re:Up at night

Question
5 y.o male Aussie blue merle.  He is run in the mornings 3-6 miles; live in
NYC in apt. At night b/w 12 a.m and 2 a.m he starts to paw at objects in the
apt such as tv, stereo, tries to get into closets; an attempt to escape and any
place high (on top of crate). Have given him herbal supplements in an effort
to relax him. I cannot ignore the bad behavior otherwise the apt will be
destroyed but also do not want to give him the "ok" every night to create a
habit. Do you know a behaviorist in NYC? Any thoughts?  I know he is terribly
effected by the barometric pressure and is noise sensitive. Thank you.

Answer
Behaviorist in NY:
Katharine Miller
ASPCA
424 E. 92nd Street
New York, NY 10128
212-876-7700 x4418
katherinem@aspca.org

The Australian Shepherd is a working breed, and will find ways to entertain themselves, left to their own devices.  A 3-6 mile run is good exercise, but may not be enough mental stimulation for a problem-solving breed.  One thing you can do, even in the city, is to use training to stimulate him mentally. Plus, it's fun, because Aussies are so darn smart:-))
Clicker training works extremely well for these dogs, since they like to problem solve.  Here's a list of clicker teachers in NY:
http://www.clickerteachers.net/clicker/index.php
When you train, try using these treats:
http://www.amazon.com/Sniffers-Bitesize-Ultimate-Training-Dog/dp/B000OUQ4RO
I use them for one of my dogs, and it helps.  But, I do break them into eency weency pieces so she doesn't get too much of a good thing...
Noise phobias or sensitivities are something that the behaviorist can help you work on.  Gradual desensitization techniques may help. The fact that he is sensitive to barometric pressure does not surprise me.  Many Aussies are very sensitive to external stimuli, and very reactive as well.  But, again, I think that the clicker will become a great ally in the fight against "bad behavior" once you learn how to use it properly.  There are a few free lessons here: www.clickerlessons.com
But, I think that, with a dog like this, it's worthwhile to attend a class.  You have planted a high drive working dog in the most foreign environment possible, LOL, but I think that you seem like a committed owner, and you probably can get this smart little guy turned around.  Most people who met my dog when she was a pup thought I'd never keep her.  Let me tell you - she is AWESOME.  It took a lot of work, and I was lucky to have a professional skill set, but it was worth it!!!  I wish you all the luck.  Let me know how things work out.