Help! My dog is tearing up...?

Question

A little background. Got the dog from animal rescue. He has always been a submissive dog, peeing when people pet him, etc. We had a very aggresive dog also for a few years. When my ex left he took the aggressive one. So now it is just Buddy. We starting letting be an indoor dog except for during the day. He has always been afraid of thunder, fireworks. Now he freaks. No one home the other day, he was outside. Came home, the front door is a mess - VERY badly scratched up. If you can even smell rain - he will not go outside. We live in a sparsely populated area outside a small town. He just stays on the front porch. I have an 8x8 x 6 foot high chain link pen, but he tears at the door of that till he ends up hurting himself. Any suggestions? leaving him in the house during the day is not an option.

Answer 1

He will be safe in the house in a crate.  Never use the crate as a place of punishment as this will become "his house"...  his safe place.

My dogs are always left in their houses when I leave as I do not trust them being left outside...  not that they would leave their yard as they love the yard but someone might steal them.  Large dogs come up missing in our area all the time..

He will sleep while you are gone.  It will be ok

Good Luck

H.O.T. Dog

Handler Owner Trainer of GSD's

Member U.S.A. & A.W.D.F.

http://360.yahoo.com/sewwoodyou

Answer 2

maybe you can leave him inside but in a crate?

Answer 3

Put him in a crate while you are gone. Play background music.

My dog would tear up my carpet and door when we would leave the house.

But if we have the tv on or music playing she is just fine.

Answer 4

Why is leaving him in the house not an option? Unless you like your door being torn to sh**, that's probably all you can do. You could make a kennel/pen for him farther away from the house, but make sure you have a doghouse in the kennel as well, so he can hide somewhere when he's scared. He may just tear up the dog house, I'm not sure. Anxiety issues are VERY hard to deal with. Would he be better if he had a companion dog? My in laws had a few dogs, all of which were not destructive. The two females died, leaving the male alone. Now, when there's a storm, the dog tears up the front door and frame. He's broken teeth and nails doing it. Nothing helps, he's just scared and no longer has the comfort of the other dogs.

Answer 5

How about leaving him in the house during the day BUT in a crate? Leaving him outside when your not home when is could storm and maybe something worse is kinda cruel.

Answer 6

When you got him from the animal rescue group you signed a contract saying you were adopting and indoor pet.  The only time they do not use "indoor " pet is when you adopt livestock, horse, goat, pig, etc.  

You must keep him inside or return him to find a better home.  It is better for you and for him to be in the right home environment.  

There are ways to help a dog overcome fears, but this is not the way.   It takes time you may not have if you work full time.  Really consider finding him a better home.  Be fair.

Answer 7

get a crate and put it inside for the day

Answer 8

Why can't you crate him in the house?

Answer 9

Well, you can give it away to someone else!

you can get a new pet like another dog or a rabbit or something.

I advice you to ge to the vet, or you can get someone to babysit him when you are not avalabile, and pick him up on your way home.

Good Luck!