[Minna]

Hi,

I am a bit confused about this - I guess it was only a joke, but is Karin
now joking too?
Deborah's dog is showing symptoms of separation anxiety (typical for this is
that the dog urinates everywhere and destroys things) because it can't bear
separation. The dog panics when left alone. You should never greet a dog
like that enthusiastically, in deed you should not greet it at all. Neither
should you give him any attention about half an hour before you leave home -
and no good byes. Leaving home and coming back should just be normal things
that constantly happen in dog's life - so there should not be big emotions
about that. If dogs have separation anxiety and are not just bored while
alone, they normally don't eat or chew anything suitable, so bones and toys
in this case won't do. With a dog like this you should try to get the bond
between your and the dog little less intense. Don't allow the dog follow you
everywhere when you are at home and give it generally less affection.

My male CsW also used to destroy everything - and I mean now e v e r y t h
i n g : clothes, furniture, dors, windows etc -, while he was alone. We
bought him a big kennel from it he can't escape (he is a real escape artist
but this is a different story) and that helped. Now I can even leave him for
a short time alone home but the problem is that he can open doors and
windows (without destroying them) ...

I dont believe in punishing a dog long after it has destroyed something or
rewarding it long after it has done something right. With dogs punishment
and reward must come simultaneously while the wrong/right behaviour is
happening.
The good advise from Karin was that you should put the dog to some place
where he must stay for half an hour at least - ignoring the dog really can
help. Karin also recommended to put him a muzzle on and install peaces of
destroyed thing into it.
Well, wouldn't it be better idea to leave the dog wear a good muzzle (so
that the dog can drink and pant when having it on) while alone? You may need
to buy a big crate (car box) where the dog must be when you are not home. Of
course you can/should try to train you dog to stay alone first just a one
minute and then longer and longer.

Minna