Destructive Behavior

[mroberts1026]

My Rott is breed standard size 85-90, male, and great with everyone. Just got him a great kennel so that when I'm gone he can stay in it. He has been known to destroy my couch pillows and anything soft if I leave him out for more than an hr. What can I do about this? I currently crate him and let him out twice during the work day. Thanks.

[sweetlee]

Is he doing this in front of you? Has he been to obedience training? You don't make it clear if he does it if left out and alone for an hour or just for an hour no matter what. If he is doing it in front of you, that isn't good. How old is your dog?
A bored dog is going to make his own fun, and probably something you don't like. Or some dogs really do suffer seperation anxiety, and will tear things apart or bark constantly while owners are away.
Do you walk with him daily? Dogs have energy that needs to be released somehow, and they all need some excersise, and some more than others. They really do need their people too. Do you spend "quality time" with him after work? And by quality, I mean just letting the dog be with you, they don't care so much about what you are doing, they just want to be near, and they love to do a favorite activity sometimes. Mine would retrieve the ball all day if I would go for it, but I do make sure at least a couple times a day I do toss for him for at least 10 or 15 minutes, plus we walk twice a day for at least a mile, weather permitting. It is so hot here today, I am not even going to walk him, I am scared he will get sick, but maybe tonight if it cools off.
I am a first time rottie person, but have had large dogs my whole life.
Give a little more info please, and I am sure others will be along with their more experienced opinions.

Sharon

[brunie's mom]

Sounds like he needs alot more exercise.
Rottweilers are a working breed, they need a job to do.
How much time do you spend per day walking, training him and playing with him?

A tired dog, is a good dog.

Gina

[SaranBear]

if you are not there to supervise I would keep him crated. If he is not alone with the items he cannot destroy them. I would also encourage upping the exercise. How much is he getting now?

[Anne]

Originally Posted by SaranBear

if you are not there to supervise I would keep him crated. If he is not alone with the items he cannot destroy them. I would also encourage upping the exercise. How much is he getting now?

It seems this dog is crated all day whilst the owner is at work. The OP stated the dog was let out of the crate twice a day. I wonder how many hours out of 24 this dog is crated. I would say it's boredom that's causing him to rip things up.

We don't know how old the dog is either.

[shifty]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

A tired dog, is a good dog.

Gina

So very true. We have never crated our dog and she has never destroyed anything. If I go to sleep at night and my dog is not already passed out I did not give her enough exercise. Bored and lonely dogs rip stuff up, that is how it is. Address these problems and see how little ir at all your dog needs to be crated.

[fostermom]

I acquired one of my fosters from my daughter who had rescued a rotti from a high kill shelter in NJ. She worked long hours and felt guilty crating Gizmo so left him loose in the house. She came home to a livingroom covered in fiberfill and shredded fabric...Gizzy had virtually "eaten" her furniture. Course then mom gets the frantic call to come get him.
I wasn't clear on your dog's age...younger and adolescent dogs can be very dedicated chewers....give them appropriate things to chew and supervise...they eventually outgrow the behavior.
I also wasn't clear if he destroys your house while you are home or whether it is only when he is loose in the home alone. If it is the latter, I'd guess there's some separation anxiety going on.
What I did with Gizzy was to NEVER leave him unattended AND loose in the house. He was kept in the same room as me when loose and he was crated when alone...he was NEVER given the opportunity to chew anything so he never did in the three months I fostered him. I'm now told by Gizmo's family that he is their only dog that is trustworthy enough to leave loose in the house.
I also agree with the suggestion that if your boy isn't currently getting enough exercise, uping his exercise might help as well.

[Gunsey'sMom]

We realized we gave Gunner too much freedom too soom when he ripped open our chase lounge WHILE my fiance was at home and in the ohter room. He was maybe 18 months at the time, and had was out of sight, but close by. The cushion was torn a little from puppy hood.

Lesson to us: He doesnt belong on the furniture, and he hadnt earned the right to be out of sight yet.

He has since earned a little more freedom, but I am careful not to ask for too much because I would rather have him earn it slowly than set him up for failure. I can now leave him to mill around if I know he is likely to "pucker out" and plop down, I have closed all gates and doors, and removed any tempations (clutter and junk thqat shouldnt be there anyways). If I have to shower or do something where I cant have an eye or ear out for him, I call him to his crate and in he goes.

I reccommend restricting the areas your dog has access to with gates, more exercise as mentioned, and if he is currently allowed on furniture, I would put and end to that (learn from my mistake). Get a nice doggy bed and that is his furniture....

Also make sure he has enough appropriate chew toys, things to chew.

[sweetlee]

I am anxious to hear more info. I certainly hope this dog is not crated all but two hours out of twenty four.
I would be destructive too if that were the case.
Please post back so everyone can really help you with your dog.

Sharon

[fostermom]

It sounds like he comes home twice during the work day to let the dog out....doesn't sound like the dog is crated all the time.

[Meeps]

More than likely he needs waaaaaay more exercise and mental stimulation. If he is full grown and still chewing like that, he is bored out of his mind and it chewing out of sheer frustration.