SORRY GUESS I DID THIS BACKWARDS I WAS IN SUCH A PANIC ABOUT MY BUDDY EARLIER I JUST WANTED SOME ADVICE I'M NEW TO THIS GROUP HAVE HAD MY RAT FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS NOW IF YOU READ MY EARLIER MESSAGE SOME OF HIS SEPARATION ANXIETY COMES FROM AN INCIDENT IN HIS PUPPYHOOD AT @ 7 WEEKS OLD (ONE-TWO WEEKS AFTER I GOT HIM) HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH RED MANGE B/C I HAD SMALL CHILDREN THE VET MADE HIM STAY THERE FOR THE ENTIRE 3 WKS OF TREATMENT SOOOOO TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT WHEN HE GOT HOME WE WERE INSEPERABLE UNTIL I WENT BACK TO WORK ABOUT 1 YR AGO SO I GUESS HIS PROBLEM IS JUST AS MUCH MY FAULT AS ANYTHING HE HAD QUIT TEARING UP MY HOUSE BUT THE MOVE WAS JUST TOO MUCHGOING TO BE PERSISTENT WITH THE CRATE UNTIL HE GETS IT ONLY OTHER OPTION IS TO GIVE HIM AWAYAND THAT WOULD BE LIKE GIVING ONE OF MY KIDS AWAY BECAUSE THEY MESSED UP THEIR ROOM!!!!!

DEFINITELY GOING TO DO MY BEST....JUST HOPE THE LANDLORD DOESN'T SEE THE CARPET OR IT MAY BE OUT OF MY HANDS..... IT'S JUST REALLY FRUSTRATING FOR THE PROBLEMS TO START TWO YEARS IN BUT YOURE RIGHT I WOULDNT GIVE MY KIDS AWAY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T CLEAN THEIR ROOM JUST FEEL LIKE I'M BEING MEAN TO HIM HE WAS THROWING HIMSELF AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE CRATE WHEN I LEFT

Welcome to the site. I'm trying to catch up on the last couple days so I missed your previous post. Gotta go find it now. Hang in there. I'm sure he's just acting out from the stress of the move.  Don't let the landlord in!

DIDN'T USE A COVER THIS WAS HIS 1ST DAY HAVENT UNPACKED YET AND COULDNT FIND ANYTHING TO COVER IT WITH.  MABEY I BOUGHT TOO BIG OF A CRATE B/C HE WAS JUMPING HARD AGAINST THE SIDE(THROWING HIMSELF AGAINST IT) I HAVE TO WORK MON THRU FRI ITS NOT GOING TO HURT HIM TO HAVE TO STAY IN 8 HRS MOST DAYS IS IT??? HOPEFULLY YOU CAN TEACH AN OLDER DOG NEW TRICK

THERE ISN'T REALLY ANYWHERE I CAN PUT HIM AND SHUTTING HIM IN ONE ROOM SEEMS TO MAKE HIS DESTRUCTION WORSE THE ONLY ROOM WITHOUT CARPET IS THE BATHROOM (THE KITCHEN ADJOIONS TO THE LIVING ROOM) AND HE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF EATING DOORS TO TRY AND GET OUT. THE SPOT WHERE HE ATE THE CARPET HE ALSO ATE THE DOOR IT WAS ONE OF THOSE FLIMSY HOLLOW CORE DOORS AND I TRIED LEAVING HIM IN THE LIVING ROOM SINCE THAT IS WHAT HE WAS USED TO AT THE OLD HOUSE BUT HE ATE THE BLINDS I HAD PULLED THEM UP WHERE HE COULD SEE OUT BUT APPARENTLY NOT FAR ENOUGH

MY VET WANTS TO PUT HIM ON TRAUQUILIZERS(SP) I AM IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING FOR A NEW VET BUT MAY TAKE A WHILE IS HARD FOR ME TO GET OFF WORK TO TAKE HIM IF I CHANGE AGAIN I'SS BE ON MY THIRD VET IN HIS TWO SHORT YEARS BUT THE FIRST ONE WANTED TO PUT HIM DOWN WHEN HE DIAGNOSED HIM WITH RED MANGE AND THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS FOING TO DO THAT AND I REALL;LLLLY DON'T LIKE THE TRANZUILIZER IDEA BUT THE VET DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK THERE ARE ANY OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES THAT AND CRATING HIM. I'VE GOT TO MAKE THIS WORK ONE WAY OR ANOTHER NOT ONLY BECAUSE I WOULDNT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITHOUT HIM BUT I GOT HIM FOR MY KIDS RIGHT AFTER THIER DAD AND I GOT A DIVORCE AND HE DISAPPEARED NEVER TO BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.  I REALLY LOVE MY DOG MORE THAN ANY POSSESSION I HAVE BUT AS A SINGLE WORKING MOM IN A LOW INCOME PART OF THE COUNTRY HIS DAMAGES ARE HURTING MY POCKETBOOK BADLY!!! GOING TO CHECK AROUND AND SEE IF ANYBODY AROUND HERE DOES THAT WITH CARPET THOUGH AND I'M NOT GOING TO REPLACE THE DOOR FOR A WHILE.

I have to agree with that, It kind of makes the words run together, I had a hard time too and it was hurting my eyes.

Are you exercising him?

When everybody is home he does great sometimes the kids can get him a little wound up but that's really not a problem. He sleeps with me or one of the kids at night and doesn't tear anything up if he gtes up and wanders around then. i also have an arrangement with my babysitter to come to my house every day after school and some during the summer that way i don't feel like he is being neglected. i got him while i wasn't working and had plans to go back to school but those fell through and sanything less than 40 hours a week won't keep my bills paid its hard on the kids and buddy but being by myself you have to do  what you have to do right? i feel just as guilty leaving him as i felt leaving my kids when they were babies but got divorced to get out of a bad situation. try to plan things on the weekends that are fun for him and the kids he LOVES to ride in the car and go to the park.

when i get home from work kids and dog all get to go out and run off some energy couldnt survive the night any other way and he gets about 30 mins outside in the mornings most days

I would try to incorportate 2   30 minute walks into the day somehow. Maybe have your sitter take a half hour and you when you come home from work. It is a great destresser too. I think some of the destruction can stem from boredom if he is not getting enough exercise. Have your kids work with him on some training commands, like sit and stay,  these tire them out also. I think once you wear him out he will be better for you.

Also make sure you make the crate a place he will like, try feeding him in there and giving him treats. when you are home leave the door open and when he goes in on his own just praise him. Put a pillow in there so it is comfy for him too.

Good LucKK1

I've read conflicting advice about where to put the crate some sites say away from a lot of foot traffic and some say in a main area--- any suggestions? sitter can't take him for walk we moved out in the country and can't really go for walk without walking in the road or in laps around the yard and that just gets him wired up even worse.

Personally, I keep their crate right where the family is. Then it doesn't seem like punishment.'

I would find a way to walk him, if it gets him wired up then it shoud get him tired out. If not do obedience with him. Something to exercise him.

crate i got may be too big only had 1 option and it's more like for the size of a golden??? didn't have a lot choices that late at night i live in a "one horse town"

never heard of a bully stick where could i find one? small town no pet shops any websites you know of?

i guess now i need to get a smaller crate. i wish there were doggie daycares around here but i live in southern mississippi it's hard to find a daycare for your babies much less your furbabies

thanks a lot i'll chack that out and i appreciate all the help everyone has offered today now its time for me to go home and see how he fared after his first day wish me luck!