We are moving....how will our Rottie react

[ktandgable]

First, let me tell you our living conditions now....We got Gable our 8 month old rottie when he was just three months. He came to our home because a family that had purchased him, could no longer care for him. He has been a blessing to us....He is a very mellow, sensitive, caring, big boy. He still has some of his puppy moments when we play or when he wants to play, but overall he is very good boy. Currently we live with a bunch of people, my bf's family, which means that there is usually someone home or someone will be home soon so Gable is never left alone too long. When we first got him we crated him, however in the last few months we have weened away from it. When we got Gable we thought we would only be living in this house for about a month, however new construction always takes longer than projected and we are going to now move into our house later this month.
My question is, do any of you have advice on making the transition easier for our dog. These are the things that will change for him: 1. He will be alone all day while we are at work; 2. We do not have a fenced in area because it is in a community (we currently do have a fenced in yard); 3. He will be around less people, just my boyfriend and I, compared to six people now; 4. Lastly, a new place to live.

If any of you have any advice, it would be of great help to me. I worry about him because I love him to pieces and I dont want him feeling sad.

[jas'smom]

My first thought would be that 8 months is too young to be alone in the house unsupervised. Right now with everyone there all is well. Once he is alone, well it might not be pretty I would suggest that you get him used to his crate again while he is in a famililar environment so he will be used to it once you move into the new house. This will keep him safe during the day and out of trouble. Hopefully you can get home at lunch to let him out to potty. Without the benefit of a fenced yard to run and play in you will probably find he has much more energy than usual. More exercise on leash will be necessary. As to the not seeing people as frequently, socialize him on his walks, envite friends over I'm sure everyone will want to see the new house I take mine to PetSmart.


I have found with my dogs that new living environments did not upset them much as long as they were able to spend time with me and get the exercise they needed.

[ktandgable]

I know that 8 months is still pretty young, and that's what worries me. We had a hard time with the crate when we used it, he cried and was very stubborn about going in. Unfortunetly we will not be able to go home at lunch time, we both work 45 mins. away from our new home.
What about confineing him to a room, maybe the basement or something until he gets adjusted? Do dogs tend to be destructive when they are left alone all day? He will get lots of excercise. During the day at home now he really does not run outside, but we do take walks every night. Also at our new home there are a bunch of walking trails and parks around.
Thanks for the advice.

[Terrie]

We moved Payton 4 times in a one year period(long story) We too lived with my parents for about 6 months so he always had someone around then we, my DH and I, moved out of state! Payton was fine with the exception of not pooping for a couple of days but he finally let loose and didn't have a problem again. Jas's Mom's suggestion about the crate is right on! We did this and I think we prevented a lot of possible distruction and mess. Once we were settled and into a new routine we gave him some freedom again short periods at a time. If he didn't mess anything we would give him longer times. Gable is young and I would think will be just fine with the move. If you can maybe bring something from where you are living now....perhaps a couch pillow or something that reminds him of home. Just until he gets used to the new place.

GOOD LUCK! and congrats on your new home

[carolynnl4]

You're going to have to harden your heart a bit as far as the crying goes. There are many tips in the archives about how to make being in the crate fun, among them:
1. Give him a special toy that's only for the crate.
2. Provide a stuffed kong to work on in the crate.
3. Give him a treat everytime he goes in the crate.
4. Build up - start out putting him in the crate for 5 minutes, then 10, then 20, and so on.

After I moved, Athena was quite a bit older than Gable, and she was extraordinarily destructive. It got so bad that I couldn't even let her sleep in the bedroom with us anymore -- she went to town on 3 blankets and comforters.
So patterns, crate usage, and supervision is extremely important in the moving process.

[jas'smom]

Do dogs tend to be destructive when they are left alone all day?

Well........depends on the dog, but most will find something to do, and I can almost guarentee you will not like it Once he is older you might be able to let him out alone in the house.

[GenHannibal]

As a VERY EXPERIENCED person in moving, these are the things I have done.

1. Very important, crate train your pup! The crate will be his best friend in the long run. Your mistake was not following thru. He won the battle and this may or may not be an issue later.

2. If possible bring him to the new home several times and let him check the area out.

3. The day of the move, he goes in the crate and taken out periodically to be exercised & play.

4. Make sure he has a few things that are familiar left out so that he can play with them. A bed if he has one, as well.

5. Once you've moved into the house, he should be allowed to check things out on or off the leash pending on his behavior. However, keep him crated when you can't keep an eye on him.

