Elmo and destroying

[RulusMum]

I am so hoping maybe someone can help as we have run out of ideas! Elmo (was Cane) has been here since January and really is a lovely little chap, now aged approx 18 months, he's bright and eager to please and we had really thought we had made progress this week when we left him and the others for just under two hours with nothing destroyed.

Yesterday Alfie opened the bedroom door without me realising it and Elmo did this



it's a memory mattress topper we use for my sore joints, he didn't eat it just tore it to shreds. When he does this we have done all the usual stuff ie told off and given something he can chew. I've had to spray all he conservatory furniture with that bitter tasting stuff as he's had several goes at it, Elmo has so many toys and kongs plus a beef bone to chew most days. The worst damage has been when I'm actually at home with him so it's not him being upset. The garden has also been totally wrecked.

I think the bottom line is he just likes to rip, tear and destroy and I just don't know what else to do, we can't watch him every second nor can we keep taking him out with us as the weather will eventually be to warm to leave him in the car.

Any suggestions would be so gratefully received. The bedroom door will be fitted with a bolt this weekend.

Elmo has a large garden to play in, has 3 good walks a day and isn't stressed, he's happy and gets on with the other hounds really well, I just can't figure this out!

and here is the little monster!

Sue x

[Nettie]

Sue, we've got a wrecker here in the for form of Angus. I have found what he loves best, cardboard boxes, the dog meat is delivered every other Tuesday in cardboard boxes, he is not interested in the contents of the boxes but can't wait to be given the boxes which keeps him busy for hours. Ok there is a mess to clear up but it doesn't take long and nothing precious has been damaged - Angus never destroys anything when we are out, all 3 settle down to sleep - it all happens when we are here. I've also sprayed furniture with that stuff - for anyone that decides to use bitter apple or any other spray to discourage chewing it is IMPORTANT to spray it on a yummy treat first and offer it to the dog, if he eats it then don't spray in on the furniture, he obviously likes the taste and that will encourage furniture eating!

So Sue, back to the boxes, collect as many as you can, and put smaller boxes in larger boxes a la 'pass the parcel' style and also put a treat inside each box to encourage him to rip them open and he can tear them up to his hearts content. I hope that is helpful.

[julies]

My Charlie is banished from the bedroom during the day cos he teeters on separation anxiety so nests in my bed and shreds it with his digging ... as Elmo trashes other furniture that may not be his reason but what helps Charlie (and Lucy) is doing some brain work with them- that tires them out far quicker than physical exercise ... you could do 10 mins twice a day of heelwork with a nice treat, 'search and find' games in the house then when he's got the hang of that into the garden, down stays, recalls etc etc when you're out walking him and at home .. just fit it into your day rather than make a big issue of it - a good dog training class would probably help too

J xx

[Emma]

Butter wouldn't melt....

George was a destroyer of all things.... can't give you any advice on how to stop it, as he stopped on his own at 18 months old, which was also at the same time we moved house (because he'd eaten the old one!!)

Emma x

[gilli176]

Erin loves cardboerd and I often just leave her boxes when out so she can destroy them. Makes a huge mess but it keeps her happy and my skirting boards safe. But plastic dog beds are her ultimate favorite.

[gelert]

Hi,

He is absolutely beautiful - what a lovely shiny coat and sweet expression.

I've had quite a few problems with Den being destructive, although thankfully not to the same extent as Elmo is capable of. Also, like Elmo, most of it was done while I've been at home. The dog trainer I use told me that as he was doing it with me in the next room it was attention seeking behaviour. She emailed me a helpsheet on dealing with attention seeking behaviour. If you want to pm me your email address I will forward it to you in case there is anything in it that might be useful to you.

Sophie x

[RulusMum]

Thank you all

Nettie I like the cardboard box idea but Eric wonders if this is giving him the green light for ripping, me I'd try anything.

Gelert I've pm'd you thank you.

