training issue

[l9veme]

I have a 10 month old female rottweiler and she is suddenly VERY destructive. I am aware that they can be stubborn and need exercise. She is walked at least 4 days a week and also usually has a weekly dog park trip. She has tons of chew toys, ranging from stuffed to bones, rawhides, kongs, etc. She can no longer be allowed to sleep out of a kennel because even with toys (which strangely enough she does not destroy her stuffed animals) she destroys other things in the house, usually cable, wood, or metal items. She has also now learned how to break out of 2 types of kennels. They were both sized for her so that she didn't have too much space. She also has a dog bed and toys in her crate. I DO NOT want to make her an outside dog but I am at wits end, with no way to contain her. We focus on positive training command and treat-based. She normally responds well. We also have an older, neutered male GSD mix and he went through a destructive "phase" but not to this extent. I don't want to punish him for her bad behavior but, I also don't want her to become resentful of him because he is not crated, etc. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

As another note, I also bought her a few of the treat/food release toys to entertain her when she's alone. She does pretty well with most of her other training tho, a few stubborn bouts but listens 90 percent of the time now. The only real issue is the chewing/destruction.

[Danita]

Possibly your dog is bored and underexercised. I would think your dog needs to be walked a couple times A DAY, not merely four days A WEEK.

[moz205]

Do you mean that your dog is otherwise let out in a yard? Not sure if you mean walking 4 times a week or was this a typo and you meant 4 times a day? Rotties need mental and physical stimulation. Even just letting them out in a yard alone is not stimulating for them. They can get pretty destructive alone in the yard too. As always, a tired dog is a good dog.

[moondog]

Sounds like a healthy young female with a bad case of cabin fever. Four walks a week sure wouldn't keep my dog satisfied! The best cure is to sign up for obedience classes and give her a chance to use her mind and her body.....she's a working dog and working dogs need work!

[AngelBunny]

I got a pedometer because I’m planning on taking Mox on a pack dog hike with the local Swissy group. You and your dog have to walk 8 miles four times with the dog carrying 20% of the dog’s weight. We have an opportunity to earn two of the four required legs for a novice title in early Dec.

With the pedometer I was able to finally figure out who far I walk each day when I'm out with the dogs. Daily, I walk anywhere from 2-3 miles and farther on weekends. Mox walks farther because she's free walked and runs back and forth, ahead of me and behind me while I'm walking the paths DH and I cut on our 75 acres.

If you’re only walking your dog 4 times/week, your dog is grossly underexercised from a physical standpoint. I understand your dog is young, but she's likely not getting enough exercise.

You say you focus on positive training using treats. Is she also in class? If she is, do you practice what you learned in class between classes?

A dog that’s worn out from mental and physical work/exercise is too tired to be destructive.

[mwdella]

Hi 19veme,

I agree what others have adviced Exercise/stimulation is the key.

"I don't want to punish him for her bad behavior but, I also don't want her to become resentful of him because he is not crated, etc. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated"

Also,I doubt dogs resent one 'n other.. my 2 are kenneled through the day but come in the house of a night, My Rottie is loose in the house and my GSD is crated and has been from 8wks old with no problems at all.
Good luck with your dog!

[CrazyDogLady]

1) Your dog is under exercised. It's a ten month old, growing girl. She's bored out of her ever loving mind. At the very LEAST your dog needs a walk a day, I'd say more. You're the owner, and its your responsability to make sure your dog has everything it needs. Including mental and physical stimulation. Your dog still needs walked when you're tired and grumpy, and when busy and distracted. There are almost no excuses for not providing a walk a day besides getting surgery or having the flu. And even then, I'm sure you could find someone to play with her or walk her. In addition to increased walks, you need to get outside for at least an hour a day and play ball with her, throw a stick, chase her, do some obedience training, ANYTHING!

2) Your dog is not a person. It does not envy your GSD. It will not resent him. She's a puppy, with cabin fever, who is looking to do ANYTHING to occupy her mind, including destroying her kennels and finding a way out of them. Before she goes in her kennel without supervision, she needs to be tuckered out. A hard play session, a long walk, a training session. Something to occupy her.

3) Get her in a training class, take up agility, cart pulling, something. She is a working dog who needs to use her brain. She isn't a foo-foo pekenese that is content to sit around and be a lapdog. I'm surprised you didn't realize this having had a GSD already.

Sorry to sound like a butt, but I don't think being nice and stepping on eggshells accomplishes much.

-Tara

[l9veme]

I suppose maybe I didn't explain in great enough detail. She goes on structured, long walks ( miles) at least 4 times a week. Training is done on a daily basis for at least an hour, often much longer. She is walked a few times every day (just not as far). Dog parks are at least weekly and obedience is worked on there as well. We play fetch with her, she has finally learned thay well, and she also plays with my GSD and my children almost all day. She is always exhausted when she is crated (overnight now and when we are ggone). I am a stay at home mom so she is almost always out the majority of a day. I do not have her enrolled in obedienve but we work on it daily. I think her issue is being confined. She is not really destructive if she's out but due to her desire to chew on an occasional thing at night and her crate breaking escapades I'm afraid to leave her out. I'm not sure I agree about dogs not being emotional beings and being resentful but I'll take the info. I intend to get her into weight pulling and she has done some very light backpack carrying but I do not believe in starting her until she is older and developed. I'm unsure if I have addressed everyone's thoughts and issues. I was hoping to heyt a little more specific advice , different than what I would get from watching the dog whisperer. I have knowledge with working breeds, which is why I have an excellently behaved, healthy GSD. This is a bit different.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by l9veme

I suppose maybe I didn't explain in great enough detail.....

Originally Posted by l9veme

I was hoping to heyt a little more specific advice , different than what I would get from watching the dog whisperer....

From your original post

Originally Posted by l9veme

I have a 10 month old female rottweiler and she is suddenly VERY destructive...She is walked at least 4 days a week and also usually has a weekly dog park trip...Any ideas will be greatly appreciated....

You got excellent, solid, advice, grounded in some instances, on first hand experience, based on the facts you shared.

[l9veme]

I understand that. That is why I explained in greater detail. I was under the impression that it would be understood that my dog is walked daily. If she wasn't than I'd know why. I appreciate the advice but, as I stated, I was looking for more creative ideas. Unfortunately I was not yet able to get that here. Also, anyone who suggests weight pull or serious work for a 10 month old puppy is not being very helpful. Other than light harness training with bottles, weight pulling should not be started til 2 years.

[poohbearsmom]

I've always found that a dog will let me know when they're ready to be left alone loose in the house. The youngest was just over a year; I've had some dogs that would NEVER be trustworthy loose. It depends upon the dog, and given your dog's behavior, she's not ready.

Lack of exercise and boredom account for a lot of destructive behavior.

Chewing is very therapeutic for dogs. Make sure she has ample appropriate chew items (stuffed kongs, raw marrow bones, etc...) at her disposal, and either crate her or confine her to one (non destructible) area in your home.