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Pupforum presents your training questions answered by professional dog trainers.
Elaine has been training dogs professionally for 14 years. She is a CPDT as well as an endorsed member of NADOI. She is also certified in narcotics detection and is one half of a (twice) certified explosives detection team - the other half being her Dutch Shepherd Spawn, who is also titled in several protection sports. Elaine is the owner of Canine's Best Behavior, a Los Angeles based training company, offering Basic Manners, CGC, K9 Games (soon!) as well as behavior modification for aggression fears phobias etc.
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6/20/2005
I have a MinPin (Daisiey) who is 15 months old...When I got her at 3 months, she was almost completely house broken and I could leave her in the house for 2 or 3 hours and come back and she did not chew on anything other than her chew toys...Now the past couple of months, if I leave her for even a couple of minutes, she will chew on any type of paper or cardboard...and what ever else suits her fancy...Now; I can leave her in the truck ( I drive an 18 wheeler) while I am eating or showering, she doesn't bother anything...not even if I forget to empty my trash can. Why did she start to chew on things in the house after all this time? I hate to put her in the kennel, but if I don't there is no end to what my baby girl will get into. Please help me! I hate having to lock Daisiey up when we are at home which is only a couple of days every two weeks. (Ladiebluu, Arkansas )
Hi Ladiblu,
I suspect that it's not so much a chewing problem as a separation anxiety one. She does OK in the truck because it's you two spend so much time in there it's kind of like your own little den! You spend a lot of time together and sometimes that can inadvertently create CSA (Canine Separation Anxiety). Min pins are very sensitive despite all their bluster.
At home is not home to your little girl, your truck is and your house is the scary environment because it's less familiar and (I'm assuming) bigger.
Locking her up is using a crate? If she is used to the crate than it may help her feel less nervous. If she's not, then you can acclimate her to it and use it more than only when you leave her. Talk about a bad association!! "Everytime I am in here you leave me!!" You can get some crate training advice
on my web site under puppy stuff. www.caninesbestbehavior.com
Other things that might help:
Try leaving her in your bedroom for a few minutes a day. It would most likely be best because its the one room that smells the most like you. Start with just a few minutes alone (with a frozen, raw marrow bone) and come back in, gradually building up time. No big love festivals when you leave or when you come in!
Other interactive toys that you can bait so she goes to them to alleviate her nerves will help too. In other words offering her an appropriate outlet. The action of chewing releases seratonin, which calms them down. Toys like kibble balls that spill her lunch, goodie balls that you can smear with a treat, kongs stuffed with yummy things will all help. Remember the reward has to as good as you. A biscuit you are not!!
A DAP diffuser may aid in your program. It's aromatherapy for dogs and is marketed as Comfort Zone, one plug in lasts a month and to us it is odorless. To them it smells like a lactating female dog and gives them comfort hence the name. One dog I knew used to sleep by it!
Doing obedience exercises that end in her being released from a stay to go away from you to get the treat. In other words, teaching her that it's OK (and rewarding) to be away from you.
Good books to read: (www.dogwise.com)
I'll be home soon-McConnell
Dogs Home Alone-Abrantes
Lastly, kick her out of bed!
In a nutshell, it has to be a bit better for her when you aren't there and slightly less fabulous when you are.
Hope that helps.
Elaine Allison CPDT NADOI
Canine Behavior Consultant
Canine's Best Behavior
1.866.K9s.Best
www.caninesbestbehavior.com
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