Author Topic: Destructive behaviour  (Read 712 times)

Offline GillianD

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Destructive behaviour
« on: January 17, 2010, 01:46 PM »
Hi everyone,

I really need to ask some advice.  Our rr is just over 7 months old and has been crate trained since she was a young puppy.  She has never been told off in the crate and the crate has never been used for anything negative.  She has also been locked in the crate if we have left the house with something to chew like a frozen kong with peanut butter in or something else she likes.  Recently she has started to tear up her bed and chew the blankets.  Is this a phase shes going through??  Its extremely destructive and expensive to keep replacing beds and blankets. 

Im wondering if its lack of excercise, because she pulls on the lead, we have been told by a local breeder to take her for short 10 minute walks and turn in the opposite direction everytime she pulls.  Apparently this is enough to keep her attention and wear her out but prior to this new walking regime she was having a run everynight in the park and no destructive behaviour was occuring.

I hope its only a phase shes going through-maybe its anxiety related but why would she become anxious in her crate now after she has been used to it for months?

I hope someone can help :)

G&L

Offline RhodieRidge

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Re: Destructive behaviour
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2010, 04:27 PM »
I do not think a 10 minute WALK is enough to tire ANY dog out!! These dogs need to RUN! To PLAY, to get all that energy out. I suspect that is the main issue. Exercise and obedience training should be done separately. You should either use those 10 minutes as obedience loose leash training, OR as a jog or run in the backyard playing fetch or letting her run off some steam.

Nowadays there are TONS of new equipment out there to help with pulling. If you dont want to use any of the equipment, keep a pocketful of treats and encourage her to stay at your side on leash by patting your thigh or using her name and treating her constantly as she is at your side. This is the "jackpot" zone and with time, the dog learns that good things happen when they stay in that area. But, this method of training probably takes the most time to train.

Also, instead of walking in straight lines, alot of people will randomly turn left, right, or about face while on their walks, as you mentioned when you notice them get to the end of the line. This basically keeps the dog on their toes and forces them to pay attention to where you are because they have no idea where they are going next. Turning the opposite direction works under the same principle that if you pull, you go a different way than where you wanted to go. But this training should also coincide with a reward once your dog comes back to you.

Next there are harnesses, front clip harnesses to be exact. The leash actually clips on the front of the harness near the breastbone, and when the dog reaches the end of the leash the pressure actually turns their body away from the direction they were pulling, effectively training them that "pulling takes me AWAY from where I wanted to go!"

They also make head halters for very strong pullers. Control the head, and you control the dog. You must be very careful with these harnesses and not jerk on the leash at all since they rest over the dogs nose and could injure them if used harshly.

You can also simply just STOP the instant the leash goes tight. Remain still until the DOG puts forth the effort to return to you and puts slack in the leash. You can use treats to reward this or just simply use moving forward as the reward. If you find the dog is mesmerized by something in the distance, you can break their concentration by calling their name, make a kissy noise, or something to call their attention back to you and make them loosen the lead.


Even though puppy is only 7 months old, she still needs alot of exercise. By replacing her bedding everytime she rips it, you are only furthering her learning how to shred things. And the more she is ABLE to do it, the more engrained in her brain the behavior will become. But I suspect that by just increasing the level of exercise she is getting, you may see the problem go away on its own as she is most likely just trying to get rid of pent up energy.
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Offline caro

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Re: Destructive behaviour
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2010, 06:31 PM »
Good advice Andrea.  There's a lot of information about stopping pulling on the Forum.  I agree, your puppy is not tired when you put her in the crate, so she is frustrated and takes her frustration out on her bedding.  You could try putting newspaper in her crate instead of blankets.  She can shred the newspaper and it won't cost you as much to replace as the blankets.

