I agree Todd. One time is bad enough. Even if you play devil's advocate and say we are all human and something could slip by....how many times can this stuff happen?

First and foremost, I don't usually "leave stuff laying around." The pillows were on the bed, where they should be. His crate pad and toys were in his crate, where they also should be. The other stuff he managed to get from the top of our 36" TV, which is on an entertainment center, or the 5 1/2 foot shelves we have in the room, neither of which he should be able to get stuff off of. That hardly constitutes as leaving stuff laying around. After all, how many people leave their remote control & phone handsets lying on the floor?? No one that I know of.

I have another dog that I've never had a single problem with. I've had dogs all my life, and I've never had a problem with any of them either. So if you're insinuating that I'm being negligent, that's hardly the case. This dog just has a terrible destructive streak, and he's bent on tearing up and/or eating anything he's able to get his mouth on. He is super clever and determined when he wants to get at something. All you have to do is turn your back on him, and he's got something, he's that quick...you don't have to leave the room for it to happen. And yes, he spends plenty of time in his crate when I'm not able to watch him like a hawk.

I'm just the lucky owner of one hell-bent, destructive little SOB.

Dobe, that wasn't necessarily a hit on you. It is a hit on all people who don't get the hint the first time.

Melissa, I hate to start on you, however, If I had a dollar for every time I heard I have had dogs all my life and never had a problem. I wouldn't be on this board. In your 'lifetime' what is that six dogs? So now you have one who doesn't care what the rules are. After something got shredded in the crate(which is dangerous to have anything in there in the first place), why is it hard to believe he might try to get other things. I am sorry, your dog has been very lucky. It is obvious he can not be trusted in the house, yet that is exactly where he is left alone.

The pillows were on the bed, where they should be. Why did he have access to the bed when you weren't around? You already knew he was destructive.

All you have to do is turn your back on him, and he's got something, he's that quick...you don't have to leave the room for it to happen. Again, you know this and still he gets away with it...

And yes, he spends plenty of time in his crate when I'm not able to watch him like a hawk.
If he can still do these things, your defintion of a hawk needs work.

There are two keys to dog training.

1) Be more stubborn than your dog.
2) Be smarter than your dog.

DOBE,

Please don't take it personal. My outrage was started when I saw that story Barbara posted.
As far as your situation, listen....you said this is your first dog. I said earlier accidents happen. We must learn from them and it sounds like you have. Thank God your dog is OK. We live and learn. Now just see to it that you take whatever measures necessary to insure this never happens again. I apologize if anyone feels that I was singling them out. I am refering to a common problem with people NOT learning from their mistakes and protecting their dogs from danger. Like Todd, I get tired of hearing about these things happening over and over again. But again, nothing I said was personal. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Dobe-a couple of those accordion baby gates can be handy to allow you to give "controlled access" to certain rooms while you are doing your workout - it gives a little more freedom than the crate but you can narrow down his access to temptation rooms(sounds like the laundry room is his downfall). The gates don't replace the crate but just allow a
little more freedom under supervision until he is a little more reliable. Some dogs can take quite a while to be reliable- 2 years in the case of one of my females who liked to dismantle things.

I have had dogs all my life (5 total), and have *never* had one that liked to eat things that are not meant to be eaten. Most puppies go through stages of eating/chewing things that could harm them, and precautions should be taken to keep them safe, just as one does for a human toddler. But, usually, they grow out of it.

Melissa, it sounds to me like your dog is displaying Pica behavior. Pica is not well understood, but it is basically the ingestion of things that are not meant to be ingested. In some cases, if the objects are metal, for example, it is theorized that this indicates a mineral deficiency. Pregnant women sometimes get cravings for dirt or clay as a result of this. It can also be an attention seeking behavior, or an obsessive/compulsive disorder. Don't beat yourself up over it. He could have a disorder that simply has not been diagnosed. I encourage people to rule out health issues first, before they treat certain things, like Pica, as a behavior problem. It sounds to me like you understand him well and are doing your best. Nobody is perfect.

Todd, you can think whatever you wish. If I wasn't smarter and more stubborn than my dog, he wouldn't still be here...and I'm not referring to him eating stupid things.

He could have a disorder that simply has not been diagnosed. L Swanston, according to my vets, his behavior is just one of many of the symptoms of Rabies Miasm. It apparently goes hand in hand with the strange type of aggression he had been exhibiting. They expect that this, like the other symptoms, will subside as his treatment progresses. Thankfully, he is steadily improving and I have faith that he will make a full recovery.

I was going to post but changed my mind. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

yup, i can definetly understand people getting disturbed after hearing story after story regarding these types of situations.

the sock thing (and i'll drop a barbell on my head if not)was a one time wake up call. i am pretty sure he ingested both socks the same night, just came out at different times. :rolleyes:
basically if he can fit something in his mouth he can swallow it, i know this, just didnt think he would...why? i dont think i have a decent answer...just didnt think he would. :rolleyes:

the other items have either been items i forgot that i left near him or didnt think he could reach. ive done the same with my 2 year old (saws,ladders,tools,) i definetly need to pay more attention to what the hell is going on. just so damn busy...wait ..no excuses when it comes to health of the family, i am no doubt much more aware of the dangers that could be laying around;
basically anything.

i'm just left hoping that everything that should be out of him is out and that he will have no ill effects. thanks