Mid-Atlantic Border Collie Rescue

We adopted a sweet Border Collie/Lab mix from a shelter about a year ago when he was 4 months old. My wife and I both work, so he has to spend seveal hours a day at home alone. We tried crate training him for the first 8 months, but he just hated the crate. No matter how many toys we put inside it, he tried to get out, pulling on and bending the metal bars with his teeth.

We finally gave up and have let him have run of the house and back yard while we are at work and it has been a mostly positive experience. Occasionally though, he will tear something up when we are away. It
could be the blinds, a pillow, shoes...he even chewed through the monitor cable on my computer and a few other cords.

I am thinking that the border collie in him is just looking for a job to do and I haven't given him a sufficient job to do when I cannot be there. Any thoughts or experience. Unfortunately, I cannot come home at lunch daily to walk him (as much as I would like to).

Two thoughts:

1.) Your pup is likely not getting enough exercise and stimulation when you are home. Step it up, make him work for everything (think ‘nothing in life is free’), and increase his physical exercise by running, playing ball or Frisbee. Also, taking him with you when you can (grocery store, hardware store) is always good mental stimulation. Simply the act of waiting patiently in the car while you are inside is brain challenging.

2.) Revert to using a crate. He may not like it, but it is good for him and for you. Think about the fact that you would not like it if he became increasingly destructive. If a wire kennel does not ‘work’ for him, try an airline kennel. Try playing classical music (softly) when he is inside the crate, and be sure to give him thinking toys, or working treats when inside the crate. In other words, give him high value things he must work on while inside the crate; raw bones, treat filled kongs, treat balls…he needs really high value things that he wants and will work on while inside the crate, then when he is finished with them, he will be tired and want to sleep. ONLY offer these things INSIDE the crate and he will soon get the picture that the crate is a good place to be, and you will have the satisfaction of coming home to a house that is still in one piece.

Hope that helps.

Sarah

Sarah Ruckelshaus
Executive Director
Mid-Atlantic Border Collie Rescue
slr@mabcr.org
www.mabcr.org
A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.
- Lawrence G. Lovasik