.

 

This only took about an hour to clean up.

 

My dog ate my students' homework.

 

 Hiding in his crate after chewing on the handle of my purse.

 

Notice the missing carpet.

 

He's lucky that I find him absolutely adorable. (Notice how he dropped two ropes at my feet to ask me to play fetch)

[Heidi & Milton]

Oh my goodness.  This post makes me super nervous, Thuy!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know it's not funny, but I did get a laugh out of the photos.

One tip I have learned the hard way over the years: dogs can smell food residue on anything, even when you can't. If the person who last used the controller was having a snack while using it, (or had one right before), that might be what attracted Hops.

[Meridith and Lola]

He is so ridiculously cute......How much exercise does Hops get in the morning before you leave?  I made sure to give Lola at least an hour in the morning before I left for work.  By six or seven months, I was able to leave her out of the crate but gated in my living room.  Destruction was pretty minimal (she had a dog walker come twice a day until she was 10 months plus a couple of days of doggie day care). I think that really helps.

Good luck.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I also think that crate is to small. With Jack he had to earn full rights to the house.... When he was young he was crated until about seven months.. Then I did x pens ..there was never anything he could chew but his own toys. Eventually he was gated off in kitchen...then a room was added.

Jack was never and still is not ever left for more then a few hours. I never gave him time to get bored as a puppy. I either had dog walkers come or he went to daycare.....

Now he is older he just sleeps and is good.

Can you try gating him in a totally safe area where he has room to play, stretch and sleep?

[Chloe, Finley & Mama Shelley]

I also have a destructive doodle here!

First of all, I have never crated any of my dogs..nothing against it, it just never worked for us with any of our dogs, so they have always have free run of the house.

All in all it hasnt been TOO bad, like no furniture or carpeting (not much) destroyed, but lots of little stuff like papers, kleenex boxes, wooden spoons, oh, and about 3 Remote Controls completely to bits and pieces.

Everyday, when we go to work,.we get the sad pouty face. Then everyday we come home to at least one thing chewed up, or a muddy floor from digging outside then running in from the doggy door.

Its kindof a joke now, my husband always asks what did she chew up today?

Chloe just turned a year old last week, so we are hoping she will outgrow this soon...???...

[Wendy and Myla]

We got Myla's crate at the local SPCA - they have a whole room full of crates and pens for a donation (minimum $10.)  We got her a small one when we first got her and then donated it back and bought a bigger one.  I had no idea they even had this service!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I really am not sure where I got the crate but it came with a small dent in the pan that forms the floor. The company refunded part of the money and it ended up coating me about $30. Just search around.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I agree with and will not repeat what others have said about crating. I did get a chuckle at "My dog ate my student's homework" picture though! A new twist on an old theme! LOL! Did they all get "A's" that day?

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thuy, I'm afraid this is pay-back for having the most perfectly behaved and quickly trained puppy in the universe! I remember the video of your little sweetie! Yes, I agree with everyone that he probably needs to be crated again. He is so darned cute! How do you every discipline that baby?

[Becka]

At the risk of repeating what others have already wisely said, I just wanted to point out that if Hops retreats to his crate when he anticipates anger/punishment, he's actually already showing you that the crate makes him feel secure. Therefore, it seems that crating him while you're away will prove helpful for all of you! :) PS I find Hops absolutely adorable too!