I need a few tips on training a young dog to be alone in the house without doing damage. In the past I've always worked with adults (3+ yrs) and they made the switch from crate to house pretty quickly but I've never worked with a yearling. She's (Gossip or Gossy as I sometimes call her) pretty good about not chewing stuff when I'm home and her bouts of activity don't last very long. I can block off the kitchen/dining area but she's a counter surfer and I a little concerned about chewing on the table legs or drawer pulls. I have been going outside and leaving her behind but so far it's only been for very short periods (too cold for me to hang outside for long). Suggestions?

(And yes I no longer have Luny - his separation anxiety was starting to stress me out and was so keyed to having people around that even a dogmate wasn't working so he's back with the breeder looking for home with a retired person)

Oh, so sorry about Luny. You tried so hard to overcome the SA. I have the utmost respect for you.

Good luck with your young 'un Gossy. I never had a wood chewer, so I can't help with that. But I do have an insistent digger (Katie–couch cushions, rugs, bed quilts, etc..) so if that becomes a problem, give a yell.:D

Do you leave her with an alternative to chew? Mine would far prefer working at a Kong then chewing the dining set. We try to give them plenty of alternatives.

I have frozen marrow bones to give her when I go to work (not sure how that will work if she's loose in the house as they can get a little messy) but kongs or other interactives only work as long as she can readily get at the treat. After awhile if she can't get the treat out she'll give it up. I did find yesterday a couple of stuffed toys that really seem to get her interest (maybe because extra fuzzy) and I will try to find more of them so she'll have plenty to choose from.

I find bitter apple sprayed on things helps with chewing…but some on this list have not had success with it.
That is my tip.

Yeah, I still have trouble. I took a shower, and Medjai got a hold of one of my shirts. It's been about a year since he ate something of mine.

The bitter apple type sprays never worked for Medjai. He HATES it right when you spray it, but about 10 minutes later he'll come back to it and learn it doesn't taste as bad.

I probably will get burned for stating what I'm about to state, but I just have to let it out:

Wizard, less than two months and you're stressed out to the point of returning Luny?!?! Wow. SA is almost always a lifelong issue. I spent over a year dealing with Magnum's SA, and he still is not completely "over it," and probably never will be. I still deal with it, on a lesser scale, whenever I leave the house. I guess I expect other people to do the same.

I'm sorry if I upset BF members, but I have a hard time dealing with people unwilling to work through issues and returning/rehoming dogs who "don't work out."

And now you have a new baby. Hope Gossip is perfect, Wizard.

gbroxon,

I think that was a bit unfair to Wizard. You don't know what the entire story might be… nor are you living there? People have to sometimes make hard choices... and as I remember right (and I know Luny breeder that placed him with Wizard) it was still on a trial bases to see how it "might" work out.....

You're definitely entitled to your opinion. My response is that a trial basis isn't two months. I see nothing in Wizard's posts that imply the Luny was a "trial." Of course, I may have missed something.

I'm sorry, but I just can't imagine having a dog for longer than a day and not falling in love and unwilling to do whatever it takes to work the dog into my family life. But then I've never had a dog on a "trial basis." I get a pet, I keep a pet, regardless of the pet's shortcomings. But that's just me. I take what I get and work with it, compromising on both sides 'til everybody's comfortable.

Once I get a pet, it's a family member, for good or worse. I'm sorry, I just can't fathom giving up a pet, unless severe aggression is involved, and I have, sadly, euthanized a dog because of severe aggression, years ago, for biting my son (twice), although, with all we know now, I would have been hopeful of finding a solution. JMO.

Gbroxon - I take no offense at your response. Luny and I did start out as trial basis (all my dogs have started out that way) but it was clear from the start he had a problem yet I was still willing to try and work with him. I didn't know his entire story when I first brought him home (I'm not sure Sally knew either) but was really willing to try my best; and yes I did fall in love with him. However, his SA was very serious and as I live alone with no one else to help I began to realize that I was maybe not the right person for him - he lived almost his entire life with retired people. I did a lot of research on SA and talked with breeders and other dog owners, I was working with a behaviorist, I got a second dog (which he mostly ignored), I tried all kinds of toys and treats, bought him a bigger crate (which he nearly worked his way out of), tolerated the damage he was doing, and I tried to adjust my work schedule as best as I could. However, I could no longer deal with his snapping at me when I tried to entice him into the crate and at other times. After several sleepless nights and many stressful mornings, I decided to return him and cried all the way back to Sally's kennel. It was not an easy decision believe me and not one I made lightly.

