Chewing!

[memenzel]

Hi!
Sara is now 11 months old. We are in obedience class and she is doing great!

When we got Sara at 8 weeks, I wasn't working, so she was with me all day.

We moved, and now I am working full time.

Before I started working, I let Sara be in the house (not in her crate) when I was gone, for longer and longer periods of time, and she was great.

Lately, she has been chewing things when I am at work. She has never chewed before. She has lots of toys. I don't leave things out, and I close the door to our room and bathroom. Yesterday, she took the kleenex off the table and chewed it. And she knows that she doesn't touch things on the table. I was surprised. I didn't yell at her, because I dont know when she did it and I figured she wouldn't know why I was yelling.

I got to work at 8:30, am home for 45 minutes for lunch (she goes out, and we play some) then I go back to work and am not home til about 6:30 or so.

Am I giving her too much freedom? Would she like to be in her crate better?

Before I started working, she was always in her crate when we were gone.

She never chews when we are home, even when we are not in the same room with her.

Sorry this is so long, I'd really appreciate any advice.

[TrishB]

I would recommend going back to basics. Go back to the crate. I highly doubt that she'll be in it as long as she once was - she'll probably be back out of it very quickly.

The new schedule is difficult for her to adjust to. Be sure to get her exercised. If it's been said once here, it's been said a million times:

A tired dog is a good dog! ;)

Once she's behaving, you can slowly reintroduce her to freedom just as you did before. Give her some time and be patient - she'll come around.

Congratulations on your new home and career! :)

[uclachady]

The first two years of my current pup's life I was pretty much home 24/7 and left him alone for a maximum time of maybe 2-3 hours (long dull explanation for that)

But in his third and fourth year I had to be away sometimes as much as 8 to 12 hours. SO fortunately had a period of time before so started leaving him alone 4 hours. Told him I had to go to work with a sad face. Don't know if for his benefit or mine but it seemed like he understood I wasn't happy about leaving him either.

Then I would give him a knuckle bone and go. No problems.

Worked up to about 6 hours.

If I am going to be gone over 8 I have his "babysitter" come and walk him or hang out for an hour, if raining. (I pay $10.00 an hour) Try to place walk about 5-6 hours and then have babysitter give him the knuckle bone.

he pretty much only gets the knuckle bone treat when I am going top be gone. OR we had a hard day and its my fault. So he seems to know what to expect when he gets the bone (also cuz wearing non dog clothes) and so far so good. Also my being sorta sad and then thrilled to see him when I get home and we play as long as he wants, helps at least one of us.

Another option when I forget to have a bone ready. -- new toy. I buy them at Ross on sale, baby bath terry cloth toys that have few or no seams (so no pulling and swallowing stuffing) and nothing on the outside -- eyes etc. that would harm if swallowed, last WAY longer than dog toys with seams at least with my sweetie.

Good luck. Max's mom