What am I doing wrong?

[helvetebrann]

Abbey is now almost 8 months. She's pretty well behaved for a dog, in most aspects. She sleeps through the night, she's pretty well behaved at the dog park, she listens most of the time, etc.

But she's destructive. I would say, like anyone would, that I'm not giving her enough exercise, but I have a hard time believing that.

In the mornings, before work, we play fetch for at least 45 minutes. Not just tossing the ball fetch, but running and jumping fetch. When I rush home from work at 3:30, I immediately take her to the dog park and we play long range fetch for at least an hour and a half, most nights at least two hours. Usually, when we get home, she's so exhausted that she takes a nap while I cook dinner.

Before bed, we take a 30 minute walk.

Yet, every day, she's ripping apart her bed in the crate, tearing up her toys when we're playing after dinner, and digging if left unattended for too long in the dog run area.

I'm just so utterly exhausted. Help.

[helvetebrann]

Oh and I forgot to mention that she's wearing a doggy backpack on all walks.

[BowWowMeow]

The easy solution is to remove the dog bed from her crate until she can be trusted. I know some people use those heavy-duty rubber mats as crate pads.

As for ripping up toys--that's just what gsds do...for their entire lives. They are heavy chewers. My Massie would go through a toy that was supposed to be super tough in about an hour. You might try giving her real (raw) bones or antlers.

[RocketDog]

What about mental exercise?

My pup is younger than yours, (and so far, he does not appear to be much of a chewer. He hasn't actually chewed anything up yet--he has pulled the stuffing out of one small shark, but he has several squeaky toys that have been intact for weeks now) so I'm not sure if I have much to offer, but in puppies past-and even in this one-- I do find that mental stuff is tiring for them too.

Training? New places? Maybe she's tired of the stuff she already knows and needs more?

[helvetebrann]

Originally Posted by RocketDog

What about mental exercise?

My pup is younger than yours, (and so far, he does not appear to be much of a chewer. He hasn't actually chewed anything up yet--he has pulled the stuffing out of one small shark, but he has several squeaky toys that have been intact for weeks now) so I'm not sure if I have much to offer, but in puppies past-and even in this one-- I do find that mental stuff is tiring for them too.

Training? New places? Maybe she's tired of the stuff she already knows and needs more?

She's working with the backpack now which has helped get rid of a ton of other bad behaviors she had. Plus we train every night for at least 20 minutes.

She doesn't like Kongs. Any other suggestions for mental exercise while crated?

[RocketDog]

Hmmm....there are some really cool "mental" toys out there, I've seen them on this board, LOL! I just can't remember the names..

Anyone? Anyone?

I've also seen a few at PetSmart, where there's like a certain way they have to manipulate it to release the treats. Unfortunately, I also remember people saying the super smart ones figured it out right away and then were bored. :P

Maybe she just has to outgrow it...as frustrating as it is. I feel for you, and may be joining your angst soon! I would certainly think that she's getting enough exercise. Poor you!

[RocketDog]

Oh, and I found a lovely bag of "beef bones" from a fairly local supplier, not really marrow bones that I freeze and Rocket LOVES to chew on them. I get about 45 minutes of peace a day with those. Since he's not a heavy chewer, he doesn't break them apart or anything, but still he only gets them with supervision, so I don't think you'd be able to use them while you're gone.

Can someone come play with her while you're at work? Maybe like a dogwalker you could hire, except more like a dog "player"? It would be an extra cost, but maybe you'd only need it for like 3-6 months, until she matured a bit more.

[KZoppa]

are you sure she doesnt like kongs? Its very likely she just doesnt like what you're putting in them. Mental exercise, physical exercise. Some dogs require A LOT more than you would expect. Plus she's only 8 months old. I couldnt trust Shasta out of her crate at night until just a couple months ago. She ripped bedding to shreds in her crate so she doesnt get it. She's rather have a bare crate. She has raw bones and she'll get getting a couple new chew toys for christmas. New bigger kong. I'm always adding new and different things to her kong and then freezing it.

Maybe you could work on giving her a job to do like close drawers or doors or something that works her mind.

[Holmeshx2]

A few very simple things.. one stop putting stuff in her crate. I know you're trying to be nice and trying to work her mind while you're gone but just let her sleep in her crate, don't give her the chance to tear something up. As far as exercise change it up I know there are times I can go for miles with Jinx and it's like I did nothing however take her somewhere new (new trail or just a walk through a pet store) and she is so much more tired when we get home. All the new scents, sights, and sounds you work that mind and you will wear her out. Definitely do some more training then the 20 minutes. Also I've learned a new trick for 5 minutes tires the mind out more then an hour of tricks they already know.

[AthenaClimbs]

Sounds like your pup is mouthy like my girl. I was at a loss at one point also. I bought some elk antlers and they were a miracle, I got them at bestbullysticks.com and she can play with them for hours. Also, if you go to PetCo, they sell these doggie treat bones (in the fridge) by DogNation. She will LOVE those.