Stopping Destructive Dog Behavior – A Guide for Pet Parents.
Destructive dog behaviour can be very frustrating, no matter how much we love them.
Preventing this takes some time and effort, but with the right strategies you can teach your dog to consistently choose his/her toys and not your stuff!
Just like toddlers, dogs, especially puppies want to put anything and everything in their mouths! While scolding can seem like the right thing to do, punishment can decrease your dog’s desire to want to train with you.
The other problem with punishment is that your dog doesn’t really know why he or she is getting into trouble, especially if the destruction happened earlier in the day.
Training is really all about patience and perseverance. It is about creating the right habits in your dog(s). Learning will happen best when you set them up for success and make sure they get plenty of practice doing the things you want them to do.
In this case, it means that your dogs will need a lot of practice choosing their toys and chew bones. You’ll also need to manage them in ways that they do NOT get to practice the habit we don’t want (i.e. destroying your things).
Dogs of all breeds and sizes need a great deal of mental and physical stimulation. And, this is especially true with the younger and more destructive dogs.
Having a bunch of dog toys isn’t enough for them. They need fun and enriching brain games that satisfy their needs on a daily basis.
For this I recommend food and treat dispensing toys like a frozen, stuffed Kong/Toppl once or twice a day for the young or destructive dog.
Additionally, games like hide-and-seek, dog puzzles, provide plenty of mental stimulation and relieve boredom in dogs. Further, it’s always a great idea to have Bully Sticks, Baby Carrots, Salmon Skin bones, NoHide Chews at the ready!
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Another useful trick is to give your young or destructive dog a lot of physical exercise through long runs, walks and games like play fetch. It is important to remember that in most of the cases it is pent up mental energy that is the biggest culprit. Going for sniff walks and participating in group training are other excellent ways to satisfy your dog’s mental enrichment needs.
When you’re home, you can set your dog up for success by first making sure he always has enticing chews and toys available. What is equally important is that you keep your house picked up so your dog doesn’t have the opportunity to practice any unwanted behavior.
It’s human to err and if your furry companions do manage to get a hold off something you don’t want them to chew on, convince them that their toys and props are even BETTER! For example, if your dog is chewing on a shoe, trade the shoe for a super yummy appropriate chew (maybe a bully stick or equally awesome item). It’s important that you have chews that your dog finds interesting and desirable, otherwise, the fair trade will not work.
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If you manage the environment (not allowing access to things he/she shouldn’t have) they WILL develop the habit of chewing only their own things. Gradually, you’ll find that you can ease up on yourself a bit when you notice how he or she chooses to walk by that shoe on the way to the chew he’s in the HABIT of now playing with.
When you’re not home, your dog most likely needs to be confined. Most young dogs and virtually all puppies are going to be destructive if left alone, loose in your home. Setting them up for success means confining them in an appropriate manner (crate, ex-pen or baby gated in a safe area) and leaving them with enticing (but safe) chews and toys.
You want to create the HABIT of them focusing their attention on their own things and not yours. It’s not fair to expect your dogs to choose their toys over yours if you haven’t helped them learn the habit.
Realising that it is your job to prevent destructive behaviors from becoming your dog’s habit is the biggest part of the solution. Only AFTER you see that your dog is ready to make the right choice, i.e. the chew bone/ chew stick/toy instead of furniture or gadgets, should you start experimenting with gradually increasing your dog’s freedom.
The outcome of your careful timely effort will be a lovely family companion who does not destroy your things. That’s an outcome worth working towards!
About the Author
Poojita is a Lawyer turned Photographer and Writer based in Pune. She also moonlights as a Welfare Worker. Her soul mission is to serve and alleviate the lives of fellow humans and animals in need. Her efforts are also directed to conserve the Environmental and Wildlife wealth that our world has been blessed with.