understanding the behaviour

[Dimitri]

I recently tried to show some freedom to my dog and he took advantage of it and started chewing through the sheet rock in my bedroom. now the solution was simple and that I had to start crate training again before he chews through the walls. now, why would the dog display this kind of destructive behavior?

now, he gets tons of exercise... mornings = 40 minutes, lunch = 10 minutes (i work 5 minutes walking from home), afternoon/evenings 1 hour, and late night 10-15 minutes.

p.s. he also has a ton of toys laying around for him to play with

[hokisteph5]

I'm guessing he was bored. I have a couple places from when Gretchen was younger where she started in on the drywall by my stairs. It's where she and/or Samson waited for me when I'm out of the house. She outgrew it, but I did what you did, went back to crating.

When it comes to exercise, I've found that mentally getting mine to think exhausts them out the same or more than physically exercising them. I'll play the "find it" game sometimes or work on their training for 10-15 minutes at a time. I swear mine act like I've had them out walking or swimming for 30-60 minutes.

ETA: I forgot to add that mine, like yours, have a lot of toys at their disposal.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Dimitri

...why would the dog display this kind of destructive behavior?...he gets tons of exercise... mornings = 40 minutes, lunch = 10 minutes (i work 5 minutes walking from home), afternoon/evenings 1 hour, and late night 10-15 minutes.

Physical exercise is one side of a two-sided coin.

All that physical exercise has built up his stamina--for destructive/naughty behavior

Start giving him mental workouts.

[jlhnokc]

My 2 dogs run all day long because they go to work with BF, and they come home and Jaycee still has some play in her. When we took them to do herding this weekend, they both went out for 2 10 minute sessions and were zonked the rest of the day...BF was shocked...He kept saying "but they run and play all day long" I told him, the mental challenges will wear them out 200 times faster than just plain old exercise. A tired dog, is a well behaved dog...

Also, one way I try and judge if Jaycee is worn out or not is her actions when I get home. If she is bringing me a football or her bone to play with, I know she did not get that tired, if she is zonked on her chair and barely lifts her head up, I know she is tired...Only those really tired times do I leave her free reign, and that allows me to praise when I get home for what a good girl she was...If she isn't that tired, she's getting crated!