Recently, I finally managed to get the parents to let me make Strider an indoor dog, he's six years old and has spent most of that outside in a large kennel with concrete. There have been zero potty issues with him, it's like he knows this is where he lives and eats and sleeps and that it's not ok to poop or pee in here. He also isn't shy about claiming whatever chair or couch he wants, when he wants, and you literally have to drag him out of it But I digress.
Our real issue is thunderstorms and leaving the house. Now, we can't put him in his outdoor pen anymore because he just keeps climbing out of it! Last time he climbed out, he tore up his elbow really bad, which is how he ended up inside to begin with, because we were afraid of what he'd injure next. We've tried putting a top on it and everything, he always just either tears the top off or squashes himself through what little space there is. As he gets older, he is developing an ever-worsening fear of storms. He pants heavily, paces, climbs on people, and trembles, there really is no consoling him. We put him in my bathroom one night (before I was sure I could trust him not to poop my carpet or chew my books), and he pulled all my stuff down off the counter. Another time we went shopping and put him in my Mom's bathroom instead, and when we came back, he'd pulled down the shower rod and shredded both the curtain and liner. My little dog does well with a crate, he goes in there when he's scared or feeling insecure and it helps him a lot. Strider is a little short of 50 pounds and with his tendency of destroying things when he's frightened, will need a metal crate. Does anyone suggest any particular brands? I want something he can't destroy, but also that is safe. I'd like one that folds away, too, since I don't plan on keeping him in it except during storms and when we need to leave.
Otherwise, he's the perfect housedog and has made the adjustment, in Dad's opinion, WAY too easily
Our real issue is thunderstorms and leaving the house. Now, we can't put him in his outdoor pen anymore because he just keeps climbing out of it! Last time he climbed out, he tore up his elbow really bad, which is how he ended up inside to begin with, because we were afraid of what he'd injure next. We've tried putting a top on it and everything, he always just either tears the top off or squashes himself through what little space there is. As he gets older, he is developing an ever-worsening fear of storms. He pants heavily, paces, climbs on people, and trembles, there really is no consoling him. We put him in my bathroom one night (before I was sure I could trust him not to poop my carpet or chew my books), and he pulled all my stuff down off the counter. Another time we went shopping and put him in my Mom's bathroom instead, and when we came back, he'd pulled down the shower rod and shredded both the curtain and liner. My little dog does well with a crate, he goes in there when he's scared or feeling insecure and it helps him a lot. Strider is a little short of 50 pounds and with his tendency of destroying things when he's frightened, will need a metal crate. Does anyone suggest any particular brands? I want something he can't destroy, but also that is safe. I'd like one that folds away, too, since I don't plan on keeping him in it except during storms and when we need to leave.
Otherwise, he's the perfect housedog and has made the adjustment, in Dad's opinion, WAY too easily
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