Home Alone Help!!!
 

Hi all. I am in serious need of some advice. I started a new job that keeps me away from home for about 9 hours every weekday. Up until this job, I was working 1/2 from home and 1/2 at work, and so I was home a lot. Since I've been gone more, Wembley (15 months, female) has started eating my house. No joke. She's eaten several pieces of wooden trim aroud the room, and today she ate into my ottoman. I am looking into getting a dog walker to come in every day for a 1/2 hour to keep her company, play, etc. but in the mean time, I am at a loss. She clearly is telling me that she's bored and lonely, but I don't know what to do. I don't want to crate her all day, b/c 9 hours of minimal movement, no water, and no food just seems too much. Any help that you guys can offer would be great. I'm not only annoyed about the house, but moreso so concerned about her safety. (oh, and I've tried bitter apple, but she just moves onto something else to chew).

Thanks in advance,
Rachel

Maybe you should confine her to only one room that is doggy proofed??..this is what I do with Maximus until I get home where in NJ are you?..we are in Staten Island

hmmm, do you know anyone who could keep her during the day? maybe someone who has dogs of their own? If not, maybe try giving her treat filled toys and bones and such, leaving a tv on, and having her stay in an x-pen with her crate in it? It would keep her from eating your house but give her room to play with her toys and stretch her legs. Also, you can find food and water containers that hook on the inside of a wire crate :) Hope that helps

Yep, she's bored and lonely, Good idea about the doggy room,
but if she's lonely I don't think it will work. How about a
puppy sitter? We have a lot of them around here. Talk about
spoiled, they are all Grandmas with noting but time, so they play
with puppies all day! It's too cute, a lonely puppy & a lonely Grandma.
Makes for a non-lonely day ;) But I have to warn you, if you find one,
the love to spoil them!!! So don't leave too many treats! :)

I have mine in the bathroom with a baby gate. I leave beds, water, food and toys and they do fine.

I agreee...or maybe buy her a kitten to play with or ....dare I suggest...another dog. Dogs are pack animals and they love the company of other dogs. Two is actually sometimes easier and cheaper than one if the one is bored and destructive. :)

I think the bathroom is an excellent idea - we used to confine our schnauzer to the kitchen with a tile floor - she didn't bother the wood cabinets though. Also, you can get some pretty large metal pens - we have one for Rowdy that we hardly use anymore except when the housekeeper comes (just to keep Rowdy from getting under her feet and bothering her). It is as big as our bathroom would be. It's the kind that is in about 2 & 1/2 foot sections and folds down flat and then you can make it as big or as small as you want it. It's about 3 foot high. Confinement might not have to be permanent, just till she gets over your being gone more than she is used to. When she gets used to the 9 hours, she may do fine loose in the house.

i like the grandma sitting idea. i have never had to use a sitter before except when we were out of town attending a ball game. we got a sitter to come to the motel. she cost us more than the tickets ..but she was really good with them and was well worth the money. eased my mind so much! this was a professional service tho. so i bet getting a lonely grandma would be good idea and a lot cheaper. try visiting local retirment housing and see if anyone would be interested in helping you out.

What about an x-pen. I don't like putting Desi in a create but I like the pen because its big enough to put her bed, her toys, food and water and I feel she is much safer in there than letting her roam the house.

When I was working, Sabrina stayed in the hallway with all her toys, treats, water, bed, wee pads etc. It worked out real well.

hi, i keep lexi in the hallway gated with lots of toys, water and some food.
i put the radio on, i also leave her bed in the hallway. i guess shes fine there.
i also leave her for 9 hrs or so. i have no other choice.. i give her lots of lovin when i get home....oh also i freeze peanut butter in her kong overnight so that keeps her somewhat busy during the day...

It would be nice if they could be in a room where they could at least look out during the day. It seems like it would be such a long, long day if they can't see out. :(

I think I would probably try putting her in the kitchen or bathroom, somewhere she can't really tear things up. Like someone else mentinoed, give her a Kong with treats and/or peanut butter inside. A busy dog is a happy dog! :D

This is just a big adjustment for her. She'll eventually learn the new routine and things will get better. It will just take time ;)

Thanks everyone for your help. And I can use it, because her behaviors are not getting any better.

As for the suggestions, like I said, I am already in the process of getting a dog walker who will spend a 1/2 hour every day with Wembley, assuming that his schedule allows that. As for leaving her in a specific room, the problem is that she is eating the furniture and the wall-trims, which can happen in any room. Also, it was a great suggestion to leave her with a kong, etc. Sadly, we do that, but Wembley doesn't eat them when we're not home. I am pretty sure that she's acting out b/c she's upset that we leave her alone all day every day. Urgh, so frustrating. I will probably end up doing the playpen idea, especially if the dog walker doesn't end up working out. Anybody have a brand they suggest?

Again, thanks all. This has been a frustrating and heart-breaking situation, b/c I feel TERRIBLE that she's so lonley and bored. I feel like the worst puppy mommy ever. I told her that I'd gladly quit my job for her, but that it wasn't gonna be a good thing for her, b/c then I couldn't afford to buy her all of her toys and treats. Not sure she understood, but at least she gave me a puppy kiss.

URGHHHH

You are sweet to tell her that ;) Here is what I do: I have 2 excercise pens hooked together to make a large circular play area, inside they have their crates (with the doors open) 2 beds, their toy box, a potty pad, water and a little food which they usually don't eat! That gives them freedon to move around but are still contained and safe.
I got the excercise pens at Petsmart. Good Luck, she will adjust to the new schedule soon.