Do you have a dog that displays destructive behavior and that you can’t seem to get it to stop? What causes some dogs to chew, dig and spill? There may be reasons for your dog’s behavior, and some of those reasons may start with you.
Dog Destructive Behavior
The first response to a dog’s misbehavior — such as getting into trash cans, begging excessively or digging in the corner of the living room — is to get angry and yell. However, this is a counterproductive effort that not only doesn’t teach the dog to change his or her behavior, it teaches the pet to either fear you or be angry with you. Instead of getting angry yourself, think about some possible causes for the behavior.
What is it that causes dogs to chew, dig, and tear things to pieces? One of the reasons for this kind of destructive behavior is that all dogs, not just puppies, need to chew on things. Even adult dogs have the instinctive need to chew. If this is your dog’s problem, then providing the dog with appropriate chewing items can curb the difficulty.
Give the dog an appropriate chew item such as a rawhide bone or a large treat bone that he can chew at one time. You could use a rubber toy, perhaps one stuffed with a treat, if the dog tends to chew at the same time each day. Substituting the toy for the items you don’t want him to chew may help.
Dog Training
Because of our busy schedules, we often don’t give the dogs in our lives the appropriate amount of exercise. This could be the case with a destructive dog. Try giving the dog regular walks, visit a dog park from time to time, or run around with it in the back yard every day. All dogs like to have a way to express their native canine impulses like digging, sniffing, chewing and running. If they don’t have the chance to engage in these behaviors, they may let their tension and frustration out in destructive behaviors.
Lonely or Anxious Dog
Another possible reason for misbehavior is that a dog is lonely or anxious. Dogs are pack creatures. They are born to be members of a group, and in the absence of a group of other dogs, the human family functions in that role. So if they are left along for long periods of time, they may engage in destructive behavior as a means of reliving stress or fear.
Whatever the reason for a dog’s destructive behavior, your choice of methods for correcting these behaviors will make the difference between a happy, successful pet and a disobedient, challenging one.
Again, avoid spanking, yelling, smacking with a rolled newspaper, holding the dog’s head in water, or holding the dog’s mouth closed. These punishments are ineffective, since the dog has no way to connect them to the behavior that is undesirable, and will instead tend to make your dog angry or uncooperative. Additionally, they are cruel.
Using the Prevention Method
Instead, try the prevention method. Just like having good health insurance beats running to the emergency room for every runny nose, so keeping your eye on the dog at all times when you are home beats cleaning up after her destructive behaviors. If he starts to chew or get into something he shouldn’t, immediately correct him and redirect him to one of his own toys. Immediate correction and consistent application of rules will teach the dog. Use a firm but gentle tone of voice when you instruct the dog.
If you are unable to supervise your dog because you need to be away, keep him in a crate or a “dog-proof” room in the house. If properly trained, dogs will learn to take comfort in a crate, and will not resent it. However, it should not be used as an alternative to appropriate training, and the dog will still need plenty of exercise when you are available.
If your dog continues to exhibit chewing behaviors or tries to reach for food from the counter or table, you can also use noise, taste or touch deterrents to change the behavior. Commercial products such as Tabasco or Bitter Apple should be introduced to the dog at another time. After the dog tastes and spits out an item, such as a tissue, covered in the deterrent, she will be more likely to avoid items with that scent and taste in the future.
You can also place pyramids of cans, cookie sheets or double sticky tape on the counter to deter a pet from reaching up for food. If they fall into the trap, again avoid using a loud voice or yelling; simply correct the behavior in a quiet, firm voice and again redirect the dog’s attention.