New Member

Posts: 3
From:Fort Collins, CO, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-24-2003 07:08 PM         

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This is both good and bad. My dog's name is Chewy, this is short for Chewbacca (as he will growl like the fictional STAR WARS character) Chewy lives up to his name though. He has chewed his way through other more UNforgiving homes until I fell in love with the pooch. That first week I kept him as a junior at Colorado State University, he tore up $2500 dollars worth of text books, lab equipment and countless hours of research. I nearly gave him up when the wise words of an elderly pet shop owner told me "he's already cost you $2500 dollars, you may as well get your moneys worth." I've been doing that ever since!
This dog can UNLOCK a locked door! He can also OPEN the DOOR!!! He only does this when I am at work or school and he has to go use the rest room. This was not the problem though, he is a BIG DOG (110 lbs German Shepard/ Rottwieler) so people see him as a threat and I have been forever picking my pooch up at the doggie jail. So I bought a Kennel.
At first I kept him there to keep him safe, but he was SO unhappy. He would drool all over and shiver and shake, so I thought that was too inhumane and took him out, he replied by EATING MY BRAND NEW COUCH (one week old)!!!!!! So I love him he stays with me I figure how to lock the doors so he can't get out. the other day Chewy used a BOOK SELF that I have set against the wall and tipped it BREAKING the window which he got through COMPLETELY unharmed only so that the pound (who knows me by first name) can call and say Chewy (they are also on a first name basis)is out again and this time he has opened a gate to an adjacent apartment complex's swimming pool (chewy LOVES water)and he is SWIMMING in the pool. I work 39 miles from where I live, I work on commission, every minute I am awy from work that means I eat less than Chewy does for the month, Chewy has been putting me on quite a diet! Getting rid of this dog IS NOT AN OPTION!!!! What options do I have to contain a smart dog?
(things he can escape: 8 foot privacy fence, locked doors, locked windows, locked sliding glass doors, travel kennel (without locking every fold and bend), leashes, CARS!!!!!, locked houses that have even been "Chewy Proofed") PLEASE it would KILL me if I came home from work and found my dog gone and injured, what can I do?

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Member

Posts: 156
From:
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-24-2003 09:56 PM         

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Wow smart dog! I dont know if you have tried this yet but I used to buy these for my children. They are little plastic things that you put on door knobs. To get out of the door you have to push a few buttons on it. If you turn the handle it just slides around. I think I got it at ToysRus, It stopped my kids from getting out. I believe they would be in the baby safety section, not very expensive either. Dont know if that will help just thought i would throw my 2 cents in. As for windows and such I have no clue except bars, lol. My grandparents had a dog like this, they build a HUGE tall pen in the back for when they could not be with him. Anyway this thing was complete with a roof, and he still got out.

[This message has been edited by 3Dogsihave (edited 12-24-2003).]

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Member

Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 12-25-2003 02:18 AM         

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Unhappy or not...Chewy would be in a crate. For his own safety, period. There is a list a mile long of things that could happen to him while he is out that wouldn't make him any happier. Is it possible he has separation anxiety? Have you considered Doggie daycare at leaste some of the days of the week? It may be less expensive in the long run to put him in daycare than to eep paying "jail fees" or whatever expenses he may incur in vet bills or other costly mischeif he may get into.

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New Member

Posts: 3
From:Fort Collins, CO, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-25-2003 08:38 AM         

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thank you both, I do the dog day care thing twice a week, but I am having trouble finding one that I trust close to home or work, all they do is kennel him up and he hates that, I have also done the door knob thing, he LOVES chewing plastic, so that's 2.50 per time Chewy wants out. I know he has "separations anxiety" it was diagnost by his vet. I have found that it is best to leave my bedroom open and Chewy sleeps on my bed, but he chews that too, but VERY little, just too much for comfort. Thatnk you both for your replies

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