02-06-2007, 10:49 PM
Louie lost his halo. And I've lost all my rhubarb. 
Louie is about four, and his third anniversary as a member of our little family will be tomorrow. He isn't a particularly bright dog (I think because he was neglected as a pup), but he has very good manners and has always been very well behaved. He knows his basic commands, he doesn't jump on people, he's not a barker, and he doesn't chew things unless they belong to him and made for chewing. He also loves to ride, so he goes with me whenever the weather is moderate enough so he doesn't fry or freeze when left in the car. Around here, that means he goes with me a lot, but, until very recently, he was well behaved when left home alone, too. The neighbors say he doesn't bark, and he's never gotten into any mischief.
Until a few weeks ago.
On the rare occasions when I left him home alone, I'd put out a bowl of water and some snacks. He usually doesn't eat the snacks, but they were available if I run really late and he gets hungry.
He has now started digging in the one planting bed in the entire yard where my beloved rhubarb is planted. There's absolutely nothing he could damage if he dug anywhere else. After he did this the first time, I thought he might be getting even with me for leaving him alone for a long period and could tell what was happening because of the food and water. So, the next time I was going to be gone for a long time, I didn't leave him the "cues" - the water and food. (I wasn't worried about not leaving water, because there is a small pond he could drink out of if he got too thirsty.)
Well, taking away the cues didn't work; he dug in the same bed again the next time I was gone.
He took this entirely too far last week and again today. Last week, I took the garbage can out to the street for pickup and then went next door to visit the neighbor. I was gone about 20 minutes, and there was another hole dug when I got back.
Today I didn't leave the property, but I did go to the front yard to do a little raking and fill the yardwaste bin. It didn't take long, but I was greeted by another hole, dirt flung all over the walkway, and filthy paw prints all over the patio and back steps.
I know I can't discipline him unless I can catch him in the act. Clearly he's just angry at not being with me, but that's not always an option. I absolutely refuse to let him come along to take out the trash unless he's going to push the can, and his raking sucks.
I know I can find someone to build some kind of cover for that bed, but that isn't a solution to the basic problem - he's digging. A fence isn't an option, because the area is too small.
What have I missed? Why has my little angel gone bad?!!! How can I get his halo back?!!
Louie is about four, and his third anniversary as a member of our little family will be tomorrow. He isn't a particularly bright dog (I think because he was neglected as a pup), but he has very good manners and has always been very well behaved. He knows his basic commands, he doesn't jump on people, he's not a barker, and he doesn't chew things unless they belong to him and made for chewing. He also loves to ride, so he goes with me whenever the weather is moderate enough so he doesn't fry or freeze when left in the car. Around here, that means he goes with me a lot, but, until very recently, he was well behaved when left home alone, too. The neighbors say he doesn't bark, and he's never gotten into any mischief.
Until a few weeks ago.
On the rare occasions when I left him home alone, I'd put out a bowl of water and some snacks. He usually doesn't eat the snacks, but they were available if I run really late and he gets hungry.
He has now started digging in the one planting bed in the entire yard where my beloved rhubarb is planted. There's absolutely nothing he could damage if he dug anywhere else. After he did this the first time, I thought he might be getting even with me for leaving him alone for a long period and could tell what was happening because of the food and water. So, the next time I was going to be gone for a long time, I didn't leave him the "cues" - the water and food. (I wasn't worried about not leaving water, because there is a small pond he could drink out of if he got too thirsty.)
Well, taking away the cues didn't work; he dug in the same bed again the next time I was gone.
He took this entirely too far last week and again today. Last week, I took the garbage can out to the street for pickup and then went next door to visit the neighbor. I was gone about 20 minutes, and there was another hole dug when I got back.
Today I didn't leave the property, but I did go to the front yard to do a little raking and fill the yardwaste bin. It didn't take long, but I was greeted by another hole, dirt flung all over the walkway, and filthy paw prints all over the patio and back steps.
I know I can't discipline him unless I can catch him in the act. Clearly he's just angry at not being with me, but that's not always an option. I absolutely refuse to let him come along to take out the trash unless he's going to push the can, and his raking sucks.
I know I can find someone to build some kind of cover for that bed, but that isn't a solution to the basic problem - he's digging. A fence isn't an option, because the area is too small.
What have I missed? Why has my little angel gone bad?!!! How can I get his halo back?!!
