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)

[Christine & Camus]

You might consider still crating him, although he may need a bigger crate.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Omg I actually thought there was a cream shag rug and there was a pillow destroyed somewhere on top!

[Adina P]

I think he used the pillow insides to show you how GOOD a cream shag rug would look in your living room.