help- dog jumped out the window!

[chewbaccas mamma]

hi all, i've been reading these posts since i got my rottie, chewbacca in april.
he is a 10 month old male, rescued from a local shelter.
he is a great dog, just started obdience school and has not shown any aggression towards people or other animals.
the problem is when we leave him during the day for work- he is alone for 8 hrs every day.
1st- we put up a gate in the kitchen, that held him for about a month
he scratched the walls (new house ) and then he discovered he could jump over it- ransacked the house.
2nd- got a crate and left him in the kitchen inside his crate.
held him for about 2 weeks and then he pushed his way out ( crate door was still latched when i came home ) ransacked the house again, worse this time.
finally we emptied a spare room and left him in there, he has been scratching the walls so bad, the sheetrock needs to be replaced.
today was the worst- left for work about 7, at 9 my neighbor called to say chewie was loose in the yard! he jumped thru the screen window ( first floor thank god) and dug under the fence in the backyard and was running around the front. my front yard is fenced too but the driveway gate was left open.
needless to say, i made a 40 minute trip home in 20, he was sitting on the front step waiting for me.
does anyone have any ideas for how i can contain him during the day when we are not home ? i love him beyond words already and he is such a sweet boy, i know he just doesn't like being alone,
please help, any and all comments will be appreciated....

[dmoniz]

Try an airline crate, they are more durable and harder to escape from. Before you leave put him in there with a tasty treat that is hard to fininish to quickly, like a kong filled with frozen goodies, peanut butter, yogurt, pieces of steak, etc.. Escape artists are hard to keal with, my boxer gets out from time to time, but he is pretty good about not destroying too much.

[Sargeant_C]

I had a lab like that once.. yep in fact I was talking to the lab one day and I go Oh look Bandit there is a puppy just like you outside...Bandit? BANDIT Oh man Bandit get back here.

I had DH build a stronger crate for him.. and it held him.

[BostonRott]

If you're willing to spend some money, you can buy wooden crates or have a metal "box" made for him (these are common with Europeans and some of teh SchH community.....made of metal all the way around, often diamond plate).

Froli used to bust out of wire crates too (started around 4yrs old), but we were lucky in that she never trashed the house.

Sounds like he's got severe separation anxiety. There are meds available for it via your vet (probably need a behaviour specialist). You could also try rescue remedy, but I'd guess that with a case this severe, it won't do much.

Would it help if you left a TV or radio on?

[BostonRott]

Here are some GORGEOUS wooden crates. I'm sure you can find others cheaper, but it will at least give you a ball park idea.

Here are examples of metal dog boxes

[chewbaccas mamma]

thanks a lot....i did speak to a behaviorist 'cause i thought it was sep anxiety also (still do) but she said its only real sep anxiety if the dog will linjure themselves to get out....but he could have hurt himself going out the window, i actually think he is walking funny....its hard to know what to think, all the "experts" have different opinions....i work for VCA (veterinary centers of america) so i speak to a lot of vets all the time, they all say something different.
i like those wooden crates but i am scared he will eat the wood

[dmoniz]

I would be too, I would go with a metal one if I were you...

[Judi W]

Consider having a kennel run constructed using heaviest gauge chain link, with a top and a curbed edge and a decent doghouse/shelter and a locked door. Also, the medication (doggy prozac) should be employed unless there is a good reason not to. You have certainly donated a great deal more of "house" to a dog that I would have been willing to do.

[damp]

A safe outdoor kennel and doghouse can be builded for less than renovating your house… (Not talking about vet bills etc.)

My old helper and blacksmith made safe cage suiting my car. Better (and cheaper) than those you can buy and it perfect suits the van.

[StephanieandToby]

I think a really strong crate and a good bone should do the trick until you get a kennel built for that rascal.
Do you tire him out before you leave for work?

[chewbaccas mamma]

yes, my husband runs with him in the morning for about an hour, and i usually leave him w/ a peanut butter filled bone and a room full of toys.
i think i will see about a kennell since i want another dog anyway, so he won't be alone.
he is such a little devil

[RottiMomCT]

Originally Posted by chewbaccas mamma

i think i will see about a kennell since i want another dog anyway, so he won't be alone.
he is such a little devil

Please don't take this the wrong way but what makes you think a second dog will make Chewie less anxious? It would seem he wants to be with YOU...

Chewie is 10 months old, you've had him for what, less than 6 months...build a solid foundation of trust and obedience with this dog before adding another one...you both have alot to learn about each other.

[BostonRott]

I have kennels in my back yard that aren't chain link but instead powder-coated 7g steel wire, with tubing forming the frame. They're made somewhere out in the midwest, I found 'em at a farm supply store. 4 panels = 10x10' and is $500. VERY solid (I bought them b/c of Froli, after what she did to metal crates, I was worried she'd trash chain-link).

Here's an example: Steel kennel

[Judi W]

Great idea. I think this would be excellent for this dog who needs "special containment"..............

[Platzz]

1st - get your hubbie up eariler and run him a bit more.

My kennel - 24x6, 1 side is 16x5 the other 6x6, doors on either end, divided at 6' - 12" x18" concrete footing all the way around the kennel. 4x4s set in the concrete. I have a fence compasny bulid me 6'x6' fence sections from 7 ga. coated wire. The sections are mounted between the 4x4s. for the back wall that faces the nieghbors house I used sections of privatecy wood fence.

I put a slanted roof on it of corrigated smoked plactic, so filtered light gets in. For the floor I have 2 TONS of pea grave appx 14" deep....The pea gravel offer great drainage, it strenghtens the pups pasterns, it also "gives" if the dogs ly on it. On the very hot days 90+, I soak the gravel before work and it stays cool most of the day. The dogs have a palette with a dog bed on it. But, on hot days they prefer the gravel. The old dog goes on the smal side the puppy on the large. The old guy just slee[ps were the pupy romps around and may occassionally "soil" the kennel

Most fence companys have extra fence stock from large projects ans can make fence pannels up for you. Small, family run companys are usually very helpful.

BTW - Under the gravel I recomend digging a sump hole and fill it with larger rocks them pea gravel for good drainage.