Many dogs tend to bite, break and destroy all kinds of things when we leave home. This type of behavior is normal in puppy dogs, however, in adult dogs it may be due to a disorder related to separation or a lack of stimulation and enrichment, which leads to stress. If you're considering leaving your dog home alone with a muzzle, we have to recommend that you don't do it
You should know that leaving your dog alone at home with a muzzle is not good and in this article on our site we will explain why and what you can do to remedy the situation you are experiencing.
We must not confuse a tool with a treatment
Just as we would not treat a psychological problem with an ointment, we cannot treat a behavioral problem with a muzzle It is logical (and easy) to come to the conclusion that this tool can prevent the destructiveness of your dog, however, what consequences can misuse of the muzzle entail?
- He can hurt himself when he tries to take it off, besides, you won't be there to help him and help him if necessary.
- The muzzle is not 100% effective and our dog can take it off in some cases.
- Your dog will have a negative association with the muzzle and it will become increasingly difficult to put it on.
- If we don't do therapy, not only will the behavior problem not be resolved, but it will also get significantly worse over time.
- Depending on the muzzle model you choose, it can make your dog gasp for breath or even not be able to eat or drink water.
- If the dog associates the muzzle with a punishment tool, in the long run it can act aggressively, especially if we handle it roughly. Study Herron, M. E, Shofer, F. S., Reisner, I. R., 2009. Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing unwanted behaviors. Applied Animal Behavior Science 117 47–54.
- Your stress levels will increase, which weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to disease (fungus or obesity, for example), depression, behavioral problems, and impairing learning.
After reading these points you will understand that the muzzle is not the solution to the problem, it simply aggravates it or keeps it dormant, so that it is essential to find the cause that is causing you to want to use this tool and treat it appropriately.
What's wrong with our dog?
The first step will be to identify the cause that causes the unwanted behavior in our dog and if we are not able to find it, it will be basic go to a professional, such as an ethologist, dog educator or trainer to start behavior modification sessions or the suggested treatment.
It will also be appropriate to ensure that we comply with the 5 freedoms of animal welfare for our dog, taking an appropriate walk (without pulling on the leash, stress or inadequate time), rest times, the absence of any disease or loneliness, among many others.
Typical behavior problems at home:
- Puppies that bite objects: it is very normal for dogs at this stage to chew everything they find, since their teeth hurt and they also need to experiment with their environment. It is a passing stage. In this case, it will be essential to get hold of a puppy park where to leave it when we leave and offer it a wide variety of toys so that it learns what it should use. Don't forget to reinforce it with a "Very good!" or a gentle caress.
- Disorders related to separation: always occurs when the dog is alone. It can be expressed in different ways, but the most common is that urinates, barks or bites objects Behavior modification sessions should be worked on so that the dog learns to manage loneliness and that he begins to entertain himself with a variety of food and toys whenever he is alone. It can be useful to use a spy camera to see what their behavior is when we leave.
- Stress: it is generally associated with the lack of walks, punishment or fear, for example, but there can be multiple causes that generate stress in our dog, such as a game session that is too excited or constant noises. It is important in this case to identify what is causing stress in our dog and look for exercises and activities that allow us to provide him with better well-being.
- Hyperactivity: it is related to stress in physiological cases, but dogs can also suffer from pathological hyperactivity, in which case they will need pharmacological treatment.
- Boredom: We may be providing the right care, but our dog needs much more. This is a common problem with highly intelligent breeds such as Border Collies, German Shepherds, or Dobermans.
These are some examples, but there are many behavior problems that can affect a dog, so it is always advisable to go to a professional and follow their guidelines strictly. We will never try to apply a therapy on our own or use various training methods, which in the long run will end up confusing our dog.
What can we do?
Here are some general tips that can help you improve your dog's quality of life at home so that he behaves better and you are happier with him.
1. Learn the language of dogs
Knowing the signs of appeasement is essential if we want to know what is happening to our dog. Also known as "calming signals" this set of bodily signals will allow us to know more about our dog at all times.
two. Meet the basic needs of our dog
Many people think they meet their dog's basic needs even when they don't. Do you take him for a walk a minimum of two to three times a day? Do you have a comfortable place (and away from traffic) to rest your 16 hours a day? Are you alone for a maximum of 6 hours?
3. Stimulate him physically
In addition to walking, the dog needs physical exercise to release stress. Ball, fresbee or agility games can be recommended for puppies or adult dogs, but older dogs that do not have as much energy will simply enjoy their 5-10 minutes without tying up in the pee-can.
4. Stimulate him mentally
Just like his body, his mind also needs to be stimulated on a daily basis. We can perform tricks, canine skills, obedience or we can even opt for stimulating toys like the Kong, or Nina Ottoson's intelligence toys, for example. The market is full of these toys and some of them we can also make ourselves.
5. Provide companionship and love
Dogs are social animals and need a family to take care of them, provide them with security and affection. Our behavior should be an example for our dog, so we advise you to offer everything you want to receive, but without expecting anything in return, this way it will be much more rewarding.
Don't forget that all behavior problems take time, just like in people, so we encourage you to be very patient and well, he will reward you.
