Welcome to PT! When you get a chance, we'd love to see pics of Indy.
I keep Belle (~45 lbs) in an apartment all day...I don't have anyplace outside to put her here. She used to destroy pillows, etc. but seems to have grown out of that. I do have a slip-cover on the sofa (my apt. was furnished by the landlord, and I didn't want to replace all the furniture -- ouch, right?). She pretty much sleeps all day (my schedule is very erratic...I can pop in at any time of day, or be gone up to 12 or 14 hours). She is crate trained, but I only put her in it for sleeping at night, for eating her supper, and if she is barking and I need to use the phone (her bark carries louder than my voice, for some reason). I don't want her crated during the day...since we live by ourselves (well, 1 half-grown cat too), I like for her to bark at people at my door when I'm not here, so that they think there will be consequences for breaking in my place. Not that she'd ever bite anyone for any reason, but a lot of times, a barking dog will make people nervous if the owner is not at home.
My only suggestion is to put away anything you're worried about getting destroyed, and leave out plenty of alternative things...if it's pillows he likes, find some cheap stuffed toys you don't mind destroyed (no squeakers, of course, in case he tries to swallow them, and pick up the stuffing when you get home, so it's not swallowed either). If it's wood, find some hard chew-toys. A lot of people have success with Kong toys stuffed with peanut butter or Easy-Cheese; Belle won't play with Kongs unless I'm home. Most dogs will outgrow chewing. As long as your dog doesn't have any over-attachment/separation anxiety issues, you should be fine.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks