Heartbreaking reason much-loved staffie Gypsy destroys her owner’s home

Gypsy’s owner has reached the last resort. She has chewed through chicken wire, perspex, walls, doors and even attempted to claw through gyprock. But she’s not doing it out of boredom or aggression, she’s terrified.

Gypsy the English Staffordshire terrier becomes so terrified in storms she rips holes in walls.

STAFFORDSHIRE terrier Gypsy has chewed through walls, doors and even gyprock, but not because she’s naughty - she is petrified.

The Sunshine Coast pet is so terrified of storms she “loses her mind”, according to her owner Nathan Rumble who says he is at wit’s end.

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“One clap of thunder will set her off,” he said.

“She’s completely fine when she’s around people, but it’s just a combination of fear and isolation in those storms.”

Since taking her in five years ago, Mr Rumble said Gypsy became extremely anxious when alone in thunderstorms and tried anything to escape their property.

Some of the mess Gypsy left due to stress from a recent storm.

Gypsy made light work of this gyprock.

In her panicked sate, the eight-year-old dog chewed through chicken wire, perspex, walls, doors and attempted to claw through gyp rock, often injuring herself.

“She’s even scratched her claws off in an attempt to get out,” Mr Rumble said.

Mr Rumble has already tried cage-training, a behavioural psychology consultant, a thunder jacket, herbal and homoeopathic treatment, acupuncture, music, essential oils and medication to calm Gypsy during a storm, but nothing had worked.

Instead, he has restored to taking her to his workplace for comfort.

Mooloolaba chef Nathan Rumble has to take his dog 'Gypsy' to work because she is terrified of storms.

“She is suffering and we feel like we’ve exhausted all our plausible options,” he said.

With storm season approaching, Mr Rumble said his family was searching for a solution - some company for Gypsy.

Their family hoped a kind member of the public may like some canine company in storms as well.

“The perfect scenario would be an older person home frequently who could have her while we were at work,” he said.

Gypsy’s family adored her and re-homing wasn’t an option. “It’s been a roller-coaster of mixed emotions but we can’t let her go,” he said.

“Walls are replaceable, she isn’t.”