2 year old goldendoodle eating through walls

[Melanie]

My baby goldendoodle is two years old. After we had her trained and she had no accidents for quite a while, we would leave her in the house while we went to work. After we got home, we noticed she would eat through the walls. There were scratch marks and big holes in our hallway, family room, laundry room. We started putting her in the laundry room, (it's a good size room), her bed is in there, her blankets, toys, and water. She ate through two walls in that room. My husband fixed them and then put something up so that she couldn't dig or eat through anymore. After a while, we took the hard plastic down so that we could test her so that maybe she could be in the house. I hate to confine her. The next day, another big hole. I don't know how to fix this problem since she does it when we are not home. We had a golden retriever and she had the run of the house without ever having a problem. I would love to give Maya more room, but I'm afraid that she's going to get sick, hurt herself and she's ruining the house. (She gets plenty of exercise). Any suggestions? Thanks!

Melanie

[Laura Brody, CPDT]

Melanie,

What you describe is quite serious. This is not something any professional should give advice about without seeing the dog. From the sounds of it, a behaviorist would or should be prescribing medication. I work with many Separation Anxiety cases each year and this one is far from being a case of lack of training or discipline or leadership. Please seek professional help. This is a frenzied, frantic behavior. Please see someone who is more than a dog trainer and don't let anyone tell you to punish your dog. She is already suffering terribly when you are gone.

[Adina P]

Hi Melanie,

I agree that a behaviorist would be a good next step. Do you know any in your area? Do you need references or suggestions for a behaviorist? Perhaps we can help you find a good one!

I also wanted to add ... don't despair! Even if this is as serious as it sounds, it doesn't mean it can't be helped or improved or fixed entirely...just means that you need a professional possibly.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I agree- my neighbor's golden doodle does something very similar when theyleave her alone here at their country house (She's fine in NYC, though--go figure!) Soooo, they take her in their car whenever they all go anywhere--she is happier waiting for them in the car then being left at home. This is, of course, not the solution you are looking for --but it works for them. Get professional help!

[Adina P]

Another idea...that won't solve the problem but maybe give you something for the meantime...is Doggy Daycare! In Doggy Daycare she would be surrounded with peers and fun things and be able to play and that might be helpful..maybe?

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

I would certainly crate her. I think it's for her own good.

We found that Kirby was getting nervous when we kept them in the basement and dug a bit at one of our walls and giving him freedom in the house solved that. You seem to have almost the opposite problem and I think your doodle may do better with confinement.

[Ellen]

If you do temporarily crate Maya while you're looking for a behaviorist, please remember to remove her collar. I've heard of at least 1 dog that died when his collar got caught in the crate and ended up choking him.