posted 11-24-2003 02:58 PM         

I have a 2.5 yr old Australian Kelpie. She is an extremely well behaved dog when I'm with her. She has been through obedience as a pup and knows many commands and tricks, and also knows what she should and shouldn't chew up.

For approx a year she was very well behaved while I was at work, but for the past 2 months she has reverted back to her chewing the carpet, and paper.

As a pup she used to have severe seperation anxiety which I, and my vet believed to be her motivation for chewing. Once the seperation anxiety passed, she once again began to chew. I figured it was boredom, so I take her to a doggie day-care once a week so she can run and play. That helped for a long time.

Now once again she is chewing and I don't know what else to try with her. I take her to the park to run everyday, as her breed needs lots of excersize and attention. When she is home alone, she has several toys and bones to chew on, and I cycle them often so she won't be bored with the same toys and treats.

I'd hate to get the crate out of storage and force her to sit in it all day while I'm at work again but I'm out of options at this point.

I'm hoping for any suggestions, or ideas to try for a dog reverting back to her old habits.

Thank you in advance.

posted 11-24-2003 04:22 PM         

Kelpies are a one-person dog, that is they stick with one person usually and I would say that's why she suffered from seperation anxiety with you being at work.

I would suggest that if you have the room, finances etc that you get another dog to occupy her when you are at work so she will learn to play with something else besides paper and carpet. It's not really normal for a Kelpie to be chewing at all which suggests to me that she is extremely bored and not very well occupied. (Not blaming you ) Actually they don't make very good pets unless you have plenty of space for them to run and "chase".

posted 11-24-2003 07:46 PM         

1. afford another dog for her to play with
2. have enough space for her to run all day

That's why I take her out to the parks right when I get home from work. Rain or shine.

It's strange though how anti-social she is at dog parks. She's nice to all the dogs, but only really cares about guarding her toys.

Someday she'll have a friend to play with but until then I've got to find a way to keep her from chewing up things when I'm away from home.

posted 11-25-2003 06:03 AM         

I leave a TV on for her (on Animal Planet no less ) hid treats, and even come home on my lunch break whenever I can.

Nothing has changed that I can think of. I've worked the same hours I've always worked since I had her. I've been with my girlfriend longer that I've had my Kelpie.

My dog used to be obsessed with a laser pointer pen, and I thought maybe she was frustrated that she couldn't catch it, and that's why she was chewing. So I put the pointer away and that seemed to help for a couple of weeks.