Hello All, I am house/dog sitting for some family friends who have a sibe/lab mix with severe separation anxiety. They used to have the dog on medication, not sure what. But have tapered him off of it because it was getting too expensive for their son. (his dog, watching it at his parents house along with their dog.)

I have him gated in the kitchen/TV room area, but he'll jump the gates into the front room where he's (so far) destroyed custom wooden blinds, and the custom front door, which I am sure is worth thousands alone not to mention the rugs, the mats under the rugs, as well as the door into the garage. I have blocked off every door way, door and access point that I possibly can, but today I came back from running errands, and he'd started clawing at a different door that leads out to the patio. I bought him a thunder shirt, and I am walking him as much as my schedule allows. I can't do dog parks or off leash areas, he's a well behaved dog, but I don't know how he'd do listening to me off leash, or around other dogs. (he's older too, so a bit grumpy)

What can I do? It's getting to the point where I cannot leave their house to get groceries because I know I'll come back to something else destroyed. It's too hot to take him on errands with me or I would do that. I am stressed because he's is literally trying to break down the door while I am gone, and I have until Wednesday until they come home. I know that they will not charge me, or blame me necessarily for the damage, but I hate that it's happening on my watch. I am so sick of him, that I am starting to not give him the attention I know he needs because he's made such a mess of their house, and stressed me out.

I would bring up our kennel and put him in that, but I worry that he'd try to get out and injure himself, I also leave him with bones etc to occupy some of his anxious energy, those don't occupy him for long.

Any advice would be very much appreciated! Should I give him benedryl to relax him? Thanks in advance!

Dalton- Siberians need a lot of exercise, especially when they are anxious. This dog is anxious because his humans are gone, and he doesn't know you yet. Can you run or bike with him? In the early morning or after the sun goes down are best. Lots of miles...

Also what about the garage as a place to keep him when you aren't home?
Can you take stuff that the dog might injure himself with out?

I've been there, and know how frustrating this can be. When I locked him in the garage, my second husky ran around inside with pieces of firewood, knocking holes in the wall!

I've known the dog for 12 years, so that isn't the issue. As for exercise, no matter the amount, it hasn't helped him, and believe me, I know how much huskies need! The garage, unfortunately isn't safe, lots of chemicals, cars, and who knows what else. Plus, I would rather him continue to ruin the same door, than have 3 half ruined doors...
Back to the drawing board!

It sounds like he's a bad case of separation anxiety and so it would take a long time for sensitization and counter-conditioning to work (not feasible by Wednesday!). It's possible a dog appeasing pheromone collar might help, but it would be better paired with counter-conditioning - probably not worth it since the problem (for you) is temporary. Maybe you can get a friend or relative to sit with him while you go out to the store? It sounds like you are under house arrest just to keep him happy! He is probably worse because his usual people aren't there. It's lovely of you to look after him because it sounds like they couldn't have gone away otherwise. Good luck with the last few days.

OMG! The destructo dog is 12!
Wow.
Most dogs are long past house destroying at that age.
You have your hands full.
Good-luck.

The calming collars do help a lot they are at petsmart for eleven dollars. My dog is like what you described every day. We have to kennel her in order to leave. Benedryl does help it will not make the dog sleep. It will just take the edge off for when you leave. It works pretty fast in about ten minutes, and wears off in about two hours. Their metabolism is much faster than ours. It needs to be original benedryl. Only one pill at a time. A combo works best for us. Kong with cheese, benedryl, raw hide or marrow bone in order to leave. The trick is a distraction for first five minutes so they don't hear you leave. Our girl will be relaxed when we get home. Good luck!

Thundershirt along with a filled kong to distract my dog, plus the TV on. However, we had to increase the times we left her in a very small increments and you don't really have that time. Order groceries online until Wednesday? What do they owners do when they leav the house? Good luck!!

Oh - and some recommend Rescue Remedy or Valerian Root to calm the dog. Check with the pet store for the recommended amount.

Thank you everyone for the tips and advice!
Can't wait till Wednesday!

Well, one more day until the family gets back, here are some photos of the destruction:


The rug


Door 1


Door 2


baby gate

and the piece de resistance:

Whoa! How's it going now?

Some of that was from yesterday, so not so good.. ha ha. I ended up getting him an herbal relaxing supplement, a pheromone collar, he's wearing the thunder-shirt constantly, and if I have to leave, I'll give him a benedryl. Wish me luck in the last 16 hours, I swear I'm not counting down......

So is the family out of the country? can you not call them? is this the first time you have sat for them? im sorry but if i knew my dog was that crazy when left alone i would have a book for anyone watching him with info on how to handle it. or i would just plan all my trips with the dog. i can't get over all that damage!!!!! from a 12 yr old, unbelievable. im really sorry you have to deal with this and good luck on counting down the hrs and i hope the owners do not blame you for this!

They're sweet people, and they do know the dog is a little nuts when they're gone. I've known them for a long time, and knew what I was getting into, but it's never been this bad! Thanks for the well wishes, I know they'll be mad, but it won't be directed at me, more at their son (the owner of the crazy dog.)

Oh man that's terrible! I know how you feel I tried leaving Cj home alone once when we first got her. She ate my couch and literally tore all the blinds off the wall and ate them too! It was so bad! That was after she escaped the kennel and set the alarm off. She was so freaked out. The owners of the dog your watching may need to hire a pet sitter next time that can stay home the whole time!

Is the dog not crate trained?? I don't think i would be mad so much as devastated by that damage. Oh My I feel for you!

Ask when they will be reimbursing you for damages. (they'll never ask you to watch the dog again. )

I was going to bring up our crate and put him in that, but I knew he would go nuts and hurt himself trying to get out.
Since it's their home, they will be paying the damages. I really don't mind watching him, but I won't do it again unless he's on some sort of medication/therapy.

Wow, that's a lot of damage! It sounds like they shouldn't really go away and leave him, until they've sorted it out. Good luck for the last day!