Richard

A new survey has revealed the world's most destructive dogs. Number one, the Great Dane, is no real surprise but the runner up may shock you. That would be the tiny Chihuahua-- the second most destructive dog you can have in your home according to the survey of 3,000 dog owners. The average Chihuahua causes about $1,200 worth of damage over his lifetime, just $60 bucks less than its giant cousin. This would include things like soiled carpets, scratched doors, chewed sofas and more. The Pug and the huge St. Bernard were found to be the least destructive breeds, the former tending to be better behaved and more easily trained, the latter more gentle and stable in nature. Dog owners said most of the destruction came when their pets were just puppies, but nearly 15% said that they had to endure this throughout their dogs' lives. (Ananova)

Martinismommy

Ut oh.....I think several of us on the board may have to place a dog or 2 lol......

I think this survey is way off....Yellow Labs and German Shepherd dogs are worse than a Chihuahua..They will dig up sprinklers systems lol I know, I've owned them.....

MinxMermaid

see SPIKE!!
i told you not to poo in my bathroom

MousePotato

I clicked on this thread expecting to see a picture of my babies, Felix and Viviane. I have to partially second Martinismommy on this one. They must not have included lab puppies in the survey!

Our beloved Emma (the dog in my current avatar) sadly had to be put down at 3 years, 4 months and 27 days. In her short lifespan she dug up my yard, destroyed my garden, uprooted every potted plant I had, ATE some of the pots, obliterated my sprinkler system, ate my grill cover, chewed through the wires connecting the propane to the burner, broke the A/C repeatedly by chewing through ITS wires, chewed every corner of my deck, broke my chiminea, punctured the leather couches with her claws, got diarrhea all over my utility room, threw up in every carpeted room in the house, pooped on the carpet upstairs (she was already ill, not misbehaving), and her last two weeks of life ran me THREE GRAND in vet bills! Top that, Chihuahua!

Attached Images

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Pandora

I would think Giant Schnauzer pups should be pretty high up the list too!
The list of destruction includes: a couch, a coffee table, 2 chairs (matching the couch!) the wood bracings under a deck, a plum tree (eaten, not just chewed), rose bushes (again, actually eaten... still not sure how he managed to avoid a bowel perforation!), many many shoes, a shirt, many gloves, large portions of garden, 2 cell phones, several remotes for tv, ipod, etc., ... I'm probably missing a lot since he never lived with me, and has luckily (mostly) grown out of the destructive phase for a while now! Though he's on to trying to rid the world of rabbits...

MousePotato

LOL, Pandora! That reminds me of a few things.

1. We live in a heavily wooded area (hence the name "The Woodlands") and there is all sorts of trash buried in our backyard, or used to be. Emma brought me, over the years, BARBED WIRE she was chewing on and several large rat traps! I swear that dog had no feeling in her mouth at all!

2. Emma ate half of a Sago Palm. Those things have very spiny fronds. I can't touch the darned things without cutting my hands!

3. This one is Husband's favorite story. Our other dog, Felix, is an English Pointer and he is the "digging-est" dog I have ever known. I can't plant anything in the backyard because he digs it right up when I leave. I decided I wanted some lovely white climbing roses along the garden fence, so I bought them dormant and went through the required steps of soaking, digging, planting, etc.. Naturally, as soon as I walked away he dug them up. At that point I became so frustrated that I grabbed the remaining stalk of one and started chasing him around the yard with it! I was holding it over my head and screaming obscenities at him like a maniac! He, of course, thought it was a great game. Husband still laughs recalling me running around after this dog, brandishing the remnants of a rose bush and telling him his doggy parents were never married.

Pandora

Wow, that's impressive! My first dog was a little beagle, who like all pups wrecked a few things when she was teething, but never much, so the giant schnauzer and his swath of destruction was a huge shock! I was so happy he lived at my bf at the time's place and not mine, that's for sure! He definitely had a thing for wood too... I wonder if that's common? The rose bush he devoured was one of the crazy spiny inch-long thorn ones, we could not fathom why he would even try chewing on it, but eat the whole thing he did! Though barbed wire is even worse! Dogs are truly crazy.

The funniest bad thing he did was when he learned that peeing in the house got him put outside... so putting 2 and 2 together (clearly we were trying to teach him SOMETHING! He just wasnt' entirely sure what), he decided if he wanted to go out, he should go to the door and pee . Of course being a large dog he left a huge lake every time. It was fun trying to explain to the bf that no you can't throw him outside when he does that, you're just giving him what he wants and reinfocing the behaviour!

MousePotato

Viviane has a thing for wood, too. She is very upset with me right now because I took away all her branches and boards in anticipation of the hurricane. Can't have those turning into projectiles! Oh, and I love your "swath of destruction" comment. It's very refreshing to hear that NOT in the context of current Texas weather patterns!

