Dog in Kitchen trashcan

[Sean McKillop]

I have a 3yr old Germon Shepard mix that I adopted from the animal shelter six weeks ago. I was at home all the time with her for the first three weeks recovering from surgery. I then started physical therepy and had to leave her home alone for about 2 hrs a day. When I came home she had been allover the furniture, so I started putting things on the furniture to keep her off. She then started to take things from my kitchen counter, such as 2 1/2 pounds of chicken brest thawing in the sink (I only found the empty bag). She has also ripped a window screen out of my livingroom. She howls, crys and barks when I leave the house, no one else only me. But the last straw was when I came home to the kitchen trash cans contense all over the house, from the kitchen, LR, hall, BR and the bathroom. It was all over the furniture and the beds. She now is kept tied up in the yard and I have ordered a crate for her to stay in when the weather is bad. Does anyone have a cure for keeping dogs from acting out this way? she is a great dog and pet and we love her, but I do have to go out.

[heathea]

Yes, there is a cure.

Find a space in your house that is "her place" whether that be a crate or an "area" (I use the basement hallway) and train her to that area when you go. Look into the crate training section and start reading articles.
Also, sounds like your dog has some separation anxiety which is very common in rescue dogs. Read some of those articles as well.

On a totally seperate note, I highly recommend a metal can with a lid and pedal to open it, our dogs don't get into it when we are home and since they are locked up when we are gone, it is a non-issue.

[heathea]

Also, tying your dog in the yard is a very bad idea, many dogs choke and hang themselves in what turns out to be a slow and painful death. Please don't do that.

[Marsha]

I also had to go with a metal can with lid that you step on to open. I had a heavy oak trash can with a lid that swung open, and that worked very well, too. I got it at a wood furniture shop.

[Chris Smith]

It sounds like your dog is doing very normal dog stuff - remember, chicken breast and trash are very delicious things to a dog!!

You need to make a "dog-proof" area for him. This could be a crate, but at 3 years old, if he is not accustomed to a crate, he may have a real hard time being put in one. If he takes to it, that would be great.

Another option is a room that is safe for a dog to be in (laundry room, bathroom, kitchen, basement) that you have looked over VERY carefully from the view point of a dog. You need to get down at his level and make sure there is NOTHING that he can grab or reach. This includes anything on the counters, towels hanging, no exposed electrical cords, remove all trash bins or have the types with tight lids, etc. The area should be quite plain aside from his bed, toys, and water. And you can use tall baby gates or closed doors or other types of gates to close him into that area. Than he can move around and play by himself but not hurt himself or hurt your house. It is also good to have music playing (classical or soothing music) or a TV going for distraction from outside noises.

Often times when dogs are "doing things wrong like you describe, it is because we didn't clean things up well to make it safe for our home and the dog.

[aussiesmum]

When we got a dog, I told my partner (who has never had a dog before) anything on the ground or lower then 3 feet belongs to the dog. Chewed up shoes, too bad, on the ground. Chewed up wires, too bad, on the ground.

So, we puppy proofed our house. Shoes go in a no-dog zone. Wires are neatly stapled to the wall. Trash can lid always stays closed. Dangerous stuff put in top shelves. You have to think of your pup as a toodler, which means doing the same proofing. You can teach your dogs to avoid or not chew on these things by keeping them our of reach and giving alternatives, AND giving your dog a place where he CAN be a dog. As suggested, a basement, a lanundry closet (in our case, the hallway).

[Sean McKillop]

Thanks to all for the input on the SA and trash can issue. Now That I have purchased a new crate I can't get her to go into it with out a fight and once in it all she will do is cry-bark-howl- and chew at the bars trying to get out. I fear that she will hurt herself or her teeth. I have given her toys and chews. She hates it! :confused:

[Jill Ramsey]

Sean,
Did you read the article on crate training? Forcing her in won't accomplish anything. She needs to learn to love her crate. Just follow the instructions in the article ;)

[Melissa Brunoehler]

Hi Sean~

It's important to go very slowly with your pup. As Jill stated you can not just shove your pup into the crate, this will create more problems in the long run.
Here are 2 articles that will help you.
http://www.clickersolutions .com/articles/2001/crate.htm
http://www.clickersolutions .com/articles/2002/sa.htm

If you have any questions after reading the articles, please ask.

Remember- go slowly!

Thanks to all for the input on the SA and trash can issue. Now That I have purchased a new crate I can't get her to go into it with out a fight and once in it all she will do is cry-bark-howl- and chew at the bars trying to get out. I fear that she will hurt herself or her teeth. I have given her toys and chews. She hates it! :confused:

[Melanie Xarti]

I'm sure you have done your share of reading and what not since you first sought help. I figured I'd add a little bit more.

You mentioned that she only goes crazy when you leave her. It might help to work on calming her anxiety issues... get her to the point where she feels safe and relaxed to be alone, and confident that you are coming back. Often, a dog's separation anxiety begins to kick in before you ever leave. They might recognize that every time you pick up your keys, you will soon be out the door (for example). Try to desensitize her to those triggers. Work in baby steps to ensure that she knows you will always come back when you leave, and there's nothing to worry about.
Examples:
Pick up your keys when your home for a while, and just carry them with you and go nowhere. Do this often.
Leave the house and return after 5 minutes. Do this often.
Leave the dog a kong full of goodies when you leave.
Never make a big deal about leaving. Don't make a big deal about coming home, either.
...and so many more....

here are a few links with easy information:
http://pa.essortment.com/canineseparatio_rhvr .htm
http://canines.com/library/sepanxiety.shtml
http://www.petcaretips.net/canine_separation_an xiety.html

Be kind and patient!
Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

[Marsha]

Acrate is what I use to keep my puppy out of trouble when I'm gone. With my last dog, he eventually got to the point that he didn't need to go in his crate, but I don't remember how long that was. I know I'm a long way from that day with this current puppy, at 10 months old. Ours goes in willingly because he gets a piece of hot dog to go in. He will go in and sit and wait to get the hot dog. That doesn't mean he's all that pleased to be in there once the hot dog is gone. He's actually fine in his crate, but if he can see or hear us he will bark to get out. If we're gone, he's fine, though. We come home and he's sound asleep. We can even come home and he will see us and go back to sleep sometimes, so he's fine once he's determined we're gone and he's not going to be coming out. All he does is sleep.
It has been suggested by some to leave a couple of stuffed (frozen, to last longer) kong's with a dog in his crate to help him settle down. I knew of someone who had a Golden Retriever that she was about to get rid of because he barked in his crate while she was gone and disturbed the neighbors. She lived in a duplex. She started leaving him 3 stuffed kongs in his crate, and she could be gone up to several hours with no problem at all.

[Grace Erick]

I saw my chihuahua one day looking like she was smoking a cigarette. It was a cotton swab hanging out of her mouth from my husband's bathroom garbage can that is very small for my little one to get into:) Now he throws them in the big garbage in our kitchen.

I know some people have good luck with crates, but if the dog is already feeling some anxiety, I would think it would be better for him to have more space like being closed in a room that is doggie proofed. Have his bed in their with food and water and some toys that are safe to left alone with him.

Like Chris was saying, he may not be a happy camper in a crate if he wasn't trained as a pup to be in one. I know you aren't happy either, but maybe there can be a compromise.