Puppy problems

brgunn88

We have two fur children. One is 2 the other is 1 and they have always been great dogs. Our 1 year old is a beagle/American bulldog. He's never really been destructive except for typical puppy problems when he first started to explore. He learns quick and is very sweet. Well, in the past few weeks he is destroying the walls in their room. He has always been fine in there before (and if you just want to judge that they have a room they are in please just keep it to yourself) we play with them and let them run a lot when we are home and we love both are dogs as if they were our children. I just didn't know if it could have to do with him sensing the baby's upcoming arrival.

Gingermom15

I think my dog can sense the change in our behavior and he knows something is going on with all the baby stuff. They are smart animals.
Keep in mind that beagles are high-energy, high-strung, hounds that need stimulation and things to do. Keeping them confined to an area with room to explore is asking for disaster. Might I suggest a wire crate to keep him in while you're working with lots of toys? He would need slowly introduced since he isn't a puppy anymore. We keep our boxer crated while we're gone, but I've also had beagle and beagle mixes crated trained as well.
He also would likely benefit from long walks in different areas at least twice a day. He is a hound and loves exploring and smelling new things. He has lots of built up energy and the need to take care of hound-dog stuff. Maybe you can find a dog-walking service in your area or an older kid you can trust and pay them to walk the dogs?

ETA do you keep them in the room while you're not home or all the time? I'm not judging, just trying to be clear. If they're in there more than a few hours a day then they, especially the beagle mix, have loads of energy that needs released.

brgunn88

Both dogs are in the room together during the day so they have each other along with lots of toys. My husband has had both beagles and Bulldogs before so we know they have lots of energy which is why they play and run time we get home. Like I said he's never done this before even when he had more energy.

Gingermom15

Have you spoken to a trainer or your veterinarian? Pent up energy can cause behavioral issues at any age, not just puppy-hood. If they aren't getting walked, then that could be the root of the cause. I understand keeping them confined, who knows what my dog would do if he had free-range around the house. But maybe try taking him for walks when you get home instead of letting them run around the house? He might need mental stimulation as well as releasing energy. New sites and smells would provide that.

brgunn88

We have a large back yard they run and play in when I get home. They don't stay out there because our fence is so old they would escape easily (they've done it before) I've tried walking him but I can't handle it at this point. Some days he destroys some days he doesn't.

Gingermom15

Is there anyone you trust to walk them at least once a day? Is there a reason your husband can't do it?

Ccat1977

We bought some dog games - they are like chess boards and they have to manipulate them to get the treats out. Awesome! Also have rolling toys that drop treats - one even has a timer so a compartment with treats opens every out so they don't run out of treats the first few min. Maybe some kong chew toys too with the treat stuff inside? I agree - they sound bored so anything to get that brain moving helps.

chewie5990

Do you mean you can't handle walking him because he pulls a lot? If so I highly recomend the gentle leader. I have a German Shepard and if he doesn't get a walk every day he's nuts! They also sell these puzzle toys at petsmart/petco that are supposed to provide mental stimulation and keep dogs busy for a while maybe try something like that. I think you put little treats in them and the dog has to figure out how to get the treat out.

Gingermom15

I've used a combo of a head halter and a harness to train stubborn dogs to walk calmly. If mine still pulled and went nuts on walks, I wouldn't be able to do it either at this point. He just sounds bored and the familiar backyard just isn't cutting it anymore for him.

ACarter0914

We crate our lab mix and he does amazingly well with it...to the point where he goes in there to sleep at some points of the day when we are home. It's his "safe space" and I think he's going to need that even more when the new baby comes.

We use to keep him confined in a room when he was younger and he got in a lot of trouble (chewing base boards, peeing when he was potty trained, ext.). He just had way to much room to do what he wanted and he didn't have enough discipline because we weren't home so he thought we could do what he wanted but in his crate he knows the rules. It's smaller so he doesn't feel comfortable enough to pee, he has plenty of toys so he's inclined to play with them instead, he can't chew on metal bars, ext.

I definitely think dogs know the change though.

Gingermom15

ACarter0914 said:

We crate our lab mix and he does amazingly well with it...to the point where he goes in there to sleep at some points of the day when we are home. It's his "safe space" and I think he's going to need that even more when the new baby comes.

