Getting fed up with Leather...

[wolfsoul]

My stepmom is getting pretty angry with Leather.......Leather is really smart so she likes to be a naughty girl, and when Kristine (my stepmom) gets home, Leather has done some pretty bad things...
So far, she's jumped on the counter and smashed very single glass Kristine owns, opened the door to where the trash is and eaten everything in it and scattered everything all over the house, and when Kristine came home for her lunch break and let Leather outside, Leather opened the bolt on the gate and ran around the neighborhood for a long time on a little joy ride
I told Kristine to crate train her, but she doesn't want to, because whenever she is in a crate, she barks and whines, and the people who own the house told her that if she barks that Kristine has to get rid of her..
So she said that she is going to get a dog house, get a better lock for the gate and leave Leather outside. I think it's a pretty good idea. Leather can jump the gate, but she hasn't done that fpr a while so I'm not sure if she actually will...

Any ideas? Opinions?

[lovemyshiba]

A better lock on the gate definitely is in order! Poor leather!! Sounds like she might be bored or something. Maybe she needs a little more exercise, and some more toys!!
As for the garbage--get those thingies that you put on your cabinets so kids can't get into them--they will keep it dog proof as well! When we go to my dad's, Abbey always tries to get into the garbage, so we had to resort to putting a wooden spoon through the handles so she couldn't open the cabinet door.
At our house we have a trash can in the kitchen, but it's the one you have to step on the pedal to open, and none of the dogs have mastered that, and our other garbage can (the big one) we keep in the laundry room, with the door shut.
Good luck with Leather!!!

[wolfsoul]

Thanks for your reply The garbage isn't actually in a cupboard, it's in the pantry...she knows how to turn doorknobs We also have to keep a bungee cord connecting from the fridge to a hook on the wall, but once she chews through it we have to get another
She is very bored! And even worse, Kristine only adds to her seperation anxiety by feeding her when she comes home at lunch, instead of in the morning when she leaves
She tries to give Leather a walk everyday, but it can be difficult I can't wait until I get a car, and I will drive over and take Leather everyday, and possibly keep her when I'm old enough to move out
As for toys, well those don't last long lol A kong lasts the longest, but we will buy her those big huge beef bones, and big ham bones, and they will be gone in an hour lol...she eats the entire thing!
I wish there was something else I can do...I think that the people upstairs should keep Leather up there, with their dog Roxy, because they are friends of ours, and they are very nice

[lovemyshiba]

Maybe the people upstairs could watch her sometimes during the day, so Leather can play with their dog?? Or maybe your stepmom could get a dogsitter to come in and play with her during the day for an hour or so??

She can turn doorknobs?? I think Abbey almost can--I don't think it will be too long until she learns how!!!

[wolfsoul]

Well, the people upstairs let Roxy out when Leather is out there...See, Kristine leaves her inside in the morning, and lets her out for her lunchbreak...she used to let Leather back in, but it's been better leaving her out where she can't get into too much trouble and she likes it outside better anyways But I think that Leather should go upstairs in the morning...but I'm not going to say anything, because it was generous enough of them to let Kristine live there, and then top it off with letting Leather live there as well

She can turn doorknobs??

Lol yes...she using her intelligence in stupid ways, I put it lol...She knows how to open the fridge too Timber was the bad influence that taught her to jump on the counter though lol...Because I left Timber outside while I was at my friend's house, and she was out there with Leather and another dog, Koda, and a puppy, Kemo. Well, she didn't appreciate me leaving her out there and showed her distaste by jumping up on the table, and then on the barbecue where she was in full view through the window lol...This is the influence Leather gets lol

[Demigodess]

Maybe you could find a way for the crate training to work? Maybe explain to the neighbors that she will be noisy until she is used to it? Eventually she would probably sleep all day and be quiet anyway.

[wolfsoul]

It wouldn't work There is a baby next door...
But Kristine has said that she is going to try and find a doghouse so Leather can stay outside until she gets home from work, and in the summer I'll be keeping her every weekday, and she can stay inside and sleep with me

[aly]

She could slowly get Leather used to the crate while she is home and Leather can see her. Then she can disappear out of Leather's view for short periods, gradually extending the length of time she's in another room.

I would be worried about leaving Leather outside because of what you say about her climbing the gate

Have you tried Buster Cubes? Its a thinking toy like the kong and should keep Leather busy.

http://www.bustercube.com/

[wolfsoul]

But even when Kristine is in the same room, she still freaks out and barks like crazy Kristine is going to get a different gate latch and she said she would even add on to the top of it, so Leather can't leap it. German shepherds jump very high, we used to have a six foot fence, and Leather jumped that no problem Ah my escape artist I've never seen buster cubes before, I'll check it out, but they would probably be gone in a second, lol. Kongs are the toys that tend to last the longest with her, but they still go pretty quick We usually give her bones, they are gone in about an hour, but it's worth it. She just loooves those big huge bones that look like cow femurs

[clara4457]

Have you thought of looking into Doggie Day Care?? I have my Leo go once a week and it was amazing how much it helped his hyperactivity. Plus you meet other dog lovers and we sometimes get our dogs together for play groups.

Good Luck

[wolfsoul]

I wish that would work as well, but there are money issues It will be over soon though, my summer break starts in June, and I can take Leather every single day