Expert: Jannie Balliett - 6/17/2010

Question
We have a 8 month old female fawn boxer, who is a delight to have.

She is perfect in every way. Both my husband and I work downtown and with travel time and work hours she is left alone for 10 hours during the day while we are at work.

We didn’t want to crate her for that long, so we puppy proofed a room for her and left her there……with her bed, blanket and toys.

She never really enjoyed it but she got use to it and we never had a problem with her in the room.

We came home last night after work and found she bit a hole though the dry wall and totally destroyed the wall……there was drywall all over the place.

We didn’t want to leave her in the room again today, for fear that she may destroy something else and possibly hurt herself,  so this morning we put her in the washroom, which is completely tiled, there's isn't much space for her to anything….

My question is, what can people do with a destructive boxer while they are at work. We would love to give her free range of the house, but after her stunt yesterday I can hardly see that happening for a while.

Help!

Answer
10 hours alone is a long time for a dog.

It is anxiety- a separation anxiety. They are not meaning to be destructive, but they have this pent up energy that is an uncontrollable anxiety and release it the only way they know how- destruction.

You do have options.

1) Doggie-daycare. Call around and check pricing and availability about doggie-daycare. This would be the perfect answer for you and for her. She will love it if you can afford it.

2) Buy nanny-cams. Shut off all rooms that are unnecessary to her; bedrooms (except her puppy-proofed room because she is accustomed to it and she feels it is "her" room anyway), bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc. Maybe baby-gate the kitchen or ding room area(s) if possible. Place the nanny-cams in the rooms that you allow her in. Find the software for a computer so you can watch her on your work computer to check up on her, and allow her free roam in the house- the rooms you have not shut off.

If you do that, have a friend or better yet, a neighbor that is home all day, (giving them a house key) be on standby for your phone call if necessary-- they neighbor can let her or himself in and stop her from her "behavior" and take her outside and calm her too.

This will require you trusting that person and being able to rely on that person too.

3) This option is same as above, but hire a pet sitter to come in at certain times during the day. Maybe twice a day, or three times a day, to take her outside and roam (hopefully you have a fenced back yard) or on a leash (if no fenced yard) and spend some time with her.

If you choose a pet sitter, remember to introduce them prior to the actual start date. You want her to get familiar with the sitter and like the person. Have the potential sitter give her a treat, and then each time she visits to do her job pet sitting. Your Boxer girl will be anxiously excited to see the sitter each time.

Let me know which option you chose and how it is working out for you.

Remember, 10 hours is a long, long time for a dog. It is loneliness, pent up energy, and all becomes anxiety that you will not return and causes the feelings of abandonment. She is not being destructive on purpose. The nanny-cams and room to roam my be the key. (But I have always favored doggie-daycare because of all the benefits)!