People often tell me that their dogs need lots of space and a big backyard to roam in while they’re away. However, a large space where squirrels run along fences, neighbors’ dogs bark at the fence line, and other exciting things are going on, is not always the best place for your dog to hang out without you.
Dogs are all individuals and respond differently to different environments. Most dogs do not frolic and run around happily in large spaces when their people leave. Instead, they find a small, safe spot on a couch or chair and curl up to sleep until you come home. Often, exposure to sights and sounds they can’t interact with makes dogs feel frustrated, nervous, and anxious. Some will dig to get out of the yard, then can easily get into trouble or run out in the street. Others will become destructive, chewing on inappropriate items in the yard or digging up your landscaping.
Dogs that live in backyards full-time and are never allowed in the house tend to disassociate from their family members and are often under-socialized. They also don’t have the opportunity to learn house rules. A vicious cycle may ensue, where owners feel they just can’t have their dogs in the house at all. This is simply due to lack of training and exposure to the indoors.
If you are worried that your dog will do damage while you’re away, the answer is to find a smaller place to contain him inside, such as a small room or crate. This way he’s not exposed to the excitement of the goings-on outside and can rest, chew on a bone or toy, and just relax.
Many people believe that containing their dogs in a smaller space is cruel, but this simply isn’t the case. It is thought that dogs are den animals. It is likely that your dog will not feel as relaxed or protected in a large space and will actually be happier in his “den.”
As an example, I once received a call from a dog owner about his seven-year-old Labrador Retriever, Gus. The dog had been with the family since he was eight weeks old and was generally well-behaved. However, Gus’s behavior had changed recently, resulting in approximately $20,000 worth of damage to the outside of the family’s home. The door jambs on all doors to the backyard were completely torn off. Wood was chewed on all corners at the back of the house.
Gus’s owner said this new behavior had been going on for about two months. When I asked him if there had been any recent major changes in the family’s life, he said they had moved about two months ago from a condominium to their current home. In the condo, there had been no yard, only a private patio and a small fenced-in space at the back of the complex where not much happened.
He said Gus never displayed any behavior issues in the six years they lived there. He was very disappointed and perplexed that, now that they finally lived in a large house with a large yard, Gus was showing destructive behaviors. Bingo! I knew what had happened.
Gus needed a smaller space to spend alone time in, not the large backyard. He had been trying to chew his way back into the house! Since Gus was only left unattended for short periods, I suggested that a crate might make him feel more comfortable when his owners were away.
After setting up Gus’s crate in the kitchen, where he normally liked to hang out, we introduced Gus to his new space using lots of positive reinforcement. We then gradually extended his crate time until it was safe to leave him for a few hours at a time. Gus came to love his crate and never chewed on his owners’ belongings again.
The crate worked well for Gus. However, you could also use a small room in your home. Or, if your dog knows the house rules, he can just stay inside and find his own place to relax. The idea is to keep your dog protected and happy indoors when you are away.
If your dog is having behavior issues while left unattended in the backyard, or if you are having trouble getting your dog to adjust to a crate, please call a trainer for help. Behavior issues are often easily solved with the right approach.
Marthina McClay CPDT is a certified dog trainer and behavior specialist.She is the founder of Our Pack, Inc., a Pit Bull and Chihuahua rescue in the South Bay Area. Her work has included large-scale animal abuse cases that have occurred around the country, including the Michael Vick case. For more info about Marthina and Our Pack, visit ourpack.org.
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