to bring the dog back to the pound?

[FairLadyRantALot]

because he is chewing everything in sight...and now he simply just did it.,...he went for the puffee and the sofa in one night.....

basically we rehomed this young (under a year presumably) Mastiff/German shephards x about 2 and a bit week ago....he is utterly gorgeous, don't get me wrong, and when he is good he is good, but when he is bad, well, he is a nightmare...

he takes dirty clothes out of the laundry baskets and shreds it, he chews through everything plastic, distroyed our floorcushion, several other cushions, including the ones from our swingsweat in the garden,he ripped out some carpets....and well...there is more....

I have really had it wiht him and want to take him back, because, well....this is just ridiculous....

my dh seems to think I am being unreasonable, but then, he has been away the past 1 and a bit week...

the dog has several toys and bones and all sorts, and it doesn't stop him, indeed he can't be bothered with things he is allowed to chew....

Oh, and anti chew spray isn't a deterrent for him...it seems...

am just so sick of it and whilst I hate the idea of taking him back there, I just can't deal with this....he is destroying my house and garden and there seems nothing I can do about it....

I wish I could say I feel better now, after I ranted on here....but right now, I am just sooooo pissed off....

Buy a crate.

I was initially dubious when I had problems with my dog, but now I would never be without it.
It solved all of our problems.

Yep, it's big and ugly, but so is having a destroyed house. Also a crate is £20-£30, house insurance excess is more, no?

PLEASE DONT TAKE HIM BACK TO A POUND!!

Speak to a german shepherd rescue - join this site animallifeline.forumotion.net/forum.htm and there is at least one on there.

Pounds normally put dogs down so if you insist on getting him a new home please go through that way.

Right - If your going to keep him its going to take alot of work. GS' are known for needing a firm hand. If you register on that site anyway and ask for some advice there wil be plenty of people who can help you get through this.

Havent read the rest of the thread only the op so appologies if i repeat anything but the home wheree you got him from should have a behaviourist who can help you with this issue. they generally dont want the dog back and only want them to be in happy homes so they could help you.

The other way to go about it is crate him when he is going to be unsupervised and get a spray bottle and spray him every time he chews someething he isnt meant to. Praisse him beyond beleif when he chews his own toys etc.

My Collie went through this phase too and patience and perseverance is the way to go. You will win the battle but I would definately contact who I got him from and ask them to help you. Good luck

I've experienced a chewer - and it can be very distructive and can happen very quickly. What we found helped:

Kong toy (get two(one to wash and refill)) - you can stuff with cream cheese and freeze - similarly with pate. Alternatively, you can find that if you really stuff it hard with shapes and stuff the last one in so that it covers the end, it takes an awfully long time to work them free.

Plenty of games with toys - and make sure he has them available in the house. Tied up old socks are great, the knots are hard, lots of angles and very satisfying ripping. Make sure though that he is told very clearly which things he is allowed to play with (and make his toys the fun, interactive ones).

Limit his access to certain rooms so you don't need to worry.

Can you get baked bones? Leave him out in the garden with a bone.

Does he like sticks? Our current dog loved sticks and she had a relatively large, splinter free one to chew inside that she knew was hers and chewable. (I know that you shouldn't encourage sticks for throwing, but they are still good for chewing)

Some dogs seem to need to chew A LOT. But often they do grow out of it eventually - and you can also teach them the acceptable boundaries.

Poor you. There is some great advice here about kongs etc and I agree about posting under pets to get advice.

I do think the rehoming centre are partly to blame too. It's a huge thing to take on a rescue dog and they should have prepared you better for dealing with such a dog although I realise they cant predict behaviour of individual dogs.

You need to decide whether you are going to stick with this dog through thick and thin - go back to the home for advice or take it back now.

I love dogs to bits but I agree with other poster who said your own sanity has to come before a dog.

just read the other posts, all brilliant advice.

But yes YABU.

A GS x mastiff is a BIG dog which will take a long time to mature and will need a lot of work.

I do get frustrated when people rehome dogs without putting A LOT of thought and effort into the sort of dog they are looking at getting - you say he looks gorgeous, but you also say you have a small house - why rehome such a big dog with a small house?
Why not get a smaller less gorgeous 2-3 year old dog?

Did you research the GS/mastiff breeds before taking it on?

Seek help. Attempt crate training. Don't give up on the dog after 2 weeks.
Also remember he has not been in a home environment and doesn't know what is/isn't acceptable.

You as an adult and a previous dog owner must be aware of the responsibilities you are taking on when you rehome a dog with potential behavioural problems.

If your family is at risk, take him back.
If you are pissed with him, that's YOUR fault.

take it back and never get a pet again. Poor thing.

