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....

"MIL had a dog who could open cupboards, so she took all the door handles off."

Incredible what they manage to do, mine is a whizz with zippers, and an expert on taking things out of the washer.

One day the postman knocked at the door, 10 minutes later there's an ambulance driver asking if I was the owner of a small Yorkie...Obviously I taught the worse until he asked if I could please retrieve the dog from the ambulance, they had came to pick up the neighbour and my dog decided to join in the event. She must have escaped when I was signing for the parcel... [rolls eyes]

King Canute - no problem - I know you know what you are talking about Our terrorist seemed to really benefit from loads of walking/running/ stick fetching etc. Certainly seemed to tire her out and leave her with less motivation for rampant destruction. I wasn't suggesting 10 mile hikes 3 times a day - I have a relative at the minute who takes 2 cross breed terrier type pups out for 5 minutes morning and night and then wonders why they are wrecking her house when she's at work

"Incredible what they manage to do, mine is a whizz with zippers, and an expert on taking things out of the washer."

You're halfway there - just need to teach her how to put the stuff in the dryer...

To op..
Do you still want a dog? Or Is it that you missed your old dog, and you were hoping for a carbon copy, and this one is much much more work than you are prepared to put in ?

If so, then I think you should return the dog, and hope it gets a new owner soon.

BUT, I do think that there is hope that this dog can be trained, and 2 weeks is not a huge amount of time for a dog to settle in - poor thing is probably anxious.

How long is the dog left on his own?

Sassy, yes excercise is a definate help (and lack of it causes most behaviour issues IMHO), the point I was trying to make really is the balance thing so a 5 min trot round the block twice a day is no good but neither is a full hour chasing balls twice a day IYSWIM. Although that is only true for the next few months, once his joints harden a good hour chasing balls will probably cure half his problems!

I hate contradicting another poster when they are right but not gone far enough IYSWIM, I spend all the time until they next post with butterflies in case I have not quite expressed myself right and upset them!

(It is different to when someone is just plain wrong - then I don't care what they think )

Take it back. You will feel guilty as hell for about ten minutes. Then relieved.

I nearly lost the plot with our present dog (GSD) when he was a Pup. The final straw came when he chewed a hole in the WALL, through the breeze blocks!

If we left him in the garden he destroyed anything - even pulling pipes of of walls!!

DH built him a HUGE run for the garden. It adjoins the garage so he could go inside via the back garage door for shelter, where we left a bed, a radiator and a radio playing if he was to be left. He also had an area of Patio bigger than the size of kitchen some pups are left in.

He DID calm down - eventually. Now he is left most of the day indoors home alone & he just sleeps (or annoys the cat). He is 9 yers old, but by 1.5 he was ok to be left indoors.

However, he is still slightly unhinged and we refer to him as our Special Needs Dog

But it isn't just about OP's feelings is it? What about the dog, having to go back to the pound? Dog owners have a duty of care, you can't just dump pets when you get sick of them. There's such a thing as responsibility.

heehee loving your thread title - I always get confused about bring/take for "bringen" as well

"Take it back. You will feel guilty as hell for about ten minutes. Then relieved"

The reason dog rescue places are full to capacity is because of people like you.

Fairlady:

It does sound to me (and I haven't read all of this as I am not an AIBU person) as if the dog may have some issues, like separation anxiety.

I am a lifelong dog owner/lover and have worked with rescue dogs and I fully believe in 'till death do us part etc' but the current situation clearly isn't working.

I would suggest you talk to the rescue centre - they would want to know if things are as bad as this, and should offer some help.

A crate would be good but needs to be introduced carefully, and he may need the help of a behaviourist to get past this.

I also agree with what KC has said about you deciding if you are willing/able to put the effort in that this dog may require.

Over on Pets you can always ask for advice

Very best of luck

Lol, Emkana. I did not even notice that. I have been around German speakers too long.

It's really simple, you're not walking him enough. Teach him to fetch a stick and then chuck it for him until he collapses

lol emkana......only just noticed that....us germans can be bloody useless, eh

Anyway, I knew I was unreasonable, I kinda did, and just needed to write it down yesterday...when I had written it I only just had gotten up and found teh sofa destroyed, so, I was mostly upset and just well, fed up...

but he is worth keeping, he is gorgeous, and he is fab with the Kids and I think he will reward us, in the end, by being a great pet

I bought a massive crate (cold size a great dane apparently) and he is fine with that and didn't poo in it or anything like that....so, I know now hthat him pooing on the dining rooms floor wasn't a matter of inability to hold it in....worth knowing...
I put a massive bone in it for him to chew, as toys are mostly ignored, really....but he loves Roast bones....

I am also trying a different anti chewing stuff and a dog repellent (for the carpet) out, and hope that that will also work, who knows....

dh is back at the weekend and he has muc more dog-experience then me, so, that will help, and of course, dh being back will also mean more time and attention, which is, I think the main problem for the mutt, and I suppose that is only understandable.