Juies We would like to take him dog training as he has so much potential, life is kind of getting in the way at the moment but starting tonight we will spend time with him one on one and training, he learns so fast. He could be one of these dogs you see out and wish yours were that well behaved LOL. Muuver and Favver need to step it up.

Any more idea's.....

[Deleted]

If all else fails muzzle.

What about having him tethered to you when you are home.

Song went through a phase of chomping things when left, but only did it once when she wasn't alone. It was like she was just trying things out, rather than deliberately destroying things.

I'd certainly think twice about leaving him in the car, as he could do a lot of damagte, especially after seeing that mattress topper.

Hope he stops soon.

[julies]

Juies We would like to take him dog training as he has so much potential, life is kind of getting in the way at the moment but starting tonight we will spend time with him one on one and training, he learns so fast. He could be one of these dogs you see out and wish yours were that well behaved LOL. Muuver and Favver need to step it up.

Oh doesn't it just and Charlie has really made me up my game ... then he finds something else naughty to do- latest thing is to squeeze around the dog guard when I'm not there and grab my rucksack (that I take to shows) .. drag it into the back of the car and eat all the treats in it Cherub LOL

I'm not sure if these'll help too but ... save some yoghurt pots, turn three upside down with a treat under one, tell him to 'find it' .. lurchers usually do this very quickly but then have him watch you (have him held) and put the treat in view, let him off tell him to find it .. once he's got that idea, with him watching put the treat behind a chair -out of sight and tell him to find it .. then have him outside the room, treat in view .. he comes back in .. find it, when he finding it quickly put the treat behind something, get him back in the room ... find it .. then you can move into the garden and do the same If he finds it difficult go back a step and use your voice with lots of encouragement Use high value treats like liver, cheese etc etc
That should take up more brain cells

J xx

[RulusMum]

Thankyou Julies good idea, wil try it later today! I'm out all day and of course he'll be an angel for Eric! Lurchers seem to be very smart! we're more used to lazy greyhounds LOL.

[dite]

Snap! My 18mth old shiney black lurcher Snoop I have the same problem, he just absolutely loves shredding or de stuffing things. See thread some months ago looking for indestructable beds ;D. I have given up on that so when I am out they have to sleep in a open crate full of (shredded) blankets & fleeces. They are in the utility room with child locks on the cupboards and nothing left out. They can get into the garden through a dog flap and the lawn is now a mass of craters - he also likes digging ;D. Supa tough dog toys stand no chance he gives them 100% concentration until they are destroyed. He does not suffer from s/a and is a dog full of the joy of life - all I can do is keep stuff out of his way when he is unsupervised and hope he grow out of it
Sorry, no advice to add to what has been posted already! Despite Elmo's naughty streak i am still jealous, I have my eye on his brother Joseph ..if only another was possible. Good luck

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[RulusMum]

May 5, 2012 14:38:14 GMT -5 dite said:

Snap! My 18mth old shiney black lurcher Snoop I have the same problem, he just absolutely loves shredding or de stuffing things. See thread some months ago looking for indestructable beds ;D. I have given up on that so when I am out they have to sleep in a open crate full of (shredded) blankets & fleeces. They are in the utility room with child locks on the cupboards and nothing left out. They can get into the garden through a dog flap and the lawn is now a mass of craters - he also likes digging ;D. Supa tough dog toys stand no chance he gives them 100% concentration until they are destroyed. He does not suffer from s/a and is a dog full of the joy of life - all I can do is keep stuff out of his way when he is unsupervised and hope he grow out of it
Sorry, no advice to add to what has been posted already! Despite Elmo's naughty streak i am still jealous, I have my eye on his brother Joseph ..if only another was possible. Good luck

Sounds like Snoop and Elmo are the same, I am convinced it's simply because he enjoys doing it! Elmo also loves to dig and empty the pots so much so that year I shall only do hanging baskets and there will be no point doing pots. Guess as you say all we can do is be vigilant and wait for him to outgrow it.

I would just add that Elmo apart from the destroying is a joy to have, smart, eager to please and everyone loves him, I can see why you would like Joseph, go on you know you want to LOL....