gbroxon, I do rescue and have done it for well, seems like 100 yrs laugh.
I have had dog that I could rehome, dogs I couldn't and hubby and I could live with and dogs that I had to give the peace of the rainbow bridge.
Its true that now days, dogs and children are sometimes dumped for having some issues..BUT with the dogs I have seen, some just couldn't live in a home that we provided.
we have no kids, we have always worked to help turn dogs who had issues around, and give them time to figure that humans could be ok.
Some, well, they just couldn't.
I don't judge folks who find AFTER WORKING WITH DOGS that they have to give them back to a breeder..if the breeder is known. I admire those who make the hard choice and give them the peace of the rainbow bridge…
IMO, nothing worse than passing on a damaged to to hurt the humans who take it or have it hurt because it just couldn't cope.
I am not talking about messing in the house, I am talking about biting and that type of behavior.
I have issues with folks who impulse buy a puppy, and don't consider this baby needs to go out every 3 hrs, can't be crated, 20 a day, etc.
That is what I have issues with...then, after the cute rubs off, the dog is dumped.
Most folks on this forum know, or learn with is takes to care for b's. Some just read the post and think it won't happen to them.
I don't think this is the case now.
BUT it has been in the past, and will be in the future.

Wizard, your post brings tears. I feel in my heart you tried everything. I commend you.

Luny can now be placed in a forever home with someone that is home 24/7. You took on the hard work…..socialization, house acclimation, toys, treats, positive reinforcement, human love.....Kudo's to you. You gave Luny the opportunity to be adopted in a forever home that has what he needs to live a happy and stress free life.

@wizard:

Gbroxon - I take no offense at your response. Luny and I did start out as trial basis (all my dogs have started out that way) but it was clear from the start he had a problem yet I was still willing to try and work with him. I didn't know his entire story when I first brought him home (I'm not sure Sally knew either) but was really willing to try my best; and yes I did fall in love with him. However, his SA was very serious and as I live alone with no one else to help I began to realize that I was maybe not the right person for him - he lived almost his entire life with retired people. I did a lot of research on SA and talked with breeders and other dog owners, I was working with a behaviorist, I got a second dog (which he mostly ignored), I tried all kinds of toys and treats, bought him a bigger crate (which he nearly worked his way out of), tolerated the damage he was doing, and I tried to adjust my work schedule as best as I could. However, I could no longer deal with his snapping at me when I tried to entice him into the crate and at other times. After several sleepless nights and many stressful mornings, I decided to return him and cried all the way back to Sally's kennel. It was not an easy decision believe me and not one I made lightly.

Wizard,
I am sure you did the best you could… and I think that you did what was best for Him and You..... You have been through lots in a short time.... hugs to you and hope that things settle down soon

Wizard, I know from your posts that it was not a decision you made lightly nor without exhausting all the resources at your disposal. I am sure that the work you have done and the information you have been able to provide will help Sally find him the right home.

Thanks for all your support - that's what I like about this forum - the tough times are not nearly as tough.

@wizard:

Gbroxon - I take no offense at your response. Luny and I did start out as trial basis (all my dogs have started out that way) but it was clear from the start he had a problem yet I was still willing to try and work with him. I didn't know his entire story when I first brought him home (I'm not sure Sally knew either) but was really willing to try my best; and yes I did fall in love with him. However, his SA was very serious and as I live alone with no one else to help I began to realize that I was maybe not the right person for him - he lived almost his entire life with retired people. I did a lot of research on SA and talked with breeders and other dog owners, I was working with a behaviorist, I got a second dog (which he mostly ignored), I tried all kinds of toys and treats, bought him a bigger crate (which he nearly worked his way out of), tolerated the damage he was doing, and I tried to adjust my work schedule as best as I could. However, I could no longer deal with his snapping at me when I tried to entice him into the crate and at other times. After several sleepless nights and many stressful mornings, I decided to return him and cried all the way back to Sally's kennel. It was not an easy decision believe me and not one I made lightly.

Wizard, I appreciate your graciousness with regard to my knee-jerk-reaction post. I don't apologize for the basic thread of my thoughts, but I do apologize for the way I manifested them.

Although I realize I'm rationalizing, it seems, recently, that I've read so many threads (on different forums) where people are just giving up if a dog doesn't perform as wanted quickly (not necessarily SA behavior), and most unwanted behaviors, in my experience, are not quickly remedied and sometimes require maintenance rather than fixing.

In the future, I'll try to phrase what I have to say less vehemently.

Gbroxon - no big deal. No one knew Luny (aka Tommy) would exhibit SA and especially not in such a severe form. And I understood what you were thinking - about people dumping dogs. One of my stupid neighbors has gone that route (they've had 6 different dogs in 3 years - I won't talk to them anymore). And I don't know how many times I've come across people who say "oh what a pretty dog, I'd like one like that" when they see me walking my dog. I almost always discourage them from getting a basenji (with that attitude no dog would be good for them). So I'm with you there.