Expert: Lee Charles Kelley - 4/21/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi! I have a 1 1/2 year old Rat Terrier. She is a sweet dog, except for the issue of her chewing holes in our kitchen walls when we're away. We have baby gates to keep her in the kitchen/laundry room while no one's home. When she first started chewing on the walls, we decided to install a dog door to allow her access to the back yard. That seemed to be the answer, but she has recently
begun chewing on the walls again. I make every effort to keep appropriate chewing toys as well as some other fun favorites, but they don't prevent this behavior. We thought that her having the ability to go outside would help, but that was just a small break in the frustration. I don't want to get rid of her, but I can't continue to repair walls for her to tear them up again! Help!


ANSWER: Hi, Kim,

Thanks for the question. This must be worrisome.

How long have you had the dog? If you got her when she was a puppy, did you ever scold or punish her when she was mouthy or nippy? What kind of games does she like? Do you ever play tug-of-war with her? Have you considered using a crate instead of leaving her in the open kitchen (it's more open than a crate)? How much hard vigorous playful exercise does she get every day? Has there been a change in the household in the last few months?

I look forward to hearing back from you,

LCK

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We got Angel when she was approximately 8 weeks old. We scolded her from the very beginning when she would nip (she did it A LOT!). She loves to fetch and loves tug-of-war. I'm afraid that part of the issue may be that we don't always have enough time to spend at serious hard play with her, since she's such an active dog. My husband refused to crate her--that's something we've been at odds about since we first got her. No changes in the household in the last few months...just our regular routine. I realize that if she doesn't get enough hard vigorous play that she had pent up energy that needs to be focused, but wouldn't you think that having access to the outdoors would help with that? We've got lots of squirrels to chase after all :). Thanks for your input.

Answer
Hi again.

Your dog clearly has separation anxiety/distress.

The reason I asked about the scolding is that when you repress a dog's oral urges during her developmental phase, you often get overly oral behavior in the adult dog.  That's why she's chewing holes in the walls rather than whining or scratching at the door, which is most dogs with SA/D would do.

I'm with you on the crate issue. It may be (note I said "may" be) the only solution you'll need to create a change in her behavior. That and giving her a lot (and I mean a LOT) more play time outdoors, particularly playing tug-of-war. (You should always let her win and praise her for winning.) I'd also recommend a hand feeding exercise where she has to push into you in order to eat.

Teaching her to hold a long down/stay, particularly what I call the "Peek-a-Boo" stay, where she has to stay even though you disappear behind a wall or a tree, will also be beneficial.

Here are some links that will be of help:

http://tinyurl.com/3balu6 (pushing exercise, a la Neil Sattin)

http://www.tiny.cc/SwimUpstream description

http://www.tiny.cc/tug (tug, a la Neil Sattin)

http://www.tiny.cc/CrateTraining

http://www.tiny.cc/sepanxiety

Let me know if you need any further info or clarification,

LCK