I'm so sorry to hear your going through this Amber, it's really hard to handle a dog that can be destructive, and I can fully understand why you'd consider finding him a new home. I don't know if this will help, but I went through something similiar with Hunter. He's not an ACD but he's part shepard and part lab, meaning not only does he need mental stimulation, but he needs excersize. I'm like you I work 8-10 hour days and have at least a 1.5 hour drive both ways. I live with roomates, but they don't really do anything to help get rid of some of that energy, besides letting him out. My other 3 play with him, but that's wasn't enough either. When he was younger I originally had him in my bathroom, he ripped up the vinyl flooring, and chewed the bottom of the door and cabinet. So I invested in a crate for him. He wasn't a big fan at first, but now has no problems. Hunters big problem though was not a constant destructive chewing, he only did it sometimes and there was no rhym or reason. He'd go through a week to a month of completely destructive behavior then nothing for months. He chewed the couch arm, my roomates oldfashioned wood radio, a table leg (I could go on but you get the idea). All this was when my roomates were home. I started crating him when I left for work and my roomates were still asleep. They'd let him out when they got up. At night he slept in my room and I never had any problems then. Basically we made a rule, if you walked outside or were in your room with the door shut, he had to be put in his crate. I also began taking him for at least a 10 min walk every other night when I got home (even in the dark) and having at least a 10 min play session w/him when I got home, not ideal, but better than nothing. Weekends usually entailed going for a long walk at least 1 of the days. We haven't had any problems with him in about 8 months. I've even slowly been leaving him out of his crate when we're not home and still nothing, toys all over the place sure, but beyond that nothing chewed.
If you do decide to rehome him could I suggest if possible trying to find an ACD rescue group. Since they know the breed they may have a better idea than the pound of what he needs.
I wish you the best of luck with this and if you just want to talk feel free to PM me.
Reply With Quote
I will have to look into the bike with the springer later on. I am just going to have to take him out more often for walks, even if it's at night and I have worked all day long (12+ hours). I don't want to give up on him since he was given up on before we got him. 
Bookmarks