The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [16]
You can take several steps to curb Tundra’s roaming, in addition to the excellent measures you have already employed. First, make sure Tundra is neutered. Male dogs are notorious for doing everything possible to escape their homes in order to search for females in heat. If Tundra is still intact, this could be the biggest source of your problem. Have him neutered right away and keep him confined until his raging hormones subside.
It sounds as if Tundra performs his escape routines when you aren’t home and he’s alone in the backyard. He is probably bored or lonely or both. Before you leave him for long periods of time, give him some vigorous exercise to tire him out. A rousing game of fetch or a long jog (if you are so inclined) can do wonders to burn off some of his excess energy and make him less likely to run away. Physical exercise and mentally stimulating games will also reduce Tundra’s frustration level. Make sure you leave him several chew toys or food puzzle toys to amuse himself with and change them frequently to keep him interested.
Loneliness can motivate a dog to escape his yard in the hopes of finding companionship. Huskies, more than many breeds, are pack animals, bred to work in a group and to be around other dogs. Try hiring a professional pet sitter or a responsible, dog-friendly neighborhood teen to come over in the afternoon to take Tundra for a walk or play fetch with him in the yard. Breaking up the isolation of his day will help reduce his desire to leave your yard in search of companionship. If you have the room and the financial ability, a second dog, if compatible with Tundra, might be the perfect solution.
Tundra’s wandering attitude will probably benefit from some training as well. Enroll him in an obedience class so both of you can learn the basics. Obedience training will reinforce the bond between you and help him see you as his pack leader. If Tundra feels more connected to you emotionally, he’ll be less likely to want to leave your home.
In addition, you might want to secure your yard even further to stave off any more of Tundra’s escape attempts. Since he has taken to jumping over the fence, consider adding chicken wire at the top that is slanted inward at a 90-degree angle to the fence. Tundra will find it very difficult, if not impossible, to jump over the fence with this extension blocking his exit.
Stop, Shoe Thief!
Q My three-year-old dachshund, Schotzi, goes into my closet when I’m not home and takes my shoes out to chew on them. I try to keep the closet door closed, but if I inadvertently leave it open even just a few inches, she pushes it open with her nose and drags out a shoe and destroys it. Why is she so obsessed with shoes, and how can I stop this bad (and expensive) habit?
A I’m guessing the shoes in your closet that Schotzi prefers are made of leather. Many dogs find the smell and texture of leather intoxicating. They love the way it feels and tastes when they chew on it. Some people make the mistake of giving old shoes to puppies to chew on when they are little, expecting the pup to know the difference between an old shoe that’s okay to chew and a newer shoe that is off-limits. If Schotzi was given old shoes to gnaw on when she was little, she learned at an early age that shoes are made for chewing. Now, when she wants to gnaw on something, she simply helps herself from your wardrobe.
Even if you didn’t give Schotzi shoes when she was a puppy, she is choosing something that smells like you and that reassures her in your absence. Many dogs deal with loneliness or separation anxiety by seeking out their owner’s belongings (to dogs, even a stinky shoe is a comforting reminder of their owners).
Your first task is to make sure you don’t tempt her by leaving your closet door ajar. You might try putting self-closing hinges on the closet door or even closing your bedroom door as well. You could store your shoes on shelves above her reach or in a hanging container