Take him out for walks as often as possible and let him investigate as much as possible. Everything positive!

[hmeadq]

Originally Posted by jas'smom

Do dogs tend to be destructive when they are left alone all day?

Well........depends on the dog, but most will find something to do, and I can almost guarentee you will not like it Once he is older you might be able to let him out alone in the house.

My puppy was not destructive at all until one day when we got home and...

1. a $120 pair of shoes were eaten (I though they had been put up)
2. a 4 inch by 16 inch hole in our new boxspring
3. 2 books with covers torn off
4. cusions all off the couch
5. lamp knocked over

Before that the worst he had done was shred a magazine one day, and shatter a few christmas ornaments anouther.

So I guess I would say. No they are not destructive until they are!

We were way anti-crate and still feel a bit bad when we put him in it. But he sleeps and chews his Kong. He does have more energy now though.

[ktandgable]

Oh jeez.....thanks for your replies....I guess its so hard to think of him as being destructive when I havent seen him be that way. I am really nervous to leave him alone all day but I cant keep him in a cage all day...I just can't. I will confine him in the basement with his toys and bed and see how he does. Jas's mom....why did your pup just do that one day? Yikes...that scares me!!

I appreciate everyone's advice. I hope that things go smooth for us!

[jas'smom]

Actually that wasn't me Mine ate a wall!!!! And she was only alone for a short time. She now has a VERY LARGE CRATE that she can move about in and loves it

[Terrie]

Originally Posted by ktandgable

but I cant keep him in a cage all day...I just can't

I used to think this way too. I thought it was cruel to leave him like that at night and while we were at work. BUT after reading a ton of info here, from some very wise individuals, I learned that dogs are den animals and feel safest in their space. We got a large travel crate (for Great Danes) and put a blanket some chew toys etc in it. He loves his crate! Although we don't keep him in it now it is still up. When things get hectic in the house (we have a infant now) or during nasty storms he goes to his safe place. Please don't think of it as a bad thing it really is a good thing for Gable.

[Cherry Heart]

As some of you know, I haven't gotten a rottie just yet, however I have collected tons of information on them. At first I didn't like the idea of crate training "wouldn't it be better for puppy to be out all day so he can play?". Well, yes and no. It would be fantastic if he could be out and play, but he won't and can't. From all I have read, your rottie will mostly be active when your around because they don't just want to play, they want to play with YOU. Also he won't just play. He will snoop, sniff, chew, whatever it is he has laying around, even if it was only left out on accident, that shoe, or worse, that box of chocolate could be GONE when you get home. After months of reading, I am confident that crate training will be the best thing for my puppy when he/she comes home. It will give her a safe, quiet, cozy place that is all HERS. She will know that she gets a tasty treat for going in, and lots of love and attention when she is out. She will be close to mom and dad when shes sleeping in it at night, and safe from mom and dads accidently left out things during the time both of us are at work during the day. Sounds like a happy life to me.

Cherry

[RottieGirl86]

Originally Posted by jas'smom

Actually that wasn't me Mine ate a wall!!!! And she was only alone for a short time. She now has a VERY LARGE CRATE that she can move about in and loves it

LOL!!! Sasha ate thru a wall - thankfully missed the electric lines but hit the water line. water was streaming down the driveway of my brother's house! he got a call at work about it form a neighbor.

crates = safety for their won sake at times.

Athena was crated until 18 months old. No biggie for her. She liekd her crate.

[jas'smom]

Originally Posted by RottieGirl86

LOL!!! Sasha ate thru a wall - thankfully missed the electric lines but hit the water line. water was streaming down the driveway of my brother's house! he got a call at work about it form a neighbor.

crates = safety for their won sake at times.

Athena was crated until 18 months old. No biggie for her. She liekd her crate.

Jas goes into her crate on her own when she is sleepy or irritated with me

[dmoniz]

Logan has to go in a crate if we are not there to watch him, and that includes just being too preoccupied with something else.

I went away for a week and Logan stayed with a friend. I told them to expen him when they couldn't watch him, and to not give him too much time outside without checking on him. At night he is fine, but they left him during the day confined to the bathroom with their dog. 3 shampoo bottles and one thing of blush later, they expenned him when away. He also decided to chew a hole in their deck when he was outside too long.

When I am home he dosen't even attempt to chew on something he shouldn't, so it was a suprise when he did.