The Termite Strikes Again!

[Sandishooligans]

Yep, the TermiteRoo is at it again.  After she ate a hole in her plastic gate, for a time, we resurrected the wire crate and that was her place while we were at work (I do come home at lunch and she gets some out time).  Alas, it was not a happy time.  Miss PeeBucket would pee in her crate and then lay in it, which resulted in diaper rash on her chestal area.  Soooooo, after much consideration, we bought another gate.  This time it's the wire and wood kind.  I thought we'd found the solution.  The Roo had other ideas.  Today it was discovered that she's been working on the new gate and has managed to dislodge wood and wire.  Nothing swallowed, but it looks like a termite woodpile with wood chaff in the corner of the laundry room.  What shall we do?  REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR!    Tomorrow, we're going to let her have run of the house again with the back door to the yard cracked for her outdoors adventures.  Still, I fully anticipate a puddle on the carpet, but figure, I'll just work on it when I get home.  I've found that Watkin's dish soap does the best job of anything I've tried.  So there you have it.  Who's the boss in this house?  SHE is.

Any other suggestions are most welcome.

[doxielady5569128]

Oh my gosh!   Well, maybe she got hungry??    I'm sorry I can't be of much help here.   I can't think of any alternatives either.  I hope someone else can help you out with this one.  I hope all gos better tomorrow.

[papbouv]

Do they make all metal gates they have all kinds in the catalogs surely one has to be all metal????
Papbouv

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

Goodness little Doe Eyes! She is a plucky little lady, you have to admire her for that! 

How about an X Pen with a lid so she can't climb over? She'd never chew through the metal bars and would give her more room during the day?

I know this wouldn't cure it but do you have music or the TV on while you are gone, and can you position her where she can see out a glass door or window? Much of it could be boredom which is a hard one to deal with when you have to work...did she ever do this when Dolly was with her?

[Roberta]

Like Dee Dee I was going to suggest a baby pen.
Does she have toys and chews.
blown a fuse when you come in not ignored herlifting her or aknowling her.
KAren where are you..................
Roberta

[Delia and girls]

I was thinking expen also. They do make all metal gates, check Drs Foster and Smith. Or, maybe she will do OK with the run of the house and you won't have to do anything. Another idea...if she does OK with the back door cracked, you could put an expen right there, so she'd only have the expen area while inside the house but still have access to the backyard. Have you thought of a doggie door? We have one and our girls love it!

[Doxherding Karen]

Sounds to me like your only decision to make is based on how much money you want to spend.  A metal pen or X-pen or a dog run outside the door are all good ideas.

Care-A-Lot Pet supplies is cheaper than Fosters and Smith.  But you need to ratchet down her boredom level.  A long morning run?  Getting her good and tired will help.  Replace Dolly?  (Perish the thought, but. . .)  Another pupper, maybe an older neutered male to be her devoted slave, may be just the ticket.

But the wood and plastic gates only cost $9 or $10 at Wal*Mart.  Add some steel wool around it for that festive touch! (LOL) 

You need to really sit down and think about all these different options and how they will impact your life.  Your money?  Your time?  Your one-dog lifestyle?  Try to be objective and you'll come up with the best plan for you.

Karen

[jillkilleen]

I vote for the second Dog, then you can sell the wood chips since there will be twice as many!!      HAve you tried putting somethong yucky on what she chews??  Cayenne pepper has always worked pretty good for us!  Still I think the second dog is a good idea.....................

[PattyInAK]

Get another dog to keep her company, and an X-pen.  We got two X-pens that we hook together to make for a nice roomy area for the boys.  And PUPPY PADS!!!  And MUSIC!

[MindyKay]

Wow, sounds like the number Ozzy did on the moulding around the door from the laundry room to the garage - he almost completely scratched and chewed his way into the garage!!!

Fortunately for us, he does well in his crate.  I give him a Kong toy filled with goodies and frozen, so he has something to chew on to pass the time, and I do go home at lunch to let him out for a while.  Still, I'm thinking about a X-pen as well to give him more room.  I may do that after the first of the year, if finances allow.

[Sandishooligans]

Evening update:  100% perfectly well behaved.  Not one little puddle and a warm spot on the couch where she, undoubtably, spent most of her afternoon.  If we do start to see puddles, I really like the X-Pen idea and will probably place it in the kitchen or maybe the back door into the bedroom.  That's where our back door is.  Thanks everyone for your input.