Getting to the point of caging or rehoming my dog

[DWSDB]

I’ve got 2 dogs, one is a 9 year old beagle X and the other (the one im referring to) is an 18 month lab X. I love them both dearly but she is driving me up the wall with her behaviour as of late.

The dogs are fed twice a day, when we are working they are walked twice a day and once if we are at home. I wfh quite a lot so they’re only left in this position two days a week.

Previously, we gave the dogs the run of the downstairs and left them with different toys/kongs/snuffle mats. Dog walker comes in the afternoon and my mum let them out in the morning. The lab X has then taken to going to the toilet in the same place every day (despite multiple cleaning products) so we have cut down the amount of room they have.

Since then, after an hour alone, she has fought with my other dog over food to a point where he had to have surgery to be stitched back together (weirdly they’re still best friends) so we then kept them seperate when we went out with their treats
. When this has happened she has ripped off the door frame at the bottom because she hates being alone so we have put them together with nothing to keep them entertained. I feel bad for my other dog who’s done nothing wrong.

Because she has nothing to do she has now taken to counter surfing. We did loads of training to stop her doing this but she simply waits until we aren’t in the room. I can’t put her in the living room as this is where she was going to the toilet and can’t seperate them as she rips the house apart.

Despite keeping the counters clear and putting things high up she’s somehow managed to still get them and has learned to open the cupboards to get food out.

She’s broken my sons heart today as he left the room for a second to put something in the outside bin and for the first time he has prepared us dinner and dessert and she ate the lot in seconds.
Obviously I get this will be my fault cause someone should have been watching but it’s getting stupid now.

Her needs are met. She’s walked good long walks, she gets fed and, when I’m there, will give them both bones etc. Shes given loads of love and attention and I’m just at a loss of what to do with her.

I feel cruel leaving her in a cage for six hours a day but atleast I can give her some things to keep her occupied and she will be walked and let out and free when we are home which is a lot of the time or the dogs tend to come out with us. The other alternative is that she has to go. if this happens I will make sure she goes to a loving home and maybe I’ve got tunnel vision but I’m at my wits end with her. I’m 7 months pregnant and worrying every time I leave the house is driving me insane.

she is a genuinely lovely sociable dog whose amazing to be around but I must be letting her down one way or another for this to be happening and I am at a loss what to do next.

Beware of crates op. If dogs are determined and really anxious they can try to chew their way out and hurt themselves. I wonder is she overstimulated she is getting out so much could these be simply rest days with a dog sitter and one walk only in the morning. Is there too much anticipation of different comings and going’s and walk son these home days.

My dog is now really old but she is still a bit anxious. Her dog walker picks her up early, like 8.30 when DH and DC are still here. She’s then dropped off really tired and then sleeps for the rest of the day. For our dog this works better than a dog walker picking her up later.

Also when our dog was 18 months a 45 minute walk would have done nothing to tire her out! What’s the dog like after loads of exercise, like running alongside a bike?

Dogs can be overstimulated as well as understimulated. I suspect you are dealing over overstimulation mixed with seperation anxiety. I would get in a behaviourist to help with the SA and start working on a good calm/settle cue plus rewarding her when you do happen to catch her resting.

My Beagle x can be prone to overstimulation. I had to teach him how to settle because he literally would not chill until he dropped from exhaustion. He now has a fairly structured day with scheduled times for feeding, walking, training/mental stimulation, playing and relaxing/being calm in the house.

hi OP, is there a way to section off the room so the dogs are together but can't have a go at each other? i have no idea the layout of your house or if that would even be practical for you. long/extendable baby gates ? So both dogs can see each other and kind of snuggle next to each other if they wish but have relative freedom in the same room?

The pooing thing might just be timing of feeds and taking out isn't quite right for her at the moment. Don't despair just yet!