Expert: Delores Beck - 2/13/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi I'm at my wits end, I have a cocker spaniel he is now 4 years and 4 months when he was a puppy he went through a faze of eating carpets, curtains, blinds etc but now hes grown up he's started again.  We leave him for 6 hours a day, hes been great for ages but the last week he has destroyed my blinds as if he is looking for attention, is this seperation anxiety and if so what can I do to help him.  I've smacked his nose, made him stay in his basket, ignored him but its not working.  He's great when we are at home but now I'm scared to leave him.  Should I shout at him?  My husband thinks he gets too much attention. I'm desperate please help?

ANSWER: So he hasn't been destructive for years and suddenly this has started?

My first question would be how much exercise does he get?  A TON of behavioral issues are due to boredom and pent up energy.

Does this only happen when you're not home?
Delores

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

QUESTION: Hi Delores

Yes this has started in the last few days.  It started when we left him on Wednesday for 5 1/2 hours and then was with him for 3 and left him again for 3 hours this is not a usual occurence this was a one off.

I give him a 10 minute walk of a morning which I am told is enough for him and then of an evening when we are at home we play with him and he has the run of a large garden - if the exercise not enough.  By the way I cannot let him off the lead as he runs of but I do have a long training lead that I use in good weather.

Yes this only happens when we are not home.

I have been advised to use a DAP collar would you recommend these?

Answer
A ten minute walk is enough?  Who on earth told you that?

At LEAST two half-hour walks a day...that's minimum!

Of course you're upset about this sudden destructiveness..but don't panic.    First I'd put him in a confined & safe place where there's nothing for him to attack :) - like the kitchen or laundry room or even a bathroom.  Put his bed - water - a Kong with some peanut butter inside in there.

I think you'd find him improved instantly with a LOT more exercise.
And that's the very first thing any trainer would tell you.  So
start taking him for a very long walk in the morning - feed him when you get back, then leave.

Try that and let me know what happens and we'll go from there.
Delores