our family recently adopted a rescue dog, a young lab / Vizzler cross. We also have an older lab (age 10), this was one of the conditions of the adoption as the new dog would need another dog to live with for reassurance.
we have had the new dog for 6 months and he seems happy and settled in our home. He’s very much loved and part of the family.
he’s very insecure and follows our other dog everywhere and cries if for example our other dog has gone into another room and he can’t find him straight away.
he’s toilet trained which is great but he eats everything in sight. I think he was not treated well and neglected as a pup.
he has eaten our skirting boards, numerous shoes, gloves, hats, clothing, remote controls, Venetian blinds, pillows, cushions, the washing basket, loaves of bread (he opened the pantry door with his nose and paws) etc.
we obviously try and keep things out of sight but he always manages to find something. He has a lot of chewable toys - kongs, antler horns, chew sticks etc. he is well fed and exercised daily, he is not lonely DH WFH.
we got a crate but he howled and cried in so much distress I wasn’t comfortable using it as it’s quite possible he was abused and locked up and I of course don’t want to add to his trauma.
he has been to training classes and this was fine but of course doesn’t address the issue of him eating my house.
i wouldn’t consider re homing as that’s not fair on the dog or my youngest who has ASD and sees him as a therapy dog.
my home used to be tidy and maintained and now resembles something indescribable. DH regularly checks on him from his office (in the next room) but it always seems to be carnage (on a daily basis). We tried putting him in the office where DH works during the day but when his back was turned (he was on the phone so distracted) he was eating important documents off the desk and trying to chew the printer.
we love him so much but he’s so naughty 👿