Hi everyone, basically my dog is eating the wallpaper and scratching the walls in the house. I was wondering if anyone might know why he's doing it and what the solution could be... I'm at my wit's end!
Just to clarify: it happens while I'm out at work, between 10am and 2pm, and then again from 7pm to 10pm.
Thanks for your time, any advice would be much appreciated.
Translated from French
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An eight-month-old Border Collie home alone... you’d need to have given him a proper run for more than 30 minutes to get him tired enough to nap until 2pm!
Have you taught him how to be left on his own? To start with, try short five-minute spells away and, as mentioned above, ignore him before and after... and remember, ignoring means: no touching, no nudging, no eye contact, no talking... NOTHING! It's really hard!
Leaving the radio or TV on can definitely help too! As can a KONG-style toy filled with tasty treats!!
Thanks so much for the reply. What you’ve suggested is exactly what I’m already doing, which is why I’m at a bit of a loss and don’t know what to do anymore. I haven’t tried an X-ray yet, though, so I’ll give that a go on Tuesday when I’m back at work. We’ll see how it goes :-) thanks a lot, I’ll keep you posted. And just for info, he’s 8 months old. Thanks again.
Hi there, you don't mention if he's young but I'm guessing he is. It sounds like your dog is getting bored while you're out. Try leaving him a piece of clothing you've worn, and if he hasn't got many, buy him some toys so he can burn off some steam. I'd avoid rubber ones for now—try something like a rope toy instead and play with it a bit while you're there. When you leave the house, don't make a fuss or pet him, and when you get back, ignore him for a bit—wait 5 or 10 minutes before giving him any affection. Make sure you set aside time every day for a quick walk, and a longer one at the weekend—off-lead if possible, provided the area is secure and his recall is good. Good luck! It's a habit I dealt with myself with one of my Cockers. And don't put a new rug down just yet. Oh, and you could also leave the radio on; not too loud as a dog's hearing is much more sensitive than ours, just to provide some background noise while you're away. It's not always effective, but it's worth a go.
