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From: kfd@rruxg.UUCP (K Donnelly)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Schnoodle needs help (reposting)
Message-ID: <102@rruxg.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 17-Oct-85 15:00:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: rruxg.102
Posted: Thu Oct 17 15:00:18 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Oct-85 04:24:54 EDT
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway, NJ
Lines: 41

[generic bug killer line]
Over the past year my family's ten year old Schnoodle (1/2 Schnauzer
1/2 Poodle) has started ripping up door and window screens, door
moldings and even doors themselves in order to try to get out of the
house.  When he finally manages to get out, he will slip under
a fence and either sit in the front yard, walk down to the 
street corner or cross the street to a friend's house.  He does not 
wander too far, but the streets are busy and there are trolley tracks
in back of our house.  

It is not difficult to find a deep reason for why he is doing this.   
My father (with whom Frisker was closest) died two years ago.  
My mother has gone back to work and my sister is at college most days.  
Until a year or two ago, there was always someone to keep Frisker company
(My father's office adjoined the house).  Now he is alone for
8 hours at a time.  

Frisker is afraid of flying bugs (This fear developed about 4 or 5 years
ago, we thing as a result of a bee sting).  The first few times this
destructive behavior occurred, we were not sure whether it was 
prompted by loneliness or bug terror.  At least once, though, he has
dragged my father's favorite chair to the center of the living room (and
this is a SMALL dog and a BIG chair).

Anyway, I keep getting these phone calls from my mother who is
pretty upset.  She has replaced doors and window screens several
times and does not want this to continue.  She has corrected the
dog.  He seems to know that what he is doing is wrong, but does it
anyway, probably panicking.

Getting another dog to keep Frisker company is not an option.  
And, since I live in a no-pets apartment I can't take him.  Even if
I could, I am home less (and at odder times) than my mother.
We've thought about trying to install a "doggie-door."  

If anyone has any helpful suggestions, please mail them to me.
I will be happy to post a summary.

Kim Donnelly
BellCore
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