Dog trashing the house

[ifoundthebread]

So I've posted alot about new dog 2 lately but I'm tearing my hair out now. She was spayed nearly 2 weeks ago, at her check up the vet said she wasnt resting enough and her muscle tissue was bulging where her incision was. I was told to stop her jumping around, walks on the lead, running up and down stairs. We have another check up tomorrow and I know the bulge hasn't reduced. My issue is how do you get a puppy (she's just gone 1) to rest, she wants to constantly rough and tumble with my older dog, I live in a 3 story house so stairs are inevitable as her bed is middle floor and food ground floor, walks on the lead is resulting in lots of pent up energy and her trashing the house the second shes by herself, I've tried Kongs and other puzzle toys but they only hold her attention for 5 minutes then she goes crazy with anything she can get a hold of. Any advice on how to help her heal as I spend most of the day trying to get her to chill out but can see she is getting frustrated and then I'm getting frustrated with the house getting trashed 😔

[Wolfiefan]

Can you move her bed and keep her to one floor? Keep her away from the older dog for a bit? Playpen for a bit?
Have a google for brain games. Try scatter feeding.
What breed is she?

[BiteyShark]

I don't walk my dog when he is recovering from an operation (he has had several) as I think the onlead walk winds him up more than no walk at all. The lead is just used to take him out in the garden to toilet.

I also keep him in one room with a mattress on the floor so he can't jump up on furniture.

I find the less he has to do (working cocker so he is an active dog) the less he wants to do.

I would separate both dogs in your case and try and keep her in one room.

[Bookworm4]

Do you have a crate? Easiest way of resting her.

[ifoundthebread]

She's a labrador x German Shepherd. I've tried Kongs with treats/peanut butter etc in, treat balls, got a game from pets at home where she has to slide the tiles to find the treat but she wasn't interested in figuring it out, bottles with a stick through so she has to spin it for the treat to fall out but she just chews the bottle till she gets the prize. Load of chew toys/teddies/balls but she doesn't know how to play, her previous owners didn't bother with toys just let her play with their other dog. Putting her crate downstairs is an option but it's just the kitchen down stairs and will be lonely for her as living area is upstairs.

[ifoundthebread]

She does have a crate but goes nuts once the door is closed, shes the same in any room, hates feeling trapped?

[MrsMozartMkII]

You need to train her to be crated, and keep everything on the ground floor.

I've met three of that particular cross and they've all been strong willed and dominant. Get a behaviourist in to help.

[Bookworm4]

I think you need to work on her crate training, make sure it’s an adequate size,never use it as punishment/time out. She can learn that calm times are needed.

[SlothMama]

Work on her crate training, feeding her in it can help. I'd keep the two dogs to separate areas, separate them with baby gates. It can be so hard to keep a young dog quiet but it's important for her recovery

[ifoundthebread]

Baby gates don't work. We use to have them on the stairs but she can jump them without a second thought, even the 'extra tall' ones. The only way to seperate the dogs would be to lock one in a room, but they both dig and jump at the doors and I fear one of them will hurt themselves. She's generally good at doing as she's told when I'm home and will just lie and chill out, but it's once I'm gone. The previous owners said they used to crate her when they went out, may just have to follow through with this while I'm out. Just feel bad crating one and not the other.

[Wolfiefan]

If she’s destroying the house when you’re gone then is it separation anxiety?

[LochJessMonster]

Freeze the Kongs, wrap them in newspaper and then put them in a box etc

Smear gravy/peanut butter etc on a lickimat and then freeze it.

Scatter feed in the garden

Feed her in the crate, with the door open. Give all food/treats in the crate. Build a positive relationship with the crate.

Its a nightmare now but it won't go on forever!

[ifoundthebread]

Not sure on the seperation anxiety, she doesn't mind being in another room as long as the door is open, she sleeps in a different room all night. Just looking on Google and the only sign she is showing is the destruction when we go out.

[Spanielmadness]

If she’s trashing the brain games she can’t understand them. Show her how they work or make them easier at first. You have to put the time in. You can’t just hand them to her or leave her to it. Teach her tricks such as to crawl under a chair or ring a bell.

[ifoundthebread]

She doesn't trash the games because she doesn't understand, she's just figured it's easier to chew the bottle and get them all at once rather than put the work in to spin the bottle to maybe win a treat. I like the idea of her having to work to find the kong and the mats, I'll give them a go, thanks

[ifoundthebread]

She doesn't mind being in the crate to nap during the day and I think she uses as a safe place as its where she goes (off her own back) when someone enters the house she doesn't know very well, but doesn't like being locked in. 🤷‍♂️ It's a working progress I suppose

[Wolfiefan]

Could still be separation anxiety. It’s very hard to cure. Is she a rescue? Could that be why she was given up? A dog with SA can’t be left any longer than it’s happy with. Only that way do they become happy being left. It’s not easy.

[ifoundthebread]

No i got her from a friend of a friend. I believe they had issues with her and just sold them on rather than fix them.

[Wolfiefan]

This could well have been one of the issues. It could mean she can’t be left alone. Very difficult.

[Wolfiefan]

Sorry. Went to let the dog in the garden and ended up pressing post by mistake.
If you’re on FB there’s a brilliant group called dog training advice and support. Run by proper behaviourists who use positive techniques. I followed their advice about leaving my highly anxious (chewed through a wall) young dog. Now she’s fine to be left for a couple of hours or more.

[WorldEndingFire]

As others have said you need to train the dog to make positive associations with being in a crate. Have a look at KikoPup on YouTube who is an excellent trainer.

Read "In Defense of Dogs" as well, it's an excellent introductory explanation of how canine behaviour works.

Keep the dogs separated for now, work on the crate training and prevent access to the other floors.

[ifoundthebread]

Dog2 went to the vets yesterday for another post op check. She was seen by a couple of different people and they all agreed the bulging wasn't muscle but a fluid build up. They drained it, all went well, incision still has a bit healing to do but looking good so far. They agreed she can now do a bit more running about but nothing too straining, I have walked the dogs separately the last couple of days as I realised walking them both on the lead together was making them both have lots of pent up energy in the house. Dog 1 has been less inclined to play fight with dog 2 since he can have a good run around. Dog 2 is also chilling out more now dog 1 isn't entertaining her efforts 😂 still going to concentrate on positive associations with the crate. Since the walking them seperate all she does is tip the bin over, she's a true scavenger, but I can live with picking rubbish up until we can get back to full exercise.