I have an 16 month old German Shepherd. She is a wonderful dog – but
destructive when left home alone. When we crate her she claws and
nuzzles trying to get out, resulting in a nose full scars and open
wounds. We tried leaving her outside but she started eating the house
trying to get in. Recently, we have been leaving her free in the
house, and she has been good for quite a while, occasionally there
will be a chewed up magazine or something but I can live with that.
This past week however, every day I have come home to chewed up
pillows. I'm afraid that my couch is going to be the next target.

I'm having a hard time because we leave the poor dog home all day
while my husband and I are at work. I can't blame her for being
bored. She is a perfect dog while we are home - she just has this
terrible separation anxiety. I'm guessing that the best solution is
just to crate her and hopefully she'll stop injuring herself trying to
get out, but I wanted to post my story to see if anyone can offer any
suggestions.

. I'm guessing that the best solution is
just to crate her and hopefully she'll stop injuring herself trying to
get out, but I wanted to post my story to see if anyone can offer any
suggestions.

What I would do is get another dog. Keep her busy playing and not
being destructo-dog.

Dana and Guinness

. I'm guessing that the best solution is
just to crate her and hopefully she'll stop injuring herself trying to
get out, but I wanted to post my story to see if anyone can offer any
suggestions.

What I would do is get another dog. Keep her busy playing and not
being destructo-dog.

Dana and Guinness

. I'm guessing that the best solution is
just to crate her and hopefully she'll stop injuring herself trying to
get out, but I wanted to post my story to see if anyone can offer any
suggestions.

What I would do is get another dog. Keep her busy playing and not
being destructo-dog.

Dana and Guinness

. I'm guessing that the best solution is
just to crate her and hopefully she'll stop injuring herself trying to
get out, but I wanted to post my story to see if anyone can offer any
suggestions.

What I would do is get another dog. Keep her busy playing and not
being destructo-dog.

Dana and Guinness

In article ,
Dana Taramina wrote:
What I would do is get another dog. Keep her busy playing and not
being destructo-dog.

I would be concerned about ending up with two bored,
destructive dogs. Two dogs can get into three times as much
trouble as one dog, and it advances geometrically from
there. There's nothing like a team effort.

http://www.employees.org/~shore/trashedbedroom2.jpg
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

The number of mass layoffs increased 25% in January

In article ,
Dana Taramina wrote:
What I would do is get another dog. Keep her busy playing and not
being destructo-dog.

I would be concerned about ending up with two bored,
destructive dogs. Two dogs can get into three times as much
trouble as one dog, and it advances geometrically from
there. There's nothing like a team effort.

http://www.employees.org/~shore/trashedbedroom2.jpg
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

The number of mass layoffs increased 25% in January

In article ,
Dana Taramina wrote:
What I would do is get another dog. Keep her busy playing and not
being destructo-dog.

I would be concerned about ending up with two bored,
destructive dogs. Two dogs can get into three times as much
trouble as one dog, and it advances geometrically from
there. There's nothing like a team effort.

http://www.employees.org/~shore/trashedbedroom2.jpg
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

The number of mass layoffs increased 25% in January

In article ,
Dana Taramina wrote:
What I would do is get another dog. Keep her busy playing and not
being destructo-dog.

I would be concerned about ending up with two bored,
destructive dogs. Two dogs can get into three times as much
trouble as one dog, and it advances geometrically from
there. There's nothing like a team effort.

http://www.employees.org/~shore/trashedbedroom2.jpg
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

The number of mass layoffs increased 25% in January

Davies said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

I'm having a hard time because we leave the poor dog home
all day while my husband and I are at work. I can't blame
her for being bored. She is a perfect dog while we are
home - she just has this terrible separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety is way over diagnosed, IMO.

It sounds that you're on the right track - somewhere between
crating and full freedom seems to work. How about the same full
freedom that you've had reasonably good results from, but
increase the excerise before and after you leave her alone?

If you need suggestions for mind-engaging toys, just ask. There
are lots of good ideas in this group.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.