We use to keep him confined in a room when he was younger and he got in a lot of trouble (chewing base boards, peeing when he was potty trained, ext.). He just had way to much room to do what he wanted and he didn't have enough discipline because we weren't home so he thought we could do what he wanted but in his crate he knows the rules. It's smaller so he doesn't feel comfortable enough to pee, he has plenty of toys so he's inclined to play with them instead, he can't chew on metal bars, ext.

I definitely think dogs know the change though.

The crate is definitely a safe place. I don't know what I would do without ours. SO's staff Sgt. trained his dog so he can say "go to jail" and the dog knows she is in trouble. She sits in her crate with the door open until he says it's ok to come out. I would never attempt this because I don't want to crate to have any negative associations. He trains police dogs and bomb sniffing dogs, so he must know what he's doing.
OP if you decide to crate train do not get a plastic one. I made that mistake with the first dog I trained, he was a beagle basset mix and chewed his way out when I left the house. I was gone for 29 minutes.

hplunkett2883

When my dog was younger I put her in a wire crate when I left the house. She was very comfortable in it and would go inside of it own her own to take naps. Now she is more mature and we have moved I stopped using it and she behaves herself having free range of the house. OP your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety or boredom. He's likely not to stop unless you intervene somehow. Just because he never did it before doesn't mean that a dog can't just all of a sudden pick up a bad behavior. Something is going on to trigger this and I hope you are able to find a solution.

grkgdss00

If they arent getting walks or able to play outside, I'd go crazy too! Sounds like you need a trainer to get them to walk better for you. Bottom line - they need more exercise and not be trapped in a room! Most all destructive issues are solved with exercise.

brgunn88

Thanks ladies. They do get exercise, if they didn't then we wouldn't have them because that's not fair. but he's been extra clingy that's why I tried to tell my husband I think he's going through some anxiety and he looked at me like I was crazy! The only thing with the crate is my other dog is in the room with him so when we tried that before they freaked out because they couldn't play together. My husband suggested that maybe the smaller dog stay in the house area and he be crated to see if that helps for a bit. These two dogs are my world and being emotional and pregnant does not help this process

JackJacktheCat

I think dogs can sense when things are changing, I've definitely seen small changes in my dogs behavior since I got pregnant. If they are getting exercise daily (playing outside totally counts! We never walk our dogs, they don't do well on leash, but they play in our huge backyard everyday & get plenty of exercise that way) then I think crate training is the only way to go. Our dogs didn't like being in separate crates so we connected two large wire crates together with zip ties & they loved it!! At first I'd tire them out and then put them in there for short periods of time -treats help create a positive association. They started to associate their big comfy crate with sleepy happy time. We don't even lock them in there anymore. They nap in there during the day, and at night they sleep in there without even being told to. When they were puppies we'd lock them in there if we left the house, but now we don't have to, they roam free and behave. Good luck! Fur babies are sometimes a little difficult for the first few years but it gets better! Our dogs grew out of that mischievous destructive puppy phase when they were about 2 and it's gotten easier & easier ever since.

RSB1982

A 1 year old dog is still very much a puppy, they can still be very mischievous at that age.  If your dogs are good with other dogs you could look into doggy daycare as an option.  That would get some energy out of them for sure.  Also, if you train (we do clicker training) a few sessions a day may help.  Dogs need mental exercise as well as physical.  I second the posters that mentioned food puzzles and toys, also good mental exercise. 

Edited to add that I agree with getting a crate - its the only way to make sure your house will not be destroyed in your absence.  My puppy is a big chewer - if we didn't crate our house would be a disaster.

amye02

Sorry you are dealing with destruction, I have had bulldogs and currently have a beagle. They are stubborn but astute breeds. I highly recommend a crate, it'll become his routine and he'll make it his "spot". That being said, he will resist you at first, I have found a KONG toy (the black kind for chewers) with peanut butter in the freezer overnight has been my go to trick for crating. We have one dog roam free and the other crated, they get used to it.

