kfd@rruxg.UUCP (K Donnelly) (10/17/85)
[generic bug killer line] Over the past year my family's ten year old Schnoodle (1/2 Schnauzer 1/2 Poodle) has started ripping up door and window screens, door moldings and even doors themselves in order to try to get out of the house. When he finally manages to get out, he will slip under a fence and either sit in the front yard, walk down to the street corner or cross the street to a friend's house. He does not wander too far, but the streets are busy and there are trolley tracks in back of our house. It is not difficult to find a deep reason for why he is doing this. My father (with whom Frisker was closest) died two years ago. My mother has gone back to work and my sister is at college most days. Until a year or two ago, there was always someone to keep Frisker company (My father's office adjoined the house). Now he is alone for 8 hours at a time. Frisker is afraid of flying bugs (This fear developed about 4 or 5 years ago, we thing as a result of a bee sting). The first few times this destructive behavior occurred, we were not sure whether it was prompted by loneliness or bug terror. At least once, though, he has dragged my father's favorite chair to the center of the living room (and this is a SMALL dog and a BIG chair). Anyway, I keep getting these phone calls from my mother who is pretty upset. She has replaced doors and window screens several times and does not want this to continue. She has corrected the dog. He seems to know that what he is doing is wrong, but does it anyway, probably panicking. Getting another dog to keep Frisker company is not an option. And, since I live in a no-pets apartment I can't take him. Even if I could, I am home less (and at odder times) than my mother. We've thought about trying to install a "doggie-door." If anyone has any helpful suggestions, please mail them to me. I will be happy to post a summary. Kim Donnelly BellCore ihnp4!rruxg!kfd
joe@ccice2.UUCP (Joe DiBenedetto II) (10/22/85)
> [generic bug killer line] > Over the past year my family's ten year old Schnoodle (1/2 Schnauzer > 1/2 Poodle) has started ripping up door and window screens, door > moldings and even doors themselves in order to try to get out of the > house. When he finally manages to get out, he will slip under > a fence and either sit in the front yard, walk down to the > street corner or cross the street to a friend's house. He does not > wander too far, but the streets are busy and there are trolley tracks > in back of our house. > > It is not difficult to find a deep reason for why he is doing this. > My father (with whom Frisker was closest) died two years ago. > My mother has gone back to work and my sister is at college most days. > Until a year or two ago, there was always someone to keep Frisker company > (My father's office adjoined the house). Now he is alone for > 8 hours at a time. > > Frisker is afraid of flying bugs (This fear developed about 4 or 5 years > ago, we thing as a result of a bee sting). The first few times this > destructive behavior occurred, we were not sure whether it was > prompted by loneliness or bug terror. At least once, though, he has > dragged my father's favorite chair to the center of the living room (and > this is a SMALL dog and a BIG chair). > > Anyway, I keep getting these phone calls from my mother who is > pretty upset. She has replaced doors and window screens several > times and does not want this to continue. She has corrected the > dog. He seems to know that what he is doing is wrong, but does it > anyway, probably panicking. > > Getting another dog to keep Frisker company is not an option. > And, since I live in a no-pets apartment I can't take him. Even if > I could, I am home less (and at odder times) than my mother. > We've thought about trying to install a "doggie-door." > > If anyone has any helpful suggestions, please mail them to me. > I will be happy to post a summary. > > Kim Donnelly > BellCore > ihnp4!rruxg!kfd <Boy what a mixture of a dog, I am really not into mixed breeds, I am mainly into Lhasas and Tibeten Terriers(not a terrier). Probably some day into the later breed. <I can see a problem already. It is the fact that the dog is now left alone <all day after all these years. Tell me if you were with someone all day <for several years and now you just changed your way of living, what would <you do ? There is a way to solve this problem which shall take maybe a <weeks. The first solution is to think in terms of goinf to the airport <and investing in an airlines crate. Most dog fanciers use them as a house <hold item for there dogs that they own. It saves on destruction of your home, <including going on the carpets in the house. You have to buy the size that will be a comfort to your dog. For this purposes buy a 200 size crate or maybe <a 300 size, which may be a little big, but it will be roomy for him. This is <not a cruel measure to do this, it will take some getting use to but it <does work. If you do buy one put him in it with the door shut of course for <short periods of time, then longer periods of time. Start it first on <weekends while they are home to watch him, then as time goes on put him in <it for longer durations. This method will probably save his live and save <him from looking for another home, which I sense. The second method is to <invest your method in a x-pen. Buy one high enough so he can't jump out, <about 4 feet is enough. This way gives your dog more freedom in a confined area. Keep it downstairs in your basement which will be okay as <long as the basement is not cold and musty. eather way will work fine. <If you want to use the second method then I can give you the name and <address of a wholesale magazine you can buy the x-pen from if you are <interested. I final method is one that you did not want to try. It is <a very good idea too. Buy him a companion. That also works too. Well <I hoped I helped out and good luck. Joe D. ccice2:joe