The destroying dogs are a big problem for many people and, many times, for themselves. Those dogs that are dedicated to chewing furniture, shoes, plants and everything they find, usually end up abandoned or in a shelter waiting for a family that wants to adopt them. The same fate tends to befall the dogs that destroy the garden digging holes wherever they please.
Unfortunately, destructive behaviors are very common in dogs and very few owners have the necessary patience and consideration to understand them, as well as the appropriate techniques to correct them. Chewing and digging are natural behaviors for dogs, as natural as breathing, feeding, or relieving themselves. Of course, some breeds have a greater need than others to express such behaviors. Terriers, for example, generally love to dig and in many cases it is impossible to prevent them from doing so. The behavior of chewing things is more common in all dogs, but hunting dogs and other breeds bred for hard work tend to have more marked this behavior.
So that you learn to understand the behavior of your furry companion and know how to help him, in this article on our site we will explain why your dog destroys everythingand how to fix it.
Correct the dog's destructive behavior appropriately
Although chewing on things and digging in the garden are inappropriate behaviors for humans, they are also very natural behaviors for dogs and, therefore, it is not advisable to try to eradicate them. The best thing you can do to prevent and solve destruction problems is to redirect destructive behaviors to resistant objects or suitable places. In other words, more than dog training, you have to carry out an environmental enrichment program for your dog (although there is also some training in these solutions).
Old school trainers tend to solve the problems of destructive dogs through punishment. They simply punish the dogs every time they start any of the destructive behaviors. The problem with that approach is that it tends to cause more problems than it provides solutions. Most dogs develop other inappropriate behaviors in response to these "treatments" and may even increase the intensity and frequency of destructive behaviors. Therefore, in this article you will find solutions through the redirection of destructive behaviors, and not through punishmentThat is, instead of teaching your dog not to chew and not to dig, you will teach him to only chew his toys and dig only in a certain place built specifically for that.
The strategy of redirecting inappropriate behaviors is equivalent to the environmental enrichment that is done in modern zoos. It not only serves to solve the problem at hand, but also to maintain the psychological and emotional he alth of the animals (and often improve physical he alth through exercise).
Why do dogs destroy things
Dogs and humans evolve together, achieving a very good coexistence between both species. However, the pets we have today (dogs or other animals) do not enjoy real freedom. They have many benefits but they are captive animals. Pet dogs do not have the freedom to go where they want when they want. In addition, they must remain alone at home for many hours, without having anything to do or having any way to control their environment. That is why behaviors come to the surface that are natural to them and have nothing wrong with them, but that we consider behavioral problems because they have negative effects on our belongings.
It is not surprising, therefore, that dogs destroy things when they are left alone and without an activity to carry out in an environment that, although familiar to them, is artificial. You can't know all the reasons why dogs destroy things, but the five most common causes are as follows:
Personality
Some dogs are just more destructive than others. While genetics can't be completely blamed, heredity certainly has an impact on the frequency and intensity of destructive behaviors in dogs.
For example, terriers are often dogs that enjoy digging in the garden, looking for burrowing animals. In contrast, Pekingese or Bulldogs have less of a tendency to dig and tend to enjoy chewing something to pieces more.
Boredom
Dogs often destroy things when their owners are away. Since they have nothing else to do and need to get rid of boredom, many dogs find some activity to keep them entertained. Since they can't play on the console or watch TV, they chew on the furniture, dig in the garden or bark (the latter has nothing to do with destruction but can be very annoying for the neighbors).
It stands to reason that any animal left alone for many hours each day would get bored and look for a way to beat the boredom. Although it occurs especially in dogs of breeds developed for hunting or work (protection dogs), the truth is that it is a state of mind that occurs frequently in all breeds of dogs.
Anxiety
Dogs are social animals that need contact with other beings, even those that do not form a pack. Chewing and digging are activities that help them reduce the anxiety they feel when they are left alone.