Sorry, I have just read who this is, I should have done that first

Fairlady, the dog you have taken on is not going to be an easy one, I agree that the home should have made sure you understood this, he is young and has a lot to learn, he has been rehomed so, presumably, has already learnt some bad behaviours. he has also been in kennels which is noted for making dogs learn frustrated behaviours such as chewing.

Seriously, crates can work wonders. Things like the washing, well you need to keep those things out of his way and keep him out of rooms where he can do damage when you are not there. Bsically you have a large and energetic toddler, you need to upervise his every move to be able to teach him when he is doing something unacceptable, you need to make sure he is getting enough stimulation (some of that comes from excercise) and you need to provide him with things he can do without getting into trouble.

He will learn if you stick at it but it is an uphill task, I do not want to paint this rosy because it is not going to be rosy, he will get it wrong and so will you.

If you can commit to the process then things will get better but GSD and Mastiffs mature late and need a lot of work to get them to being the fantastic dogs they can be.

I'll throw my 2p in - I've had dogs that chew and ones that don't - and its a shock to suddenly have one that likes to nibble!

Its more than likely boredom mixed in with a bit of distress at new surroundings. Get him some pig-skin bones and maybe some old clothes that are HIS to chew and destroy (but make sure he doesn't eat the clothes!) and whenever he goes for anything that belongs to a human, make a big deal out of playing with him and his toys. Also consider getting some little treats (dog chocs etc) and when he does play with his own stuff, make a big deal out of telling him what a good boy he is and give him a treat. He will soon learn that his owner is pleased when he chews his own toys and will leave your stuff alone.

Make sure he is getting plenty of walks aswell.

Exercise, exercise and more exercise. 2 weeks isn't long enough for him to have settled - god knows what the poor animal went through before you got him. I think you need to think about all the options listed (crate worked for a friend with a mad dalmation) whilst our problem pooch really blossomed with puppy training classes.

With your DH on this - give it time.

I don't want to contradict you sassy so please don't take offence but I feel I have to mention that too much excercise for a dog of this breeding under 2yo can cause massive joint problems. At this age he should only really be out running once a day and then on grass without too much twisting and turning. Even walking can cause impact stress.

I agree that stimulation is the name of the game but only so much can come from excercise.

Another vote for a Crate. I hated the idea of one before we rescued our last dog. She came with a crate, which she was using as her bed, and it has been a godsend.

Overnight he should be fastened in his crate, and when you go out leaving him at home. While you are at home, keep him with you. Whenever he shows signs of trying to chew anything he shouldn't, give a stern NO, and offer him something of his own.

Make time for playing/training (one can meld into the other IYKWIM), and of course good walks. Can you take him anywhere he can run about off the lead? lots of exercise will help loads.

I do think you would be a bit mean tho', to send him back after only 2 weeks.

agree that excercise is the key, a dog needs an outlet for built up energy, walk him i the morning and when you get back, do some simple training with him.ie; sit, down. commands. he will be both physically and mentaly challenged, which both help to drain that energy which can turn into frustration. you know yourself how annoying it is if you have knothing to do. you can get quite annoyed. well i know i do. let us know how it goes.

Have only read the OP post but I have to say that you are not completely unreasonable.

We also rehomed a very bad behaved dog. I have plenty of experience with dogs, but this one was in the main leagues, just in her first weekend with us she munched beyond repair the legs of the dining room chairs, weed on the sofa, pooed on my bed, shredded two doors (we needed to replace them), dug a hole in one of the walls bad enough to leave the brick exposed, removed the wall paper of the hall and bullied the other dog, and almost caused a traffic accident. And she is just a bl*dy yorkie!

We have spent 100s in dog trainers, thousands (yes, thousands!) in replacing what she has ruined over the years and last year I spent more than £2,000 in veterinary fees because the sweet animal has not yet understand she is not supposed to swallow wood, hard plastic, or half of my clematis. 10 years on, I can not even use my kitchen properly because that is the designated area of confinement where my little tasmanian devil can be left in relative safety from herself. Last year when she spend 2 weeks at the vets I couldn't help but thinking how less stressed I felt when she was not around.

So.... please remember that you may train her, try by al means, but if you can't see you can afford to give the dog the time and money he may need.... well it is a dog, and you have to think of your family finances and sanity first. (I should take that advice myself, gosh!)

BTW, my dear lovely Yorkie is not fond of exercise, no matter how much energy she has to vandalise the house, she sits and refuse to walk if I take her further away than a couple of blocks (normally carry a canvas bag to carry her on the way back when I'm walking the other dog). And yes, she also has a crate since she was young but we can not leave her in it all day.

