M&D's Mommy

A little background:
My fiance and I adopted our 1st standard, Murphy, about 2.5 years ago, and he's been a dream dog. He was older (8 when we got him) and seemed to be instantly bonded to me and we've never had a training issue.

Since having one dog was going so well, two would only double our happiness, right? Ha! We got Darwin, another standard, about a year ago. He was a stray at a local shelter, so we don't know exactly how old he is, but our vet thought he was 1-2 when we got him, so he'd be 2-3 now.

Darwin's been a bit more of a challenge. He was either stray for a very long time, or did not have good care because when we adopted him, his fur was about 4-5 inches thick and matted so badly that he couldn't really walk (the fur between his abdomen was matted to his legs, so he couldn't move his hips very well). I don't have any idea what sort of past he comes from, but he had been relatively well behaved for the first year we had him (other than taking any opportunity he can get to explore outside our yard, which thankfully is fenced). However, over the last month his behavior has really deteriorated. He is usually very good when we are home, but he has been misbehaving while we are at work. Both dogs have freedom to roam the house while we are at work (we both work full time) and there hasn't been any trouble other than an occasional tipped over garbage can (which has been Murphy's doing). In the last month, Darwin keeps pulling stuff off the countertops when we are not home. This is our fault, I admit, and we need to be better about keeping food out of reach. However, last week I discovered him chewing on the packaging of an unwrapped Christmas gift. And then last night, he pulled a package of ski goggles off our countertop and destroyed the packaging and part of the goggles themselves. He has plenty of toys around he can chew on - why does he want to chew on something he knows he isn't supposed to?? I understand him taking bacon off the countertop - but ski goggles?

I'm sure Darwin doesn't get enough exercise. We have a fenced yard, but it's not that big and with his long poodle legs it only takes him a few strides to cross it. He actually spends most of his time sniffing around instead of running & playing. With Murphy being older, he is not interested in playing very often or for very long, so that doesn't help Darwin at all. We try to walk them at least once a day and take them to the dog park whenever we can, but we both work full time and it's dark when we leave in the morning and dark when we get home at night. But this hasn't happened until the last month and we've had him for a year!

The only thing I can think of is this... my sister adopted a puppy about a month ago, and she occasionally brings her over to play with Darwin. They have a great time running around the yard and wrestling and get along great. Could Darwin be having some sort of problem coping with having another dog coming over occasionally into his home? Or maybe he's growing more and more attached to us and it's a separation anxiety thing?

We'll definitely try to get him more exercise - it's certainly not going to hurt anything. But in the meantime, are there any suggestions for disciplining when he acts out like this? Should we be scolding him for doing it when we didn't actually catch him in the act? He's now being secluded to a bedroom when we're gone, which we don't like to do, but can't afford him ruining anymore gifts! I just don't understand why this behavior is starting now when he's been so good for the last year! Please help :(

petitpie

My 4 spoos have been better behaved, since they have had more consistant crate training. I'm glad Darwin has someone to play with, too. Put anything you value (safer for him) out of his reach and look for chews he can have. There are plenty of recommendations on Poodle Forum. Hopefully, he will out grow his behavior.

There are plenty of people here who can offer help.

Indiana

I bet you'll find a big difference when you exercise him more; we have to take our dogs out for runs in the dark too, but wow! It makes the difference between a happy, content dog and a lunatic! Maybe too Darwin was calmer before because he wasn't feeling well; now he's feeling better because of your love, good feeding and consistent care, so he's feeling his oats and needs a safe and fun outlet (running!). I think you'll find he's a great dog once you work through these issues with him, and also there is nothing wrong with confining him to a safe area while you're gone to work. They just learn to sleep while you're gone, as long as they have a good exhausting run when you get back. Have fun with him! You're doing a great thing, rescuing him

fjm

I agree - sounds like he needs more exercise, both physical and mental. There is no point scolding him after the event - he won't understand what has made you cross, and will just get stressed, and the stress will quite possibly lead to worse behaviour ...

You can, of course, scold yourself for not putting stuff out of reach, or for not closing he door ... I carefully closed the door on the kitchen the other night, as I had left meat out to defrost. Unfortunately I forget to check where the cat was beforehand, and shut her in there ...

__________________

To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing was not boring- it was peace.

~ Milan Kundera

CT Girl

Very funny about the cat's good fortune. That sounds exactly like something I would do.

I agree with you completely about the exercise and the pointlessness of scolding after the fact. Any chance you could take a night obedience class? I think of it as date night with Swizzle. It is good to keep them occupied mentally and physically or else they will find something to occupy them and I can guarantee you will like your choice better.