@#%& dog at it again!

longshadowfarms · #1 05/03/05, 06:58 PM

Some of you might remember our dog barking through the night for no apparent reason. That finally stopped of its own accord. Now he's on to chewing the walls! It had happened a few years ago and we had blamed the psycho Pyr we had at that time. Now we're beginning to suspect that it was probably the psycho labrador! He doesn't seem to stick to one annoying habit but picks them up and drops them on his own terms. He just chewed a hole in a wall in a room I JUST finished painting about a month ago! ARGH! I'd crate the @#%& dog if it was just night time but he did this right while we were sitting there in the room! He is kind of a nervous dog but this behavior is really driving me nuts!

bare · #2 05/03/05, 07:02 PM

Chewed a hole through the wall?!? Sheesh, never heard of such a thing. Maybe there's a reason all your dogs are psycho? Ask that psycho Yeller Feller.

Fla Gal · #3 05/03/05, 07:36 PM

The lab I had a while back, outside days - inside nights, chewed a bunch of stuff. She started with the carpet edge in the living room, moved on to just about anything that had been directly in my hands and when she chewed up the corners of my tackle box and one of the front window shutters, I was steaming.

Long story short, I had to take her back to animal control because she was just too big for this postage stamp size property and was very bored with no room to run. Darn shame that she didn't have the big family she deserved when she was here. Very good, but bored dog.

southerngurl · #4 05/03/05, 07:51 PM

The dog sounds very bored.

caberjim · #5 05/03/05, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bare

Chewed a hole through the wall?!? Sheesh, never heard of such a thing. Maybe there's a reason all your dogs are psycho? Ask that psycho Yeller Feller.

Our Belgian chewed thru a door in a house we had moved into that day. We put her in the basement while we went back for the rest of our stuff. Chewed a hole in the bottom of the door big enough ofr a 100olb dog to squeeze thru in just about an hour as I recall.

Queen Bee · #6 05/03/05, 07:57 PM

She might have some medical condition.. Ear ache, toothache, hip dys., If not a medical cond. I would say bored....Every dog needs a job... find one for her/him.

longshadowfarms · #7 05/03/05, 10:28 PM

THe "bored" issue has certainly occurred to me but he is 10 yrs old and very arthritic. I can't even take him for the sluggish walks I take with my Pyr or he'll sit down half way and refuse to continue. This is a dog we inherited about 3-4 years ago when his first owner died of cancer. Prior owner had let him jump out of the back of the truck for many years so his front elbows are in terrible shape. We are home all day with 3 busy kids in a very busy house. He can go in and out all day as he pleases. He will only chew light pieces of rawhide for a short period of time. Why the walls?!!!??? If anyone has a job they think such an old dog can handle, I'd love to hear it.

Bare, all my dogs aren't psycho, just Pyr #1 (his sister was also psycho as in attacking people) and this Lab. I currrently have 2 other wonderful Labs and a wonderful Pyr. Have also had 2 departed wonderful Labs. This one is just a certified PITA. His previous owner used to try to tell me but I never understood his frustration with the dog until it came to live here.

Little Quacker in OR · #8 05/03/05, 11:10 PM

Hi Daph! I have great faith in specialists trainers. In your shoes I would be on the phone calling every Vet and Obedience Club in your area to get a referral to someone who specializes in anxiety ridden dogs with special problems.

I had never been to one of these specialist until I got Savannah..I think you have seen her picture..she's a red cattle dog and was tied in a back yard her first year of life and absolutely hated other dogs...she was really homicidal towards them. People of all sizes and ages she just loved but any dog...look out!

After a futile try at regular basic obedience and gaining longer arms due to her raging up and down at other dogs I gave up as the class did no good since she just couldn't concentrate on anything but killing the other dogs, I went to a behaviour specialists...It was a 100 mile drive every Saturday but it was worth it. After having her for two years Savannah is now in a regular class and going for her CGC certificate. I know you don't want this for your dog..you just want her and you to be happy and settled with no barking or chewing.

As these specialists attend seminars all over the continent they know one another for the most part, and belong to nationwide organizations. I'll look for the name of the org that the trainer here belongs to..maybe there will be someone where you are that is good at this and can help you.

I know it's a trial and really tough when we love them and want to help but can't seem to find a way.

LQ

Little Quacker in OR · #9 05/03/05, 11:20 PM

Here is the Association of Pet Dog Trainers website. If they can't help with your dogs anxiety attacks they may well know some one who can.

http://www.apdt.com/

Just out of curiousity..have you considered acupuncture? I mention that because a friend of mine's horse that was trying his best to kill himself was treated by this method and he is back in the show ring now. I know nothing about it, I was just wondering.

It's hard when we don't know if the medical condition is making this worse or what.

Good luck, LQ

Quint · #10 05/04/05, 03:16 AM

My lab was a chewer. Not with things in the house but anything else. His bowls, his water bucket, aluminum pie plates, his frisbees and toys. He also would find a stick outside and just lay down and start chewing. I also suspected he died of termites and not old age.

OldYellersGhost · #11 05/04/05, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bare

Chewed a hole through the wall?!? Sheesh, never heard of such a thing. Maybe there's a reason all your dogs are psycho? Ask that psycho Yeller Feller.

My advice?
I recommend you watch Pet Psychic on Animal Planet.

Brandi in VA · #12 05/04/05, 07:04 AM

My bet would be he's in pain and redirecting his pain by chewing on things. This could also have been in the issue with the barking. Redirecting pain in other ways is common in dogs. Is he on anything for his elbows? How about his hips, had them checked out?

Lerxt · #13 05/04/05, 03:32 PM

I have a lab mix that chewed walls twice. She's black so the drywall makes it obvious who it was even though there was another dog around. Only did it twice - 9months old and 5 years old. At 9 months she did it while crated when I was at work. Yep, chewed an 8" diameter hole in a wall from inside her crate. At 5 years she was locked in the basement (with the other dog) while I was at work. Then she puked the drywall all over a dark purple denim sofa.

I'd go with boredom as the reason but with a lab (lab-mix) I have to say they can be pretty dumb and there may not be a reason beyond that.

longshadowfarms · #14 05/04/05, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandi in VA

My bet would be he's in pain and redirecting his pain by chewing on things. This could also have been in the issue with the barking. Redirecting pain in other ways is common in dogs. Is he on anything for his elbows? How about his hips, had them checked out?

I've been watching him closely today and think you may have hit the nail on the head. I confess to not paying much attention to his health. He's always been the easy one (we thought). The 13 yr old and his 10 yr old brother always seem to have more health problems so I don't worry as much about him. After watching closely today, he really does seem to be in a lot of pain. He does hide it pretty well though. I found a hot spot coming on and he's really dragging himself around both on those front legs and it also looks a little like the back leg might also be sore. That is where the hot spot is so it may not be joints back there. His hips were ok when we got him (3-4 yrs) but we haven't had them checked since. I do have glucosamine chondroitin here from when our 14 yr old lab died last year and I have some rimadyl if need be. I can start with asprin and see if he improves. Anyone have a good idea of the asprin dose for a 95 lb dog? I think the accupuncture idea is great too. I think we'll start there and see if we can get the behavior to stop by controlling the pain. I can't imagine trying behavior modification on a behavior that is so sporadic. We'll see where the first round takes us before I try that route. Thanks all! Poor fella! Now I'm annoyed at myself for not noticing how sore he was!