Destructive behaviors in dogs are not normal, but occur when the puppy or adult dog becomes bored or does not get adequate exercise. These animals tend to develop typical reactions to nervousness and frustration, such as digging and biting. In addition to ensuring that they recover from adequate exercise and playtime, it is also important to train them to obey, in order to instill discipline, exercise and affection in them.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Understanding Destructive Behavior
Step 1. Know what destructive behavior of your faithful friend can be
Dogs love to chew a little bit of everything; when they are puppies, their destructive play is a way of exploring and learning, rather than a conscious will to break things. Conversely, an adult specimen that exhibits negative behavior, such as chewing, digging holes in the garden, or gnawing on shrubs, is actually asking for attention.
Step 2. Assess whether your furry friend is engaging in behavior that indicates attention is required
Does he keep barking, gnawing on furniture or urinating on the floor to get noticed? Generally, we tend to react to this behavior by directing attention only to the negative action of the dog, thus obtaining the sole effect of reinforcing it. If this is also your case, you need to change the expectations of your four-legged friend; you have to give him more attention in general, but only when he behaves well.
Step 3. Identify separation anxiety
One of the best things that having a dog involves is the emotional bond; Sometimes, this feeling is so strong that your little friend is no longer able to be independent. About 10% of all puppies and adults experience some level of separation anxiety; in the most extreme cases, the dog starts throwing tantrums and barking, fidgeting, shuffling in inappropriate places and ruining walls and doors in an attempt to get his master back home.
Step 4. Check if you are afraid of loud noises
He may fearfully respond to loud noises such as thunder or fireworks, destroying doors, walls, or other objects in an attempt to hide. Try to understand his logic: he is just trying to appear threatening towards an unknown element that generates so much noise.
Step 5. Determine if he is simply bored
Do you keep him locked up all day in a neutral, empty room? Are you forced to simply sit in a confined space with no opportunity for exercise or stimulation? In these cases, he may react with destructive behavior simply to entertain himself; instead give him toys to distract himself with while you are away, provide him with a blanket he can lie down on, reposition various objects in different places, so that there is always something to explore. Basically, give him something to do to keep him from getting bored; on the other hand, you don't even want to be in his place.
Step 6. Recognize hyperactive behavior
Is your dog always full of energy and constantly on the go? Is he always busy gnawing at objects, running in circles, barking and causing damage? Hyperactivity is a simple matter of perception; most experts believe it is quite rare in dogs; it is more likely to be a reaction to a need for attention and physical activity. Only the vet can diagnose if the animal suffers from this ailment and only after ruling out other possibilities.
Method 2 of 5: Let him vent the excess energy
Step 1. Take him for a walk regularly
While it may apparently not seem like a response to his destructive behavior, it is important to first address the basics and make sure that basic needs for mental stimulation and physical activity are met. If you have neglected a regular dog walking routine for a while, you need to restore it; if you haven't developed it yet, start now. If you don't have the time to walk him on time, find someone who can do it for you; make sure that the animal always goes out for the walk and along the way insert different types of exercises. Here are some tips:
- Buy a leash that is no longer than a meter or two. The more he is forced to walk close to you during the walk, the clearer the message is that you are the "pack leader", that you have the authority and control. Never let him walk behind or in front of you, but always at your side; in this way, he understands that you are in charge and he has to submit.
- Take him for walks in inspiring places. Choose areas with hills and hills; have him take breaks every now and then and bring water with you so he can drink if he feels the need. The dog may get used to the same path, but instead find a way to change it to test it and prevent it from getting bored.
- Take him to a beach where dogs are accepted. The sand forces his muscles to do intense exercise and the sea water is a wonderful opportunity for him to swim and retrieve any type of object you throw at him. If you don't want to catch a ball, use the objects you find on the beach to make him play fetch.
- