Dogs that engage in destructive chewing may be dealing with separation anxiety, hunger, and teething pains, or they may just like the increased attention they get from it
If you want to stop your dog or puppy from chewing and destroying items inside your home, you must first determine why they have adopted that habit. Following the tips detailed below will help you nail down that reason.
Keep a Live Record of Your Dog’s Destructive Chewing Behavior
Observing your pet will help you understand why they have suddenly become more destructive.
Prepare a journal and start noting how your dog or puppy behaves whenever you’re at home with them. Note any changes to the way they behave because they could be indicative of the underlying issue.
Of course, you cannot spend all day watching over your pet. To get around that issue, you can set up cameras near the spots where your pet likes to hang out so you can capture footage of them. Comb through the footage when you get home and look for anything unusual.
After checking your notes and/or the video footage, you may be able to spot symptoms of separation anxiety or other issues. Once you have a better read on the situation, you should be able to help your dog more effectively.
Change How You Store Your Garbage
Do you believe that your dog’s destructive chewing is related to them adjusting to their diet? To confirm that, you can change the way you store your garbage.
Keep your garbage bags behind some kind of protective barrier so your dog cannot get to them. If the destructive chewing stops after you make that change, then your dog was likely engaging in that behavior due to hunger. You should look into ways to keep your pet feeling satisfied so they don’t have to seek food out whenever you’re not at home.
Consult with a Qualified Professional
You may still have no clue why your dog or puppy is chewing everything inside your home. In that case, you should seek professional assistance.
Approach a certified applied animal behaviorist, a veterinary behaviorist, or a certified professional dog trainer because they are the ones capable of decoding the changes in your dog’s behavior.
Certified professional dog trainers are easy to find and some veterinarians already double as veterinary behaviorists. According to the ASPCA, most certified applied animal behaviorists work with veterinarians. Ask your pet’s doctor for a referral if you’re looking for one of those professionals.
Treating your dog’s destructive chewing is only possible if you know the reason behind it. Try out the suggestions detailed here because they can help you come up with the answer you’re looking for.
Not sure who to speak to about your dog’s destructive chewing? Schedule a free call with our dog trainer Cathy who can point you in the right direction: https://app.10to8.com/book/zxznlfrciytyebkoug/
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