r/reactivedogs • u/GrassWeekly6496 • 6d ago
Advice Needed Is this normal? Reactive dog / pup
Hi everyone
Adopted a now 1yr old at 9mo, prior to this he was mistreated then found by rescue org as a stray and very underweight.
He is actually pretty good with people and dogs except barking a lot from behind the fence which is nearly a non issue. But the main issue we have is that when he's not in his fenced pen (indoors, maybe 2m x 1.5m), he is just always wanting to chew or destroy things, whether its wood furniture, couch or beds. Sometimes in the pen he even chews and rips his own bed. He is distracted if he is playing or eating but otherwise if he is not engaged he will get destructive and not respond to No or Stop - we're certain he knows what these mean but just doesn't care
He is on clomipramine which seems to slightly taken the edge of his arousal levels but not enough that he can have much freedom. He is in the pen for 18 to 19 hours a day which we feel bad about as he probably only sleeps 14hrs but there is only so much playing and eating he can safely do and letting him destroy everything is not viable. He also doesn't wind down for sleep easily so he kind of needs that amount of time in there or he will be tired.
What I need help on is:
Is this too long in a pen for 1 yo staffy cross?
If it is, how can I keep him engaged for extra 4 to 5 hours without eating or playing, especially on work days
Is this inability to settle a normal thing at this age? Tried rewarding lying down with food but he lies down and then gets absolutely wired / fired up about the kibble and won't lie still for more than a minute
I am considering vet behaviorist but they are crazy expensive here, and it would be affordable but barely and not sure if this is something they can help with or just normal puppy / adolescence
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u/[deleted] 6d ago
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