This anxiety is normal and should not be confused with separation anxiety that occurs in some dogs. Separation anxiety is a serious problem that, although it has some symptoms similar to those of the normal destroying dog, leads to extreme behaviors because dogs panic when they stay alone.
Frustration
When a dog is locked up alone in the house, he has no control over the environment of the house. He can't get anything he wants, he can't go investigate the strange noises he hears outside, he can't open the doors to go play, etc. This inability to manipulate the environment creates a lot of frustration in any animal, frustration that can be reduced or eliminated through certain activities that may or may not be fun, but keep the animal active.
Have you ever seen a circus lion or tiger in those little cages they are transported in? Or maybe some big cat in an "old" zoo locked up in those tiny Victorian cages where the animal has nothing to do? These animals often develop stereotypical behaviors, such as pacing back and forth. These behaviors serve the animal to relax and reduce frustration.
In this way, chewing on things and digging are two behaviors that can become stereotypes for dogs left alone for many hours day after day. Chewing and digging have a relaxing effect on dogs that helps them pass the time. It is something like bursting the plastic balls that come in the sheets that cover fragile products. Have you ever popped those little balls? It's addictive, even if it doesn't make any sense. Time flies by and you don't even realize it.
Bad Education
Someone will say: "If the dog destroys things it is because he is rude!". But I don't mean just the fact of destroying things, but why he does it. Many dogs are trained to destroy things, right!
When they are little, people are happy and compliment the cute little puppies for almost anything silly they do, even if those things are inappropriate. For example, the three-month-old puppy carries a shoe bigger than himself (or any other object that looks funny in his mouth) to his bed, and family members laugh at his behavior and pet him, instead of correcting him.
After similar situations occur repeatedly, it is not surprising that the puppy learns to destroy things because his behavior is socially reinforced with the approval of the family group. Although approval does not come in canine language, dogs are very observant and their evolution alongside humans has led them to understand many of the attitudes and body language of our species, so their behaviors can be socially reinforced by ours.
Three years later, the family that encouraged the pup to be destructive will be wondering why their dog is so mean and rude, and they'll be seeking help from a trainer.
Prevent and solve destructive behavior in dogs
The best way to prevent and solve destructive behavior in dogs is to teach them to only chew on their toys and dig only in places appropriate. In this way, depending on the cause that causes your dog to destroy things or dig holes in the garden, you must follow one strategy or another. If, for example, he does it out of boredom or anxiety, one of the most effective solutions is to get a kong adapted to his size and offer it to him before you leave. Do not miss the article in which we tell you how to use the kong properly and put the rabbits into practice.
Likewise, as we have seen in the previous section, all our reactions to our dog's different behaviors have an influence. Therefore, as funny as it may seem to you that your three-month-old Chihuahua is capable of carrying an object that weighs more than him, you should correct this behavior by removing the object in question, saying a resounding "NO", offering one of his toys to change and caressing it so that it interprets that this object can take it. Remember that positive reinforcement is always the best way to train an animal.
On the other hand, if your dog destroys things only when walking because he is a 30 kilo pit bull and you live in a small apartment cluttered with decorations, perhaps the best solution is to move to a larger home or remove decorative objects that may hinder the passage of your dog.
On the other hand, if the reason for your dog's destructive behavior is that he spends too many hours a day alone at home and, therefore, the kong cannot entertain him for this entire period of time, you should try to adapt your schedules to dedicate a little more time to your furry companion. Keep in mind that dogs are animals that need time and dedication, it is not enough to feed them, bathe them once a month, take them to the vet when they have their vaccinations and take them out for a 10-minute walk to relieve themselves. You should dedicate time to play with him, go on longer walks so that he can release all the accumulated energy and, why not, relax with him so that he notices that you are there.
For more information on how to correct your dog's destructive behavior, don't miss the articles in which we advise you to prevent your dog chews furniture and how to prevent it from eating everything it finds.