"We also rehomed a very bad behaved dog. I have plenty of experience with dogs, but this one was in the main leagues, just in her first weekend with us she munched beyond repair the legs of the dining room chairs, weed on the sofa, pooed on my bed, shredded two doors (we needed to replace them), dug a hole in one of the walls bad enough to leave the brick exposed, removed the wall paper of the hall and bullied the other dog, and almost caused a traffic accident."

She just hadn't been taught tho' had she ??? How could she do soooo much damage in one weekend, were you supervising her at all?

If ever any posting recommended a crate for an untrained dog, this is it.

HAve you seen my last one Clumsymum? She has always had a crate, and yes she was supervised but obviously I can't spend every second looking at her. If she is around the house, I keep her in the same room I am and close the door to prevent her from going to places where I can't see what she is at.

We have done everything the trainers have suggested (which we had done for years with other dogs) to no avail. You turn around and she has got into trouble, not even in walks you have some peace, you look to check at the sky and then down to find her chewing another dog's poo

I do think when you get a dog you have to accept that you don't know how it will behave in the house. We got a dog 6months ago and I've been prepared for any destructive behaviour. I was prepared if necessary to get the dog whatever training/behavioural therapy she would need to help her settle in. Yes, this can be expensive but it was one of the things I thought about before we got her - could we afford it if we needed to. Apart from the fact that she is proving nearly ipossible to housetrain we've been very lucky with her. While pissing on the carpet on a daily basis isn't as destructive as chewing its still annoying and my hall carpet is constantly damp. I've had to buy a carpet shampooer and have to wash my carpet most days. It probably would be easier to take her back, but its not going to happen. It is getting better - we had a whole week last week with no accidents! Then yesterday she came in from the garden, squatted down at the side of me and had a wee in the dining room!

I really think you need to perservere. I don't know how to stop a dog chewing, but a proper animal behaviourist will be able to stop this. Please get in touch with one.

stripeyoss - I've never heard of a greyhound tattoo been a gypsy tatoo, are you sure about that? My dog is a greyhound and she has a tatoo but as far as I'm aware every ex-racing greyhound will have one or two (if they're Irish) tatoos.

And yet I love her, I don't let her go because she has been with us for such a long time, but gosh, it is very hard and certainly very expensive.

I agree that its difficult to know what you're taking on. Our current dog is not too much of a chewer - less so now too - but for the first 6 months that she spent with us I had to get up every night and let her out for a wee. Suddenly after that she (I think) decided that we really weren't going to take her back to the rescue centre, and now, if its raining, she's been known to refuse to go out until 10.30 in the morning occasionally!

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks My sympathies re the weeing.

Our current dog was 2 years old and hadn't been housetrained when we got her.
One day after about 4 weeks TLC, being taken out 12 times a day etc etc. she came in from outside and did the same, wee-ed in the living room right in front of me.
Well, I was having a bad day anyway, so I'm afraid I immediately smacked her backside and marched her straight back outside, shutting her out for 2 minutes (naughty-step style).
RESULT: She hasn't done such a thing again.

Definitely a crate for night times - you can get collapsible ones that fold flat if space is at a premium. You can get quite large ones.
I'd echo what was said about Kongs, they're bloody ace, and also consider confining him to one room when you are out - my lab puppy has to stay in the kitchen when we're out where there is very little he can destroy.

clumsymum I must admit I haven't smacked her yet, maybe I ought to try it! I have shouted at her, only if catching her in the act though. A couple of days ago I shouted just as she started having a wee inside and she did stop, and ran back to her bed yelping in fear. Guess I must have been really scary! She is a bit of a wuss, I think the yelping in anticipation of something bad happening is a greyhound thing. She does it on walks if other dogs come up to her.

Sounds like you need to dog-proof your house.

If he is young, he may grow out of the chewing stage, so in the meantime, just need to keep him away from things he can damage.

Put the rubbish bin in a cupboard, shut him out of the living room at night/when you go out (to save the sofa), put the washing in the bathroom and close the door (you get my drift).

You would be very lucky to get a rescue dog (or any dog for that matter) that can be trusted alone in the house without making a mess somewhere, so you just need to make provision for it.

It is unfair to take the dog back just for that, without even trying to find a way round it. my parents have had a dog for 15 yrs that they still need to shut out of all the rooms before they go out and still need to keep the kitchen bin in the cupboard under the sink to stop him pulling it out all over the floor. MIL had a dog who could open cupboards, so she took all the door handles off.

Get into kiddy mode - safety catches on cupboard doors, shutting dog out of certain areas, etc, just until he grows out of it.

If you really can't be bothered to do that, though, then I agree with StripeyOss that you should take him back and hope he finds a family that are more prepared to put the effort in. Maybe you were just lucky with your last dog, and not prepared for this one. shame though.