bostonblonde79: How do I stop my Boxer from chewing when I am not home?
I have a wonderful one-year-old female Boxer who hates it when I leave for work every day. When I come home for lunch every day on occasion I will find items destroyed and/or chewed by her and her hundreds of toys are neatly in her box. I assume she is venting because I had to leave her at home alone, but I can't quit my job and I don't want to cage her. How can I get her to stop being destructive?
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Answers and Views:
Answer by John M
Keep her in a crate. They like to be in a crate when you are not home, it makes them feel secure and lessens anxieties.
Answer by Toby X
I know you don't want to crate your wonderful Boxer, but it sounds like you need to. As many others have said, you don't want your dog to get into something that might kill her. Crating will not make the situation worse. However, make sure your boxer gets plenty of exercises when you are home.
For those who have said exercise your dog as much as possible before you leave and she will be tired and sleep while you are gone, I doubt these people have ever owned a 1-year-old boxer. You will wear out playing before your boxer ever does. These dogs are extremely high energy and can go on for long periods of time.
Just crate your dog during the day. Leave a toy or two in her crate and give her plenty of love when you get home. She'll be fine.
Answer by The Shepherd
A crate will make this worse. The key is to exercise your dog before you leave her as much as possible. This will ease her energy and anxiety.
Leave her stuff to do while you are gone. You can freeze food inside a Kong and let her try to get it out all day. You can hide bones around the house and let her look for them.
When you are home and see her chewing on anything you do not want chewed rein down all over her if you catch her in the act. Otherwise, act like it does not bother you.
Spray things with bitter apple spay that you do not want to be chewed.
Exercise is the most important. I know it can be hard early in the morning. Dogs sleep all day if they are tired.
Answer by Tiffany davis
I had to build a crate for my Boxer out of 2 x 4,s. he got so anxious when I left (he was a rescue)he broke out of regular crates and tore everything up. I was able to build it the size I wanted it though (he is huge). After he got used to it he walked right in when it was time to go in the mornings. After a vet visit when he ate a ceramic dish I feel much better with him safe in his crate. They are a handful, but as my vet said….. A lot like toddlers! Keep things out of reach and keep them exercised. Good luck!
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Answer by B L
Crate training is the only answer. Before we got our puppy we were SO against crate training, and we are now finding how awesome it is.
The crate, or other enclosed area is the only place to keep your home safe, and your dog safe. While you are at work, you have no idea what she's getting in to, or what she might eat that might kill her.
Make sure that you get her out for a nice long walk before you leave for work. In her crate, leave some chew toys and some water. As soon as you get home, take her out for another long walk to tire her out.
I once heard someone say, that a tired dog is a happy dog. Your Boxer is chewing everything in your home b/c she is bored.
Know better? Give your own answer to this question!
Spanky says
eather crate her, bring her to day care, put hot sause on items she chews (or other yuckie taseing stuff) or remove the items out of her reach(animals are like kids)
Kim says
You only have one choice- a crate. This is not cruel and they come to think of the crate as "a safe place".
She sounds like she has some adjustment issues with you being gone- and there isnt alot you can do–But try the crate…it will take awhile for hwer to accept- but will be easier for all considered.
Christina says
Pig ears at wal-mart for like $ 3 for a large bag and they arent bad for them. Rawhide bones are hard for dogs to digest and it actually killed one of my dogs. Pig ears are something the dog enjoys, vets recommend, and arent expensive at all.
sandbaby327 says
If I didnt put mine in a crate I wouldnt have a house left. They are very intelligent dogs and get bored quickly. If you are not home to stimulate your dog and keep her out of trouble the crate is the best answer, tried to put mine into an empty room and he ate the carpet! It not only protects your house but protects her from her own curosity, powercords for example. Get her a crate and set it up. Let her get used to it before putting her in and taking her out, go SLOW. Put a raw bone in there with her and she wont have a care in the world.
lilredhead says
Thought of Doggy Day Care ? .. it's a great thing , for dog , well all pets !
dwhelper says
Crating is not cruel. Actually, it is a safety measure. What if she chews lamp wire or some other thing that could harm her.
You wouldn't leave a toddler "loose" in your home if no one could watch him
Diane M says
I know it seems cruel to crate her but there really isnt another option. She is still young and may out grow this. She will adapt to her crate and will feel like that is her own little room while you are away. Be sure to play a lot with her when you get home and always reward her good behavior. You may be able to try leaving her out while you are away for short periods and reward her good behavior and punish her bad behavior. Good luck
Lucky, Lucy, and Lex says
Crate her.
K-Sandra says
I too have two doggies that I must leave at home all day while I am at work. They are about the same age as your dog. I also drive home everyday for lunch to let them in the backyard and give them some love :). I keep them in our dining room area and close it off with those baby gates that you can put in the doorways. Limit the amount of furniture you have in the closed off area. Also, are you walking your dog for at least 45 minutes per day? I find that walking my dogs 2x/day DRASTICALLY improves their behavior. Watch Cesar Milan–The Dog Whisperer–He's full of information that can help. He also has a website. Google him. "Exercise – Discipline – Affection"–in that order.
mmmkay_us says
Keep her in a crate and leave her with a Kong chew toy
You can put treats in these and freeze them so they last longer
it is natural for a dog to chew so you have to give them things to chew also there are chew bones that las t along time use those and mix it up
emma p says
maybe before you leave for work place with her and maybe you could hide treats around the house so she would be entertained and not bored.
LIZ says
Well It is either to crate your boxer up . Or you will be in the need to replace your items… You are so much better in crating your boxer for it's safety. You never know what it can get into while you are gone… Lets just say u leave one day to work and when you come back he is dead cause he got into something he sholudn't of have..
TIM M says
With a 'chew' muzzle. Which allow the intake of water but prevents the chewing of your house.
auskan2002 says
Instead of leaving the toys neatly in the box, spread them around so that when she is looking for something to chew, those are the first things she comes accross. Sweeten the deal by adding a little peanut butter or some Kong stuffing liquid to the items you want her to chew. These will attract her attention and even after she's licked it off, she will likely continue chewing on that item. Also, try something like one of those stuffed hooves. They keep the dog busy for hours, first trying to get the filling out and then chewing on the hoof itself.
M G says
You can put her in a crate. Or take her to daycare a few days a week.
Brian says
All dogs chew at her age, you just have to limit what she can get at. You might not want to cage her, but you might have to. Do you have a laundry room you can keep her in while you are gone?
The other thing is make certain she gets tons of exercise before you leave for the day.
verticalement says
Teach her strict discipline…tough love….
j.valona says
IDK
LIZA says
You have to cage her.