Behavior Problems With Newly Rescued Aussie Chow Mix
Two months ago I rescued a sweet, loving, beautiful Aussie/Chow mix. She has since turned one year old.
I am at home during the day, though need to be working at my business. Most of my time has been spent for many weeks now trying to settle in my new dog.
I am knowledgeable about dogs, having had several over the years. My other dog is well behaved, though we went through plenty of trouble for the first year and a half.
The new dog is basically a chewing machine. I cannot provide enough appropriate chewing materials, rawhides, tough toys, etc. to ease the problems. I have a destroyed sofa, chewed up table and chair legs, partially eaten cedar shake shingles on the deck, mutilated deck railings, and much more.
I am spending large sums of money on rawhides of all shapes and sizes, and so-called "indestructible" chew toys. Spraying bitter sprays is not working. Switching out inappropriate objects for acceptable ones is not working, either.
My dog is bored, despite having a willing playmate in my other Border Collie/Chow, but I do not have a fenced yard, or a yard large enough to fence. I walk her at least three times a day. I take her to the beach when I can. I could walk her more but she pulls me so severely that I have an injured neck and shoulders, as well as strained or sprained wrists and even fingers, that the tangled in the leash with her rapid changes in direction.
I am in my late sixties, but am an active and energetic person. I do fear a fall from the leash wrapped around my legs.
This sweet loving girl was going to be euthanized, if you can call being shoved into a gas chamber a mercy killing, which I do not.
I love this dog, and am clearly extremely motivated to save her. Yet I cannot go on without major improvement in behaviors that are basically natural to her. I need help. Thanks for any suggestions.
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