Eating my trees, digging holes, chewing everything?

[FamilyPendragon]

I adopted a 6 month old boxer male. He is neutered and now about a year old. We have 3 other dogs and 3 cats. I also have a two year old son. He plays well with all of them. He is potty trained to use a dog door and has 3 1/2 acres to play on. The only thing we can't seem to get him to stop is all the chewing. He has destroyed easily 3 thousand dollars worth of our property. He chewed a hole through our kitchen floor one day while I was gone. He destroyed my new apricot trees, my wysteria for last mother's day, the 2 trees my husband planted for my birthday. He has dug holes all over the yard. Not trying to get out, just for fun. He ate a hole in a door frame. He has eaten at least half my son's toys. He's eaten the legs off two chairs. If I am home when he starts to chew on something inappropriate (yes, he will plop down right in front of me and absentmindedly start chewing on one of my son's toys) I will look him in the eyes and say NO and give him one of his own toys. He has a TON of his own toys. They are only interesting the first 10 minutes and then are discarded. I am a stay at home mom, so it's not like I am at work all day. But if I go to the store or anything, I come home to mass destruction. He will even get up on counter tops or shelves to get to items that are put up. He loves to go in the car with us and will not get out unless I physically drag him from the car when we get home. So I understand he doesn't want to be left alone. He does have 6 other animals that romp and stomp with him all the time. What do I do??? I am on the verge of finding him a new home. We just can't afford all this destruction and I can't make my whole life revolve around this one animal. My son requires enough constant attention, LOL!

[JoeV]

i would invest in a good trainer right away before he destroys more. that sounds like too intense of an issue to try to deal with without proper guidance and training.

[maggiemae]

A trainer is a good thing; you may also keep in a crate while you are away, or put a kennel in the back yard to keep him in and contained. Maggie is good in the house, never chews anything and sometimes will take a sock or something, but she will bring it to you. However, she got sick from digging up flowers in the back yard, so I put a kennel in and only let her loose when I am with her.

[nvarela08]

I agree completely! He needs obedience training and to be put in a crate/kennel when you leave the house. Our boxer did do some chewing on our coffee table so we put her in a kennel while we were out of the house. Don't worry he won't pee or poop in the kennel. Now our boxer is able to stay out while we are gone and does very. She does every now and then dig a hole in the yard or chew on our lime tree but has not (knock on wood) destroyed either of them. But I would seriously look into some intense one on one not group obedience training. It has worked extemely well for our boxer. She has calmed down a bit and is easier to keep under control. It is well worth the investment of time and money. Many people think boxer are dumb and un-trainable (those people usually have never loved a boxer like we do!), but I beleive they are very smart. They are very trainable but they do get bored easily, so if obedience training is made into a game or fun they are more apt to learn. They really want to please you but it is up to the owner to show them how to please them. Good luck and don't give up yet! I know he is full of love for you, he just needs some extra guidance!

[KeeperBoy]

I know you have a lot of space, but he likely needs more stimulation. Either a walk in the park, obedience lessons, agility training at home...

I bet he knows all your property like the back of his paw, he needs to get out there and live life, smell new smells.