Would it be possible to get Ripple into day care a couple of days a week? Here in the States male dogs have to be neutered before allowed into day care but don't know if the same goes for Scotland. I take Cooper to day care and he gets all the exercise he needs during the day and, by late afternoon when I pick him up, he is knackered! This might help you. You are right about the biting.....he should be over that by now....but he needs a lot of spending his energy. Walking, playing, training, socializing with other dogs. All of this will help a lot. Good luck.
Ripple usually has half an hour walk in the morning (on lead), a training session outside at lunch time interspersed with play lasting half an hour (sometimes we do some extra training in the kitchen while I'm making lunch); then at least an hours walk and off lead run in the afternoon. I definitely think he has been unsettled by me being away especially as OH didn't exercise him as much. I've also been trying to minimise the time he spends in his crate but OH was putting him in there as soon as his walks had ended. We've had another settee / curtain attacking session this lunchtime but it ended much sooner and Ripple settled down. @Yvonne I don't know of anywhere near that has doggy daycare but the dog walker in my village did take Ripple for a full day when I went on my birthday treat so once he's settled again I might try that occasionally.
Steffi, that dog walker would be great for Ripple but I also see that you DO exercise him a lot so that should not be the problem. As to chewing....I mentioned my family room sofa is a "gonner", also the legs of the breakfast table in same room....all his fabric toys (of which I do not buy anymore...only Kongs and Nylabones) ....Cooper has stopped chewing now but he is almost 2-1/2 years old. Guess your OH took the easy way out once you were out of the picture.....quite typical so don't kill him!! You are lucky you have a dog walker.....I cannot find a single one in my area so am very lucky to have day care. Still, I would prefer a dog walker because at day care they just play all day but do not get any discipline walking or training. Guess I shouldn't complain. Am sure Ripple will come around and go back to where he was before you had to go away. Plus, you may have to or want to go away again in the future so he will have to get used to you being out of the house sometimes. Could you find someone that would take Ripple for a whole day or a whole night so you can have some time to go out like you did on your birthday? Happy Birthday, by the way. Oh, also...have to tell you....of all the countries I have visited over my lifetime SCOTLAND was my most favorite. I took three weeks off (vacation from work), hired a guide from Edinburgh (he was an architect and master gardener..retired), he made all the arrangements and we travelled up the East coast to the very end and down the West coast to the very end. Must say we had three weeks of pure sunshine (a miracle in Scotland I understand)...the countryside was stunning, people we met were friendly and gracious....just loooooved it! Have a great weekend.
We are over on the east side, but I'm not originally from Scotland - I was born and bred in Kent and have gradually moved up the country and now been in Scotland 16 years. We have enjoyed some lovely summers but also some awful ones, this year has been a bit of a mix. OH is getting itchy feet again so I'm not sure much longer we will be here, rather hoping for a move south to be nearer my family .
Hope you get to move South, Steffi I have heard of the awful weather you sometimes have there so totally understand. Here,we have awful long Winters with tons of snow and ice. A lot of retired people go to Florida for the Winter but,unless you own your own home or flat, it is very expensive so I stay home....luckily Cooper loves the snow...but I don't. The older one gets the more one hates cold, snow and ice!!! But I love Autumn,Spring and Summer!
