How to keep dog in the den?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here-- yes, he's chewed on our furniture when left alone. There's not much in the den he could ruin so we don't mind if he's in there. It's a big room so plenty of space. Ideally we'd have him in the crate and tried to make it a safe place, with his toys and favorite treats (that he only gets in the crate). But we don't want him hurting himself.
And yes he's a shelter dog. They're the ones who suggested the crate, saying he'd get used to it. But clearly he has not.

Have you ever crate trained before? You can't just throw them in the crate for 7 hours and expect them to be fine.

[Anonymous]

He probably just needs exercise. Have you tried a really long walk in the morning before work? That's what did the trick for us, 45-60 minutes in the morning. Get him nice and tired out. Then have the dog walker take him on another long walk mid-day.

[Anonymous]

Is it separation anxiety? Maybe try a low dose of doggy Prozac?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here - Is there a REASON you're barricading him, though? Is he damaging the house? Eliminating inappropriately?

Our bearded collie would NOT be barricaded or confined his entire life. If we locked him in a room, he would chew his way out. So, he had run of the house and we never had issues with that. Mostly, he wanted to lie at the front door like a good herding dog, making sure he had us safely contained (in his mind) outside, and that he would not miss our return.

You could try counter conditioning to make the crate or confined area THE place to be, but that takes time and a lot of effort.

Lesson: some dogs will not be crated or confined. You either give him space, or you take him to doggie daycare.

These people don't know this adult dog. Since so many shelters say Lab mix it is a euphemism for pit mix. Obviously the OP works out side the home. I know of a pit mix that broke crates and had self injurious behavior.

[Anonymous]

How old is the dog?