chewing

Question
i have a 9 month old german shepherd he's well mannered and trained. But when left alone in the back yard he finds anything and everything to destroy. He's chewed up hoses an outside carpet he destroyed 2 wood flower pots. inside the house he's great. we've bough him bones toys balls. i have ran out of ideas. how do i make him stop?

Answer
If your dog is suffering from Separation Anxiety (SA) it will need Behavior Modification to help him get over it, and it sounds like he does or is on his way. he is not "getting even" by chewing up your stuff, dogs chew, dig, and/or bark to cope with anxiety, and your stuff has your scent on them so it is the next best thing to being with you. Crating her may work, but with some dogs suffering from SA it can make things go from bad to worse.

his behavior on your return is actually an appeasement behavior, since he can sense in an instant that you are upset. he doesn't realize that his destruction is the reason you are upset unless you actually catch him in the act, and dogs do not feel guilt. You have to have a conscience to feel guilty, and you have to be self-aware to have a conscience. Dogs are not self-aware and do not have a moral conscience so do not feel guilty. I just did not want you to think that your dog was out to get you-he is not.

Desensitizing him to your departures and the procedures you do before you leave is a good idea, and can help.

Talk to your vet and get a referral to someone experienced in Behavior Modification methods such as Counter Conditioning and Desensitization or go to www.iaabc.org to find a behavior consultant near you