Caroline

Offline rrmom

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Re: Destructive behaviour
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2010, 12:17 AM »
I have to say that Kumba has chewed his beds in the crate since he was small.  Even now he will do it if I put a blanket or a dog bed in there.  He gets plenty of exercise and is only in the crate when I have to go out without him or at night (he can't be trusted not to chew on things yet, we are getting there though).He will not destuff the beds lying around the house, only the ones that we put in his crate.  I bought three Kurunda beds thinking that I would put one in the crate and have the other two around the house. He hated them and would look tortured if I asked him to lie on it. So two went to a friend but I kept the one in the crate.  They are indestructible but comfy to lie on.  I don't know why he destuffs beds in the crate but I have given up on giving him one in there.  I do agree that 10 minute walk is definitely not long enough.
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Offline GillianD

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Re: Destructive behaviour
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2010, 07:27 AM »
Thanks for your replies.  Its nice to have some feedback from experienced owners.  The breeder who I contacted said 10 minute walks several times a day should be enough give her the excercise she needs because she will be using up her concentration, which will make her tired and not the think of them as "walks" but as short training sessions, where she is encouraged not to pull.  I suspect the problem is boredom related and so she takes her frustration out on the bed.  At the moment she has blankets in there.

There is a seperate issue of anxiety, which from reading the forum, Ive come to understand is pretty common in the rr breed.  I read in one post,. where the owner couldn't even leave the room to make a cup of tea.  Do you think the bed chewing and destruction could also be related to that?  If I leave the room she howls and cries-although this is not consistent, sometimes she stays on her bed asleep.

Offline sirsloop

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Re: Destructive behaviour
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2010, 11:54 PM »
Indy will cry and whine when I leave the room, but its only cause he's an attention whore and wants to hang out 24x7.  If i'm not looking at him, he'll start making all sorts of wacky sounds.  As I type this, Indy is in his crate behind me making fake snoring noises.  He's wide awake seeing what noise will get me to turn around and look at him!!! :D :D :D :D

Offline Vince

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Re: Destructive behaviour
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2010, 07:47 AM »
Funny stuff. You'll soon find out, as I did, that Rhodys are real people pups. They always want to be with you. It's a beautiful thing....

Offline RhodieRidge

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Re: Destructive behaviour
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2010, 10:37 PM »
Destruction as a result of separation anxiety is a whole different problem. If THIS is the case, then its an entirely different method of training to overcome that. My Stormy has separation anxiety when left in crates or kennels when Im at dog shows or at work, but she is not destructive- she just whines and barks at the top of her lungs when I go out of sight. And no amount of toys, treats, cookies, or bones will she eat until I return.

Anyway, like I said, its a totally different issue than just having pent up energy. Some people train it out on their own or with the help of a professional, some ease the stress with the use of drugs, it really just depends on what your particular goals are. 
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Offline Bear_Hunter

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Re: Destructive behaviour
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2010, 01:58 AM »
Not sure about the eating in the kennel but I have the walking down I think

When walking Odin he used to want to pull a bit on his leash.   I just have a simple collar not a choke or pincher, or gentler leader.   So if he wants to pull he can try.  But I've taught him that pulling is counter productive.   If he starts to pull somewhere in a hurry I give him a sharp yank.  If he does not stop after the correction, I give another, stop walking, and tell him to sit.  If hes to hyper to sit I give him a quick little jab behind the ribs.  Nothing to hurt the dog but enough to get its attention focused on me.  Then I repeat the sit using the leash to guide, and he sits.  Until I decide to go.  Keep up strict rules like that and you'll be able to walk forever.

I can now use "Lets go" and give him slack leash he will stay with me.  (even off leash).   And I can use the command "Heel" and he will stand beside me on or off leash. Even around other dogs, though that took even more work. It seems RR's are pretty stubborn.  Just don't give in, stay in control and they will learn.  Oh, for the heel, when ever he does a good heel for about a block and does not try to run off, I toss him a small liver cookie and praise.   But for just "lets go" his reward is getting to explore on the walk.   Might help with burning some energy, but the best way to burn energy i've found is.. off leash play time with other dogs.