natrix
01-17-2006, 01:18 PM
Hi, I have a lab/boxer mix named Spud who is approx. 2.5 years old. He has never been any trouble until recently.
I work an afternoon shift, 3pm-12am. When I started the mob 7 months ago Spud did very well. He stays in my bedroom when I am not here, and up until a few months ago he would stay quietly in my room and eat whatever treat I left him (stuffed kong or marrow bone).
But about 3 months ago he stopped eating when I was not there. He will now not touch any food or treat, no matter how tempting, unless I am there. He also started whining and scratching at the door, and last night when I came home he had torn up all the carpet under the door. He has NEVER destroyed ANYTHING before so this was very worrying.
Now I don't know what to do when I go to work tomorrrow (I have today off). I'm afraid if I leave him out he will cause more damage. He does have a crate but I have not used it for over a year. He always managed to break out of it anyway (I have NO idea how, its a metal crate) and plus he will try to dig his way out of the crate too and ends up damaging the carpet around it (there is no where I could put it where there is no carpet).
Everything I read on seperation anxiety just says to leave some interactive treats like a kong. Thats what I did and it worked great but why will he no longer touch them when he's alone??
Hope I can get some advice here, I'm really stumped. I just don't understand why after months of being perfectly fine with being left alone he would suddenly develop issues.
I work an afternoon shift, 3pm-12am. When I started the mob 7 months ago Spud did very well. He stays in my bedroom when I am not here, and up until a few months ago he would stay quietly in my room and eat whatever treat I left him (stuffed kong or marrow bone).
But about 3 months ago he stopped eating when I was not there. He will now not touch any food or treat, no matter how tempting, unless I am there. He also started whining and scratching at the door, and last night when I came home he had torn up all the carpet under the door. He has NEVER destroyed ANYTHING before so this was very worrying.
Now I don't know what to do when I go to work tomorrrow (I have today off). I'm afraid if I leave him out he will cause more damage. He does have a crate but I have not used it for over a year. He always managed to break out of it anyway (I have NO idea how, its a metal crate) and plus he will try to dig his way out of the crate too and ends up damaging the carpet around it (there is no where I could put it where there is no carpet).
Everything I read on seperation anxiety just says to leave some interactive treats like a kong. Thats what I did and it worked great but why will he no longer touch them when he's alone??
Hope I can get some advice here, I'm really stumped. I just don't understand why after months of being perfectly fine with being left alone he would suddenly develop issues.