[Laurpez]

I have a two year old min pin who chews everything from shower curtains, rugs, pillows to chap stick. He only does this when left alone. I also have a 4 year old rottie lab who is his best friend. They play well together and are inseprable. Rottie... no problems. Min Pin... very destructive. He knows to ask to go outside when he needs to poop or peep. It doesn't matter if I leave for 2 hours or 4, I come home to poop and peep on the rug.

This is what I have learned from other websites:
1. He is board ~ I am with him most days as I work out of my home. He's outside often and gets lots of attention. Plays well with other dog and entertain each other. Leave lot's of toys out for him to play with.
2. Crate Train him ~ loves his crate and goes in there on his own. Can not lock it or he goes CRAZY!! I think he's going to have a heart attack. This is his safe place when he wants to be alone. I don't want to make it a stressful place for him by locking it. I have tried separating the dogs while I am gone with a closed door to downstairs. I then try to confine him to the kitchen hallway (hardwood floors, easy clean up), and put up a baby gate to the living room. He jumps over it with ease. Can't confine him.
3. Don't leave food out all day for him ~ He doesn't feel the need to eat as soon as you put it out. He will snack through out the day. How often should I feed him and how long after will he have to poop?
4. Needs more exercise ~ I take him out in the morning, rough houses with the rottie throughout the day, and a long walk in the evening.

Any suggestions would be welcomed. I need to stop the chewing and the pooping.

[labman]

I think the only solution is to crate him. It would have worked better if you started with it. Try giving him a Kong filled with peanut butter. At first, you may need medications from the vet.

The fuss he makes is a highly effective way of controlling you. It is time he learns who should be in charge. The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position, Letting your dog know you are the boss

Also for younger dogs:

''Elevation for small puppies: Sit on the floor and gently put your hands around your pup's middle, below his front legs, and lift him up. He is facing you. Hold him for 15 seconds. Repeat until he no longer struggles. If he is past 10-12 weeks, lift his front feet off the ground, but don't pick him up.

Cradling for small puppies: Hold your puppy gently on his back, as you would cradle a small baby. If he struggles, hold him firmly until he quiets for 10-15 seconds. With larger pups, you can do this as your sit on the floor, with your pup between your legs.

Quiet lying down: Place your pup on the floor on his side, with all 4 legs pointing away from you. Use your hands on his neck/shoulder area and middle, to hold him in this position. When he is quiet, praise him. Lengthen the time that you keep him quietly in this position. When he accepts this position well, handle his paws and muzzle, while keeping him quiet.''

The quotes mean this isn't my original work. It is copied from my Puppy Raising Manual. I have long used these or minor variations of them, and they are very effective. You may want to give him a belly rub while he is on his back too. Helps bonding. There is a big difference between him rolling over and demanding a belly rub, and you choosing a time to roll him over and rub his belly. The latter cements your place as pack leader.

[RubyPitbull]

This is most definitely a control and training issue. Please follow labman's advice.

After reading your post (especially your item #4), I am left wondering what kind of formal training you have given to him. Have you given him the same amount of your time, and training, that you gave to the Rottie. Playing with the rottie all day long is good for him, but if he isn't getting one on one training time with you, he doesn't know what you expect from him. What training have you done to correct the negative behavior? Another thought that comes to mind is, is he neutered? That sometimes help with behavioral issues in conjunction with strong leadership & positive reinforcement training.

[Laurpez]

Thank you for the feedback. I will follow up with the books you recommended.

I got Leo when he was a year old from a family that didn't look after him very well. I had him neutered the first week I got him.

When we are together, he knows I am the Alpha and listens very well. He knows and listens to my commands. He also follows the lead from our Rottie/Lab. Plays well with other dogs in the park and is never aggressive.

We have no problems with the elevation, cradling, and quiet time. He loves to lay in the passive position.

I have spent time training him, but you bring up a good point. Maybe I haven't spent enough one on one training. I usually have both the boys together. I thought that by using commands with another distraction was better. I'll try to spend more time alone with the training and see if this helps. I'm just not sure if this is what will cure his destructive behavior while I am gone.

I have also removed his food dish and will only put it out in the evening. I am hoping this will help with the pooping.

Problems only seem to occur when I am not home. I swear he does this as "pay back" for not bringing him with me.

[RubyPitbull]

LOL. As much as we would like to think that a dog is capable of "pay back", I can assure you he isn't punishing you. From your original post, it read as if he was doing this while you were home. Now that you are stating it only happens when you aren't around, what is happening is your little boy is bored or possibly suffering from separation anxiety. You don't know if the rottie is playing with him when you aren't around. I would suggest you place him in his crate with one of labman's suggestions - a kong filled with a little peanut butter. Lock the door. The dog will howl and cry -- don't give in to him. He will calm down after you leave and will focus on his toy. You may want to place the crate in a room where the Rottie can't enter and cause the little guy distress. Since you are home most of the time, when you need to run errands, it should be nap time for both of them. So, set up the situation where your minpin will have a safe place for down time along with something to keep him busy if he isn't tired.

Yes, he only needs to be fed once a day. If that is all you are offering him, he will learn within a couple of days that he needs to eat all his chow at that time or he is out of luck until the next evening.

[Laurpez]

I ordered the Monk DVD's this morning. I am also checking into agility classes. Sounds like it will be fun for both of us. I'll try the crate this week for short periods. Fingers crossed he doesn't have a heart attack or eat the cage!!

I thought for sure he was cleverly masterminding how to pay me back. All the min pin websites state how clever, manipulating and intelligent they are... LOL.. I swear he thinks he's human and it's his God given right to be treated like one.

Thank you for your quick replies :o)

[froggy7]

To go along with the entire crating/Kong thing, you might want to look into some of the toys that make your dog work to get their food. That way he can work for his supper, and keep himself occupied in his crate. My dog gets most of her food in her dish, with whatever fits in her Kong and flying-saucer toy put in there. And she will always go and work the toys before getting the "easy" food in the dish. Same thing with my mom's dogs... they will go look for the "hidden" food and their food toys before eating their food out of the dish. Dog's like to be challenged.