Almost 3 and still destructive!

[Debbie Haman]

My rottie son is almost 3 and still finds things to destroy....I try to keep everything out of his reach but still manages to find things to destroy....I don't crate (not only because he weighs 144lbs) because he only does this when I'm at home, never when he's alone. I now have a 1 year old rescue girl doing the same thing. I swear he's taught her...I do crate her because she is destructive when I'm not home...any ideas why he's doing this? Is it for attention? I work outside my home full time.....but they receive all my attention while at home. They have many marrow bones, kongs, nylabones etc.

[Roscoe's dad]

How much exercise do they get?

[Debbie Haman]

They have a huge fenced yard (3/4 acre) in which they run and play and are walked several times a week....

[AngelBunny]

Debbie:

There are crates that comfortably fit Bull Mastiffs, so I'm sure if you looked, you'd be able to find a crate big enough for your male.

My guess is that your boy is destructive because he's not getting enuff exercise. You may think he is, but he's not. Keep in mind what Rotties were bred to do--herd cattle & sheep belonging to the Roman armies as they marched across Europe. This means the ancestors of our Rotties likely trotted for miles/day, thinking about the job at hand--keeping all those animals moving & together. A romp or two in a fenced yard and a walk several times/week isn't nearly enuff.

In addition to greatly uppping the physical exercise your dogs get, what are you doing to mentally exercise Mr. Destructive? My experience shows that dogs who're tired from physical & mental exercise are more interested in snoozing that chewing.

At 144 lbs you have a huge Rottie, one who's way out of standard. Are you *sure* he isn't fat??

BTW: Our 4 Rotties have a fenced yard that's 1-1/2 acres in size and all our dogs are walked, hard, for at least 2 hours/day. I'm alsos doing obedience & agility w/ our youngest live wire (who is hell if she's not kept busy). Yes, our dogs play from time to time in the yard, but they don't exercise themselves enuff w/o direct intervention on my part.

[codglvr]

The coolest thing to see is after my dogs have been training very hard for and hour or more straight, the first thing they do is lay down and sleep for hours on end. The training doesn't have to be even slightly physically demanding, just the mental demands alone will tire their destructive tooshes out. :D

[Judy Chrusch]

Usually when a dog acts up like that they are bored and or don't have enough exercise. He does weigh alot and that perhaps is o.k. if it's muscle and not fat but maybe he's uncomfortable, is he what you would call fat;)? What kind of play does he get in the fenced in yard and it probably isn't the same as if you took him on a looooong fast pace walk where he's trotting at a very good speed and times when he's actually running or physically playing with another dog. I walk my 12 month old each and everyday on a grassy surface, twice a day in addition to 3-4 times a week I run him on a trail at our breeders off lead and when he's finished he's tired, not to mention very content. Depending on how much we work there are days when he comes home and will sleep for 4 hours or so straight. Not only do they need the physical exercise but they thrive on mental as well. He obviously is trying to get your attention. When Czar wants to walk he'll bug me till I take him, now grant you I don't drop everything I'm doing at that very moment but I will on my terms take him later for his exercise. I suggest you try to increase his exercise, get him out of the fenced in area to socialize and just have fun:D He may want to see and do more. From my experience they need to do something EVERYDAY. A content dog is a good dog, trust me.

As for a crate, I had a greyhound crate given to me by my friend and that's what I use for Czar, it's huge but he can stretch out and lay just about anyway he wants.

If you've tried all that has been suggested and he's still naughty then perhaps it's just his personality and when he behaves like that he should be crated more, then he'd appreciate your company that much more. So after you've ruled out his weight or possibly not feeling well then do the increased exercise faithfully and I guarentee you'll have a different dog. You mentioned he gets alot of attention, maybe not the right kind. You have to get to know your dog and what his or hers needs are. Best of luck to you and let us know how things are going.

Judy:)

[Debbie Haman]

Thanks for all the ideas....I will excercise him more frequently mentally and physically if it helps.......my boy is very big....our vet is comfortable with his weight....I think it's pitiful that some owners allow their dogs to become obese....putting stress on their heart and joints.

[ozziesmom]

I know what you mean. Ozzie is 140pounds, but I do crate him at times. He's three now, and only really still tear up paper towels. He stopped destroying comforters, and other items. Its funny, if you leave him in the house alone, he will not touch anything, not a paper towel, or a treat directly in front of him, but if I'm in the house, he will shred all paper towels (not toilet paper) in his reach. I'm hoping he will outgrow this also. I wish I could give him more exercise because I think being able to burn off that excessive energy will stop the shredding.

Good luck

[Debbie Haman]

Thanks Ozziesmom....nice to know Zeus is not the only one with this behavior.......I guess maybe it is just a game to them. Like you said about Ozzie, Zeus never grabs anything until I'm there to see him....the little darling....Ozzie's a big boy too at 140...I'm not sure what "STANDARD" is supposed to be....but it sounds like these guys exceed it! Thanks again I feel better.......

[2rotties2luv]

Just a thought - playing "fetch" in a fenced-in yard is great exercize for the dog. Also you get to practice the "out" (or "give" or "drop it") command. My rotties will fetch tennis balls endlessly, and its even better if you have brush or unmowed areas so they have to search for the tennis ball. It's a great way for them to get exercize when my joints are hurting & I can't walk too much.

[Debbie Haman]

Thanks,
They love fetch....I have to be sure to put up the tennis balls when we're through or else they try to eat them! It's a great game especially this time of year, the ball gets hidden by all the leaves.:)

[landt]

I have a very active male as well.I find that tracking , where I put in a few twists and turns forcing him to really concentrate tires him out the most.

[~Robin~]

Just FYI, AngelBunny,

Bull Mastiffs are actually smaller than regular Old English Mastiffs. They are a breed derived from crossing Mastiffs with Bulldogs, and a bit of Boxer as well I believe. They are big dogs, but pretty much the same size as Rottweilers. Mastiffs are the huge ones, with males reaching up to and over 200 lbs. (I love Mastiffs! :D )

Our male is 135 lbs -- over standard, but not overweight -- and we managed to find a crate that he fits in comfortably. Cost a bloody arm and a leg though! ;)