Oh, man, the housebreaking thing... Yeah, the ONLY thing that works with that is positive reinforcement. This past winter I spent many a late evening saying "go potty" in my sweetest voice while Viviane (now 9 months old) took her time in the rain!

gremlin

I've been very lucky over the years...the most destruction I've had to deal with was holes dug in the yard. I laid chicken wire over the back lawn for nearly a year until puppy learned to not dig in the lawn...and she still does once in awhile! (even tho she has her own dirt box to dig in).

fins

mu pug - boston terrier mix is a chewing terror...he has chewed on our new wooden bed....2 of my wooden fishtank stands....the wall and anything he can get ahold of....now he spends a lot of time in his crate ...cause we just cant trust him alone.....

Allie

We had a 3/4 pit bull 1/4 yellow lab mix, Bacardi (my 1st & only dog). Got him a 7 wks(too young I know).
I was shocked that he only chewed his toys not our things. He was a good boy, but such a clingy thing. We had to give away at 14 months due to not being able to find a place which allows dogs. Let alone one that is mostly pit bull. We found a great home for him with a lovely couple who have a house with a big yard.
My friend's pitty ate his couch, wood cushions and pillows. She was also left alone a lot. So any dog left alone would eventually chew up something. lol

Chief_waterchanger

I have 2 basset hounds in one large pin outside and in another one I have a harlequin great dane and a mutt. No house destruction at all. Infact, the great dane and mutt's pin is about 50 feet infront of the fishhouse, so we have guard dogs.

I couldn't imagine not being able to plant anything in the yard for fear of it becoming dog food.. wow. (Mousepotatoe, the obscenity filled dog chase... that gave me a good laugh, thanks! )

MousePotato

Actually, Allie, seven weeks is the IDEAL age to get a dog. They've been with the litter long enough to be "doggy socialized," but they are ready for training from you. The only concern is that a new dog owner with no previous experience might cause trauma during the dramatic eighth week "fear period" when all dogs turn into ninnies, but it sounds like you kept things cool. You did good.

Yes, dogs left alone get bored and they chew to entertain themselves, but a puppy will chew right in front of you, trust me! Especially when teething!

You're welcome.

Allie

My bf was the master, the dog and i had compatibility issues at the time. LOL
Am a die hard cat lover since I was able to talk. Dogs are very different. See cats should be 8-10wks with their momma. So I figured puppies should be the same.

owain

my dog Roxy has busted the water bed, chewed 3 cell phones, and house phone, all the remote controls, untold amount of shoes, gone thought the yard and kitchen doors chewed the wall in the hallway, all in the first 18 months. Thankfully shes slowed down to the occasional shoe.

Jess

Hi guys I also have an English Pointer "Millie". I have to say she's pretty perfect, but then I run her every morning and take her to work with me. I think keeping her very busy and giving her a work out each morning helps to keep her sane. She's the "office dog". It works out great! (she can be left alone, I just feel super guilty)

On the other hand, my mom and her friend each have Weimaraners. They are the most needy, destructive, and intelligent dogs I have ever met. One, took apart the inside of a beautiful 450 SL Mercedes. Chewed up a couch and door. Trash the house when ever you left. So now my mom's dog uses her car as a dog house (sort of) That way she can be sure she will never be left behind. (she's almost 12 now) Absolutely can not be left alone. Think they have their masters pretty well trained?

MousePotato

I am a die hard cat person myself. The dogs came with Husband, sort of like a free toaster, but useless.

Want another one to keep her company?

Butterfly

When did you sneak Bassets in on me! Aren't they sweet Tennhound (marie) has one also.
Carol

Chief_waterchanger

Heh. My parents had the basset hounds when they moved down. They are s-p-o-i-l-e-d! One dances for food and the other acts like he is gravely ill until you pay him attention for a day or so and then he perks right back up as though nothing was ever wrong. (And the parents fall for it every time with me rolling my eyes. )

Allie

My bf had dogs all growing up, when we get into a house he wants one again. I hope the next one isn't so depended on my bf like the last one. He would whine for 1/2 hour or more if left alone with me. Sighing and going on like a bored spoiled kid.
I would like a lab or something that doesn't scare people just b/c it's called a pit bull.
I haven't met too many unfriendly ones here. Bad owners make bad pets. The only scary one I have met, was left outside on a chain all the time and never socialized. Later found out that he was a fighting dog. GRR!!
He'd snarl and growl when you'd walk by the house in a family oriented neighborhood too. Poor dog was not happy.

MousePotato

Labs are great, but they stay puppies a long time. Emma was just becoming a good "house dog" when she got sick. If I may, I'd suggest getting a book called "How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With." http://www.amazon.com/How-Raise-Pupp...1371384&sr=8-2. It's a great "beginner" book for new dog owners.

