I am fostering a 3yr old German Shepherd and this is the most destructive dog I've ever had! EVERY time he's outside (within 5 minutes) he dumps out the water bucket carries it around and chews on it. He also will dig holes and destroy brooms or anything else outside, WITHIN 5 MINUTES! He's crated in the house and is going for regular walks. He was neutered 10 days ago so his excercise must be limited a little. He is happy go lucky and not terrified or scared. I've had him for 2 weeks.

When I've cought him destroying things I will open the door quickly and shake a coke can filled with pennies and say, "no no no!" I'll throw the can on the cement for additional noise. He is startled and then goes right back to his happy self. He does not do this when supervised and the surprising thing is that he does it almost immediatley after being let outside. He doesn't have time to get really bored.

Any ideas on WHY he does this and what I can do about it? The water thing is really bad because he makes a huge mess and gets drenched.

I'm grateful for any help, thanks!

Vanessa

Sounds like he needs something more to do than just walks and running around the backyard.
Does he have toys? Do you play fetch with him? Tug?

Maybe he needs more mental stimulation to tire him out?

Take him to a pool or a lake and let him play in the water. Throw the ball and let him swim and retrieve it.
He has all the time in the world to get bored in the crate. Does he have a toy in there? Like a kong or some other tough toy?

You know, it's like no one taught him to play with toys, I put kongs in his crate and he ignores them (at least when I'm home) He doesn't fetch, just watches me throw it. I leave a few chew toys outside and he ignores them and goes for the broom! He will tug a little on an old towel, but I think somewhere Ed said not to play tug with pets because of dominance issues, although he doesn't appear to be dominant at all.

I can take him to the lake. I guess I'm just so surprised at how quickly he starts destroying. I go the bathroom and come back outside and there's a huge hole! I guess I need to teach him how to play with toys. He came from the pound so I don't know his background.

 Quote: Vanessa Dibernar

He was neutered 10 days ago so his excercise must be limited a little.

Training is tiring. It works out that brain.

I would say to get a long piece of rope or a horse whip and tie a rolled up towel to the end of it and drag it and try and try to get him to chase it.
Once he grabs it you can praise him like crazy and when he releases, do it all over again.

For the kongs, try filling them with peanut butter or cream cheese (you can mix in some of his dog food so it makes it more work for him to get it all out) and see if he takes interest in it then.

What is his obedience like? That is mental stimulation that you can utilize also.

Just keep trying different things until you find something that triggers his "play drive" and then build on that. He sounds like he loves water, so maybe throwing a ball into the water will help him out. It will at least get him to swim and exercise him more than what he gets now.

Do you have a bicycle? You can teach him to run or jog next to that also.....

This is true!

Sounds good, I will try that. This may sound like a dumb question, but is this a GSD thing? I've only ever had dobies.

 Quote: Vanessa Dibernar

Sounds good, I will try that. This may sound like a dumb question, but is this a GSD thing? I've only ever had dobies.

Not IMO.

IMO, it's a bored-dog, frustrated-energy thing.

Sorry, I am new to this, what's IMO?

 Quote: Vanessa Dibernar

Sorry, I am new to this, what's IMO?

In my opinion