LMJL

I too have a beagle mix, we aren't sure what his other half is, but it's probably a black & tan hunting breed. As you can see from my profile pic, he is adorable. And I don't judge you at all for giving them their own room. My previous dog, a rottie mix, had her own queen size bed basically! We adopted Ranger though when he was two & he was a BIG change for us from the Rottie breeds we'd had previously. He's SO much smarter & a TON more energy. While I do think that dogs can read our behavior & subtle changes, I'm not sure if I think they "know" that we are pregnant. Ranger's behavior has not changed at all in any way, but then mine hasn't much either. I do agree with previous posters that this is most likely an excess of energy issue, which will just get worse as the weather gets colder (assuming it does where you live.) The run around the back yard is obviously not enough for him. When we first got Ranger, he would get walked 4 miles every day & a 30 min-1hr long visit to the dog park & he STILL had energy. Plus he had separation anxiety, so when we left he had to be crated, or he would destroy things as well. we couldn't even put a blanket in his crate b/c he would destroy it. It took time & he's about 5 now & SO much chiller, but he still gets about a 4 mile walk or the dog park every day, plus exercise in the back yard. While walking/running would be best, that's not really an option for you at this point in your pregnancy. Beagles are smart stubborn breeds & while I had my last dog trained not to pull in 2 weeks, Ranger still sometimes tries to get away with it. With you being so advanced, I'd 2nd PPs recommendations to find a dog walker/trainer in your area. You'll want one when you give birth & if you can find one that will work on training your dog now, then you may be able to all walk together once you have baby in tow. Which sounds really nice to me & will not be an option with a dog that pulls. The crate is a good stop gap measure until you can get him calmer (this will take some time!) Perhaps you can find a larger crate that fits both of them, or just have them in their own crates. There's lots of advice online on how to introduce a dog to their crate. I second the metal crate over plastic crate suggestion a PP made (Ranger did a number on the plastic inside of his. It still worked just was very chewed up on the inside plastic lip.) We also gave Ranger his food in a food toy (called an egg) which he had to work for, this was helpful. Lastly, he likes to play fetch, but he LOVES to catch the frisbee. This is something you CAN still do with your pup, it just takes a little practice to learn how to throw a frisbee if you're me. But it's another great way to expend their energy & spend some bonding time with them. Hope that helps some & best of luck with your furbaby. I know how much they can mean to us & agree with PP that this is something you need to address now before you bring baby home, or it can just get worse!

TheThornBird

Hello!

Ugh, so sorry you are going through this! Especially with a baby on the way! I'm a professional dog trainer and thought I'd chime in. Is he doing this while you are home, or when you are away?

TomekiaB

I have noticed with both of my dogs that you want to think they are grown up at a year because they look full grown, they know basic commands and are house trained. In my experience age 1-2 years is actually the worst for chewing on inappropriate things (that's when no shoe is safe). They are also finally big enough and talented enough to get into more! My dog had separation anxiety and I found that food puzzle toys helped get him past us leaving and then he was okay. My husband and I are both runners and my dog averages 5-10 miles at least 3 days per week but exercising him doesn't wear him out the way playing does. When our dog was 1-2 years doggy daycare was a lifesaver (he only went Tuesday & Thursday) we found he was good Monday because we wore him out all weekend, Wednesday he rested from Tuesday at daycare, ditto Friday. Its also a lot of every dog us different my current dog hates crates and it took 6 months of high value treat training to make him tolerate a crate (he had to crate because he had to fly). My current dog hates being confined and actually has never created a significant issue when given free range when home alone but lock him in a room and he will try to dig out and just panick (we dog proofed main living areas and closed doors to other rooms). I also sprayed bitter Apple on everything I couldn't move (couch, throw pillows, baseboards--if I thought he'd be able to get his teeth around it, I sprayed it!)

TomekiaB

Oh and I always leave the dog a view from any window he looks out (lift the blinds so he can see out the bottom or leave the curtains cracked when I leave him home alone.

celainev

Have you considered, If you have a large backyard, setting up a line in the back with a chain to attach to their collars? Kind of like a clothes line wire that hangs across your yard, so they can pull their chain to walk around? Then supply them with a good dog house each? And a larger sheltered area? My dog, when she was a puppy, would run into the neighbouring golf course when we were not home. So we set up a line. After a year she didn't even need it anymore. She is now the most well behaved dog and never leaves the border of our 60 acre property. Even though there are about 15 other dogs on our street, she keeps them off the property and still stays on her own. She is the best!

ammnam14

It sounds like they are either bored or separation anxiety. I lock up my puppy in the kitchen when I leave the house, which isn't too often and she destroys the baby gate every time. If you are gone all day can you hire a dog sitter? A few people in my neighborhood hired a company called The Zookeepers and they come once a day to take the pups out for walks and potty breaks. Pet stores also sell tons of brain toys for dogs. Maybe try out a few of those and see if they help! Good luck!