When Husband came into my life and brought Felix, I started doing my research on dogs. I refuse to keep an animal without learning as much as I can about it (that's how I found fishlore, too) and I found this book to be very informative. I also recommend Richard Wolters "Game Dog" for training, even if you aren't into hunting. I have used many of his methods for basic training and found them very useful.

I agree that fighting dogs and dogs that are not well-socialized make me ill. People who chain dogs up outside make me ill. A dog should be a member of the family, just like a cat. Okay, not exactly like a cat - I would not let my dogs take over the bed. Too stinky.

Butterfly

Labs are wonderful dogs. when our children were small we raised Labs. They were socialized with our children and other pets and when they left us they were happy loving animals. BUT... Labs can't stand to be left alone in the house for long periods of time. They get bored easily and are people animals. I remember coming home and finding all my window curtains laying in the floor when we got our first Lab, she just had to be able to see out ALL the windows.
But for destruction I think my daughters Anatolian Shepherd took the cake. He ate the bumper off my SIL's truck and ate the corner off their house. He worked on the deck for a long time also. He was a huge, beautiful dog well loved by us all.
Carol

sirdarksol

I think that chihuahuas topped labs on the list because labs are more easily trained (as long as they're kept active), and are often kept as outdoor dogs due to their size. Most lab owners learn pretty quickly that keeping things like underground sprinkler systems or expensive perennials is just too difficult.

Meanwhile, chihuahuas usually have the run of the house, and have enough energy to continue chewing, digging, wetting the floor, etc... throughout the day while Mom and Dad aren't home.

You've also got to remember that, to an extent, this "study" is going to be swayed by culture. Thanks to Paris Hilton, chihuahuas are a popular accessory for privileged girls. This means that they can get their teeth around expensive clothing and shoes, which will shoot the average dollar cost up.
Meanwhile, labs owned by richer folks are usually hunting dogs and kept in kennels. At the very least, the richer folks have spent quite a bit of money on training to keep their dogs better behaved.

Red1313

speaking of destructive dogs ever met a bored border collie? or even worse a bored border collie that decides to amuse itself by chasing the cows when no ones home... that fence wasn't cheap.
lol
loved them both anyway.
may my girls RIP

MousePotato

Too funny, Red! And good to know since we're moving to the country and Husband likes border collies!

SDS, you are correct about culture. Even I got sucked in, but a few weeks of carrying around an 85 pound dog in a purse will cure you. Emma was not good accessory material...

Edit: May my sweet Emma RIP as well. Still missing her.

Red1313

Border collie's are awsome dogs and so much fun. However think of them as a 3 yr old on a sugar high. They never stop. So unless you keep them with you all day or have a job for them to do i'd take a really long look before getting one.

Beanz1927

My lab pup is 1 year old today and to celebrate he chewed through the leg of a table while i went to the supermarket for 20 minutes.

MousePotato

That's a lab for you! That's also why Viviane is not yet allowed in the house unsupervised unless she is in her kennel!

MissMTS

My dog Jeffrey (a Wheaton Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, and Poodle Mix) is very clingy and very distructive when he is left alone. He has eaten several pairs of my shoes, several clothing items, book, dvds, etc. We took him to the vet and talked to her about it, and poor Jeffrey has a very severe case of separation anxiety. We adopted him about 4 months ago and don't know anything about his past (we got him from a shelter and he was a stray), but the vet seems to think that he suffered from a really tramatic experience. Currently, I take him to work with me everyday and pretty much keep him with me at all times. Right now we are in the process of weaning him into being by himself. We got a big bag full of toys and bones. He only gets to play with them when we leave, and when we get home, we take them away. This gives him something positive to associate with our absence. So far we have worked up to leaving him for 2 hours and nothing has gotten chewed on or peed on which is a big improvement. Hopefully eventually we can work up to 7 hours so that I don't have to bring him to work with me

Zoreta

If you want destructive, try a bearded collie that was starved as a puppy. She's a rescue dog who was rescued from a shady 'dog rescue agency' that would put one bowl of food in a cage with three dogs and expect them to get along. Of course, when we got her, she'd eat anything she could get her mouth on- she'd had to in the 'shelter.'

Before we'd managed to train her, her diet included:
rocks of various sizes
tin foil
the butter dish (twice)
cashmere socks
pajamas
stuffed animal appendages (including a couple mint-condition beanie babies *grumble grumble*)
tin cans (she'd chew on the edges until she made a hole)
coffee and cocoa canisters (see tin cans)
table and chair legs
any plant she could uproot
2 lb See's dark chocolate (it didn't do a thing to her except she stayed up for three nights straight running around my parents' bed)
a full container of Hershey's chocolate milk mix
'other'

The poor girl's recently had a mass grow between her trachea and her heart- she plays and eats fine for now, but a day will come when she can't breath. When she starts to suffer, we'll have to put her down.