Hello everyone, my name is Ace and I am in big trouble. My Momma is very understanding and loves me a lot but she just doesn’t understand my behavior for the last month. I’m 11 years old and have lived in this house for the past 8 years, I am a good boy but I do suffer from separation anxiety so I can’t stay alone in the house when Mom is not home. When I was a puppy, I was very hyper, I could not be contained. I found away out of everything (mom thinks I’m a descendent of Houdini). She got me a sister, a golden puppy that I just fell in love with the day she came home. Mom hoped that playing with her would use up the excess energy but I still had to be crated when nobody was home (3 to 4 hours a day). We moved when I was 3 and my human sisters got there own homes so it was just mom and me and my golden. Mom built a kennel in the basement about 8x10’ with a doggie door to a large fenced in yard 25x40’ for me and my golden sister. She did not want us in crates for the long work day. We get to go upstairs when Mom comes home from work. I have been a very happy dog with this living arrangement for 8 years but for the last month I have decided I want out of the inside kennel. I figured out how to open the gate and got into the basement. The gate closed and I couldn’t get back in for water and food. Mom locked the gate for the next few days then I found a way to push the gate a little squeeze through. Again I got stuck with no food for the day and mom was afraid I was going to hurt myself. She went out and got some bungi cords and tired the gate better and I chew them off. Yup, I got out again. Now she has found better way to tie up the gate and I haven’t been able to get out in a week. While trying to find a way out I spill all the water, knock over the food and tear up the floor. I scratch, claw and chew on the gate to try and get out. My golden sister stays inside the kennel and never comes with me when I break out. Mom is at a loss as to what has changed that would make me do this. She is very worried that I’m going to hurt myself. Can anyone help me, is there anyone that might have an idea what could be making me do this?