Thank for the mostly gentle posts, btw I do appreciate it

Oh, and on a positve note...I now have a fab excuse to buy a new sofa...so, he kinda did me a favour

Oh, and to all those that shared their nightmare-dog-stories....wow. you all made me feel lucky as it presumably cold have all been so much worse...

anyway, thank you for taking the time to reply and all the brilliant advise...it is much appreciated!

Oh,people asked for more details....

we only take him once a day for a walk, currently....but have not developed a specific time for that, yet, sort of as and when, etc...
(he walks so lovely on his leash, which is brilliant)

until yesterday he was able to go in and out the house as he pleased...i.e. we permanently left the back door open for him (even when I was out, etc...because he would poo on the carpet otherwise)....we do have a massive garden , so, can get plenty of exercise in the garden.

not really sure what other info people like to know, lol...

does anyone know any good advice websites...maybe from a dog behaviourist?

Dogs Trust information on behaviour here:

here

Glad you came back. Maybe if everyone lays off the flamethrowers we can help you get this sorted

like I said, I thought, that considering the topic and the area I posted it, I think I came of ver lightely

thanks for the link....will have a look there!

I think doggy people are the best, obviously we are all lovely and kind

oh, and we had a very good day with Tan....he did not chew anything he shouldn't today.....so, very pleased with him....

Oh I am glad you came back fairlady, I was really worried that you were going to have gone feeling got at and fed up!

Sounds like progress is being made and a new sofa is always a good thing

Now, get the over to Pets and let us all hold hands/restrain each other whilst we get our puppies/monsters sorted

lol King

btw, it was you that mentioned that to much exercise is not good for a young big dog, and I have heard about that before...i.e. not good for the hips.

But how much is to much, and will dh cause harm by taking him out for runs...I mean, he doesn't run marathons or anything, like...

Fairlady - I sympathise. We homed a rescue beagle x spaniel at Easter who so far has caused £500 of damage (largely due to chewing a Blackberry to bits).

We decided to crate him, and touch wood, he hasn't (had the opportunity to) done anything since! He fortunately enjoys being in the crate, and goes in quite freely.

He does get 2 hours of exercise a day - which means that I was pretty pissed following the blackberry incident as we'd just come back in from a long walk! However I think exercise helps a lot - maybe ask your vet as to how much is too much running for his hips? My mate who's a vet said that at 9 mths my speagle would be fine going for 5m runs - but then he isn't a large breed prone to hip problems.

Loads of good advice here (amongst the flames ) - good luck !

Fairlady, I am no expert of course, Bella may be able to advise your better. Of course it is always best to pop into your vet and get some proper tailored avice for your dog.

I would say that he needs taking out for runs, as long as they are on soft ground not tarmac they should be fine. Time wise I would say 30 - 40 mins once a day (if you are walking with some running not just straight running) would be more than enough for the structure of a dog his age but that will not be enough to run off all his energy IYSWIM.

Teaching him games will help to keep his mind occupied, try picking one toy and giving it a name (I use a "raggy bone") use that name every time you play with it with him - repeatedly (you will sound like a loon ). After he has started getting the idea of the name start hiding it and saying "wheres the [raggy bone], find it" at first just hide it, behind your legs or something so he sees you and praise him when he gets it, build up so it is further away but he sees you, then hide it somewhere easy when he doesn't see and so on. Most dogs love find it games!

Also teach him now to retrive a ball, don't do distance or speed at this stage, it is just teaching him whilst he is young so you can use it for proper excercise when he is older.

Another good one is to teach them to run along side a bike - if you can get them to do it loose it is safer for you but is harder to teach as you need to be very sure of him (and have off road places you can cycle). Again you can't do too much now but in a few months time you will be able to take him out with the dcs on their bikes and not need to be out for too long to give him a really good run.

Assuming he is around 1yr old then you have about 6 months, maybe 10 before his skeleton is up to proper excercise, it is not all that long (well it will seem it now but when he is 12yo and doesn't want to move from the fireside it will seem nothing!) and it will mean his behaviour is likely to improve just by virtue of being fulfilled and not frustrated, between now and then just dream up any way you can to keep his mind on anything other than chewing! Kongs, bones, find it, obedience training is a good one - and he should be suited to it given his breeding, have you enrolled in any classes for him?

Anyway, I have waffled on for ages and Bella will probably come along and tell me I am talking out of my hat now so good luck with it all!

Wow, that really was waffling for ages

Re the walks. You'd do better to take him out 3* a day for 10-15 mins than once a day for 30-45 mins. Walks provide mental stimulation as well as exercise, so more outings is better. Also training, or teaching tricks, is a very good way of wearing them out. Using their brains can be very tiring. It might be worth finding a clicker training class to get some ideas there.

thanks for the advice...it really helps and gives ideas...

he really seems to be fine in the crate and seems to be used to it....which is a great relieve...he hasn't soiled it nor has he shredded the duvet which is his current dogbedding...as he had started shredding it before, well, a bit...so, it hopefully means he respects "his" home...well...I am taking it as a very positive sign, anyway!