One of the costliest dog behaviour issues you'll encounter is having a destructive dog.
Gnawing on your cushions till the stuffing hangs out is at the mild end of these dog behaviour problems, between falls an entire list of misdemeanours such as chewing your best shoes, scratching up the paintwork, scrabbling at the carpet and chewing right through wires. At the extreme end of this issue, dogs can destroy your best furniture, chew their way through plasterboard walls and I even heard a case of a dog who destroyed a whole kitchen while his dog minder was out!
Yet I'm continually surprised at the amount of dog lovers who tolerate this detrimental behaviour and the strain it causes and try and work around it. If they invest a bit of time and money to handle the problem, it'd be so much cheaper in the long term than having to pay for painters and decorators, new carpets or furniture.
What Drives a Dog's Destructive Behavior?
I want to start by mentioning that dogs don't destroy things on purpose, to spite you, or teach you a lesson, or for vengeance, because I'm staggered how many people believe that.
Your dog might be destructive for a selection of differing reasons. It could be attention seeking behavior. My dog used to chew on cushions and all the while be trying to catch my eye, as he knew I'd react and then he'd have my attention.
Dog chewing is the source of a lot of destruction in the house, yet a dogs chewing is wholly natural. A dog will gnaw things as a way of alleviating pain like when teething. Equally, gnawing helps to release a natural endorphin in a dog that is calming, so dogs will often gnaw when they're anxious.
Separation Anxiety in dogs can also be a big driver for destructive behavior as a dog can panic when left alone. Much of the damage can happen as the dog attempts to get out of the house, so regularly window frames, doors and even walls are their focus.
Does Dog Boredom Create Destructive Behavior?
Boredom is commonly cited as a rationalization for dogs destructive behaviour. There are many people who insist firmly on humanising their dogs, but I believe that animals who don't know the next time they are going to eat, find it much trickier to be bored. Have you ever studied one of those "reality" shows where they do not feed the competitors for a while? Nobody ever talks of being bored. All they talk about is, you got it, food.
So while your dog may enjoy the heap of toys you leave for them while you are out, or the dog walker that comes in and exercises them, it won't necessarily stop the destruction.
How To Stop Destructive Dogs
To calm the whole situation down and put a stop to the costs, stress and bad behaviour, you need to spot whats behind your dog's destructive behaviour and tackle it with some good dog behaviour training.
Gnawing on your cushions till the stuffing hangs out is at the mild end of these dog behaviour problems, between falls an entire list of misdemeanours such as chewing your best shoes, scratching up the paintwork, scrabbling at the carpet and chewing right through wires. At the extreme end of this issue, dogs can destroy your best furniture, chew their way through plasterboard walls and I even heard a case of a dog who destroyed a whole kitchen while his dog minder was out!
Yet I'm continually surprised at the amount of dog lovers who tolerate this detrimental behaviour and the strain it causes and try and work around it. If they invest a bit of time and money to handle the problem, it'd be so much cheaper in the long term than having to pay for painters and decorators, new carpets or furniture.
What Drives a Dog's Destructive Behavior?
I want to start by mentioning that dogs don't destroy things on purpose, to spite you, or teach you a lesson, or for vengeance, because I'm staggered how many people believe that.
Your dog might be destructive for a selection of differing reasons. It could be attention seeking behavior. My dog used to chew on cushions and all the while be trying to catch my eye, as he knew I'd react and then he'd have my attention.
Dog chewing is the source of a lot of destruction in the house, yet a dogs chewing is wholly natural. A dog will gnaw things as a way of alleviating pain like when teething. Equally, gnawing helps to release a natural endorphin in a dog that is calming, so dogs will often gnaw when they're anxious.
Separation Anxiety in dogs can also be a big driver for destructive behavior as a dog can panic when left alone. Much of the damage can happen as the dog attempts to get out of the house, so regularly window frames, doors and even walls are their focus.
Does Dog Boredom Create Destructive Behavior?
Boredom is commonly cited as a rationalization for dogs destructive behaviour. There are many people who insist firmly on humanising their dogs, but I believe that animals who don't know the next time they are going to eat, find it much trickier to be bored. Have you ever studied one of those "reality" shows where they do not feed the competitors for a while? Nobody ever talks of being bored. All they talk about is, you got it, food.
So while your dog may enjoy the heap of toys you leave for them while you are out, or the dog walker that comes in and exercises them, it won't necessarily stop the destruction.
How To Stop Destructive Dogs
To calm the whole situation down and put a stop to the costs, stress and bad behaviour, you need to spot whats behind your dog's destructive behaviour and tackle it with some good dog behaviour training.
About the Author:
Author Venice Marriott is a writer and dog owner and runs a Dog Anxiety website, which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with dog anxiety. Get more information about destructive dog behaviour and other dog behaviour problems, when you visit the site.