Destructive Behaviors

by Joanne
(Twin Falls, ID)

Three months ago we rescued a Great Pyr neutered male from a kill shelter here in Idaho. He's approximately 15 months old. He is house trained. He's low key in the house for the most part. When restless he goes out in our fenced backyard (approx half acre). We have a 4 year old yellow lab female and they play well together. We keep him in our room at night with the other dog as he will raid the kitchen sometimes. When we are home 90% of the time all is great with him - no mischief.

When we are at work and weather doesn't permit him to be outside, we muzzle him because if we don't, he is destructive. Yesterday he managed to get his muzzle off and the results are a typical example: bakeware dish on back of stove pull off and shattered on the floor, wastebasket contents everywhere, laptop sleeve chewed beyond hope, sweater pulled from closet and chewed, large chewed area on floor rug (imported from Pakistan)...

Is this typical or is this separation anxiety? We try not to coop him up inside because he loves to be in the backyard. At -10 I won't leave him out. At 20 and snowing I don't leave him out.

Help.

Comments for Destructive Behaviors

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 19, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Destructive Behaviour
by: Donna

It's typical behaviour of a puppy which he is. That's not separation anxiety by the sounds of it.

You need to crate train him when you are not there: http://info.drsophiayin.com/crate-training-handout

You might also consider it for him at night but you don't want him spending day and night in it.

You need a crate big enough for him to stand plus a few inches, turn around and lie down fully. That will be the largest crate you can get. Get a Kong, fill it with raw meat, freeze it and tie it to the back of the crate. That's where your start training.

Never use the crate for punishment. Never punish a dog. You need to work with your dog.

Have a positive-reinforcement trainer come in to show you how to do it.

Leaving a muzzle on him is dangerous. He could get caught in something. Leaving him loose in the house, as you have seen, is dangerous for him.

Walk your dog, too, so he gets out to see the world and stay interested and socialized.

As for -10 and -20, as long as he has insulated shelter available, he's fine. These guys have double coats and were meant to be outdoors. They love to be outside in most temperatures. If that is where he wants to be, he'll be fine. That said, you also don't want him to be stolen when you are not there.
Jan 23, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Destructive behaviour
by: Anonymous

Yes. Crate-training is best. It becomes a safe place for them when they want their own quiet get away, too.

Just leave the door open when you're home and they can come and go as they please.
Jan 25, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		just a thought
by: Anonymous

Cannot think of anything that is missing from the wonderful home your Pyr has been adopted into...except maybe one thing. You did not mention walking your dogs.

Pyrenees are programed genetically with a need to patrol their environment. Miles and miles of it. On these walks everything he sees, hears and smells will be catalogued into his big bear head. On his next walk he will instantly be aware if there is a change in that environment. As a guardian, he needs to know and assess if this constitutes a threat.

His comfort level and his ability to relax in the home is directly tied to his experience with 'due diligence'. If yours doesn't get to do this every day, this could be a source of frustration for your pup. Frustration, any level of it, generally leads to destruction.

That said, there's a lot going on with him in his new life as your guardian, that will be a fairly steep learning curve for him. He's still a pup. It will take time for him to replace his previous life experiences (they never forget) with the new ones you are now providing for him.

You will need to safeguard your home from his activities in your absence with a crate, but do walk your dogs together at the time of day when the Pyr's need to patrol is most acute: early AM and again at dusk in the PM.

Thank you for rescuing and best of luck with your fur babies.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Great Pyrenees Questions.

CLICK TO FOSTER A PYR
PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGE


Breaking News

RSS

  1. Daisy and Angel (Bonded Pair)

    Nov 14, 18 09:37 AM

    *ADOPTED * AN UPDATE FROM THEIR NEW FAMILY We have had a great week here, started training off leash and learning to respect the front yard as a danger

    Read More

  2. Harvard

    Nov 10, 18 09:26 AM

    *ADOPTED* This sweet boy now has a new home with teenagers and cats all of whom think he's a pretty great pup. The family has much Pyr experience so Harvard

    Read More

  3. Addition of third Pyr

    Nov 08, 18 03:41 PM

    I have two pyrenees 8 yr old male, 5 yr old female fixed they live outside with 3 goats I want to add my deceased boyfriend pyr to my home she is 6 yrs

    Read More

  4. Lincoln

    Nov 05, 18 07:04 AM

    *ADOPTION PENDING* Lincoln is the sweetest boy, full of love and thriving for affection, and a real combination of laid-back energy. He is a 13 month

    Read More

  5. Yuki

    Nov 04, 18 02:16 PM

    *ADOPTING PENDING* Yuki was out on a trial adoption but she was chasing the cat in play. Note that she is great with cats since they have them in her

    Read More

  6. Diet - Vomiting, Diarrhoea

    Oct 31, 18 05:51 AM

    approx. 2 yr old female weighs about 80lbs. Every three weeks for the past 3 months exhibits same symptoms: restlessness, vomiting, diarrhea, low energy,

    Read More

  7. Breed - Retriever or Pyr

    Oct 30, 18 05:37 AM

    I purchased a English Cream Golden Retriever but everyone tells me that he is a Great Pyrenees. He’s white, 2.5 yrs old and weighs 105 lbs. He gained

    Read More

  8. Jake (now Diamond Jake Einstein)

    Oct 29, 18 05:57 AM

    *ADOPTED* It's final. This gentle giant grabbed his family's hearts. They have two cats. One is cat savvy and the other is not. They have taken much

    Read More