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Is there anything I can get to keep my 14 wk old cocker spaniel puppy entertained during the day while I am at work?
She destroys everything she can reach when left alone. I shut her in the bathrm, she climbed up the toilet onto the sink and chewed up toothbrushes, toilet paper, etc. I put her in laundry rm with a baby gate - she climbed over it ! She poops and tracks it EVERYWHERE when shut in a room (no fun cleaning up dried poop!). I blocked off the living room for her and she chewed up my curtains as high as she could reach,tore a hole in the wall and shred insulation all over the room. The past few days I have had to keep her in her crate all day which I know is not fair to her,but I don't have anywhere else to put her that she won't be destructive. Even in her crate she chewed the foam on her bed to shreds yesterday!.I know she is just bored and is the sweetest little thing when I am with her, though still curious and into everything! I have ordered a pet exercise pen that is supposed to arrive in a few days, but she still needs some stimulation during the day when no one is home.
Asked by
Guest 976187
on Dec 5th 2008
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in Behavior & Training
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- This question is closed.
Best Answer
Keep her crated while you are gone. Puppies sleep a lot anyways, and the only reason she is getting into things is because she can, and she is bored. A crate acts like a den for dogs, and this will be comfortable for her. You can cover the front of the crate so she can't see out and get anxious. Letting that young of a dog have free reign of even just a single room is never good. Not only are you teaching your dog that she is allowed to get into things (you aren't there to tell her not to) but some of the things she may be able to get into could be toxic to her. The crate IS fair to a dog, so don't think that this is punishment for her. Dogs feel safe in their crates, and she will more than likely just sleep all day. You can give her something to chew on (I like bully sticks) but I wouldn't give her anything that she can shred or destroy in there, like the beds she has destroyed before. You also have to make sure that you are walking her and playing with her A LOT when you get home. We all work and most of our puppies are crated during the day, but we will have to give their brains some type of activity to do. She is still young, but you could walk her for a short time in the morning before you leave - this way she is more tired and will fall right asleep. Best of luck - please message me if you have more questions.
Sergeant answered on Dec 5th.
Other Answers
Answers
Get some of the balls that you have to fill with treats but don't come out easily, I find those occupy their time for a little while...
Guest 407187
answered on 12/5/08.
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For me personally, I don't advocate leaving the dog with stuff to chew, entertain them when they are bored. I know they sounds counter-productive, but I have a fear of the dog swallowing or choking or something, and dying. However, if you are comfortable with it, then more power to you.
I would leave her crate empty during the day--no blanket, no toys, nothing. She doesn't need the blanket to be warm, thats more for human satisfaction. Try bully sticks or beef trachea. Both are completely digestible and provide hours of chewing entertainment--plus beef trachea has glucosamine and chondroitin in it, which is good.
Also, can you jog or walk her first thing in the morning to kill some of the energy? That'll help for part of the day.
Truth be told, crating is only "not fair" in the eyes of most owners, not the dog. As long as you are making the time are with her very enriching, energy burning, and training her, then crating her is fine!
Bam-Bam, CGC
answered on 12/5/08.
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I also put a bully stick, or a filled kong toy.
What does your puppy do while your at work? Probably sleep most of the day! If you could find someone to let her out sometime in the middle so she could stretch her legs and go to the bathroom, that might help with the boredom, and help with training her.
~Emma~
answered on 12/5/08.
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The crate is the best place for her. Like everyone else told you a bullystick or kong is the best thing for her to keep her busy.
If you can maybe find someone who can take her outside in the middle of the day for a long walk and then put her back in the crate.
Any room is really out of the question she needs to be in the crate while you are out of the house. It is for her own safety.
The Pawsee
answered on 12/5/08.
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