New tricks.

Leia causing trouble

Well there's a reason they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I don't believe the saying stems out of teaching actual tricks but refers to the stubbornness of a dog once it's developed its habits. At least this is what I've gathered over the past 3 weeks while trying to ween Leia from her crate. I wanted her to be able to roam the apartment while I was gone during the day so she wouldn't be all cooped up for long periods of time. I started by leaving her for short periods while I ran to the store. Day 1: She ate the stuffing out of my comforter. After that, the bedroom was off limits.

Since then, she tore apart a book, a magazine, 3 different bouquets of fake flowers, the inside of my futon cover... but these aren't even the best parts. One day I came home to nothing but a chewed up Frisbee and I was ecstatic. However, I noticed her bed was in the middle of the living room. When I moved it, she had pooped and covered it with her bed. As mad as I wanted to be, I just couldn't be. She's smart... just not smart enough to hold it apparently. In all fairness, she had been lazy that morning and I ran out of time to continue walking her and waiting for her to decide to go the bathroom.

Now, the day that landed her back in her cage. I often keep a case of water bottles on the floor of my kitchen. Leia found these, tore about 7 full bottles to shreds across my apartment... including one on my microfiber couch. After an hour of cleaning and blow drying a couch, I decided Leia just wasn't ready for this. Has anyone else dealt with this issue? What'd you do? I know it's not an exercise problem because we run nearly every day... possibly a boredom or separation thing but how do you get a dog to chill out when you leave? Does it come with age? HELP. In the meantime... she doesn't seem to mind being back in her cage.