Help – my dog is destructive when I’m not home.

Dear Jennifer

I could really use you help. When my mom leaves for work in the morning, I get really lonely and don’t really know what to do with myself.

So I find ways to keep myself busy but by the look on my mom’s face when she gets home, I can tell she is not happy with my activities. I like to see what’s under the grass, turns out it’s just earth. Everywhere I checked, nothing interesting under the grass at all. I also like to see what the wooden window frames tastes like sometimes.

I also like to take my mom’s pot plants and put them in other places. My best is when somebody leaves shoes outside for me, I love chomping on shoes. My mom has however said in no uncertain terms that she is not happy with my daily activities so I need your help please. I don’t have a fur-friend to play with so I need other ways of staying busy.

Please help!

Love Sadie

Hi Sadie,

Shame Sadie, sounds like you may be suffering from a separation disorder. I know it is no consolation but this type of disorder is very common among our furry friends, particularly ones that may live on their own. The behaviours you are displaying are pretty common in these situations and are usually the result of boredom. I recommend mum tries to increase the amount of exercise she gives you. A daily walk would help with both physical and mental stimulation

You can also ask your her to buy you some chewy toys like kongs etc. that she can stuff with some of your favourite treats or to make some homemade iced lollies. Tell her to simply freeze some of your pellets, chopped up Vienna sausage, small pieces of chicken or any similar yummy treats in some beef or chicken stock or just plain water. Mum can then give you one of these ‘chew’s’ when she leaves for work and I’m sure you will find them more satisfying than chewing an old shoe.

Digging is an instinctive behaviour and is also often a way to alleviate boredom. Suggest to mum that she buys you a plastic shell or a large timber box that can become your “special digging space”. She can fill it with some clean river sand then hid some tasty treats in the sand and encourage you to search and dig for them. This way you won’t need to dig up the grass or any plants as your “special digging space” will be much more rewarding. Mum could even hid one of your chewy toys in it before she leaves for work.

Obviously you could always hint to mum that she adopts a furry friend for you to play with when she is away from the house 🙂

Kind regards,

Jennifer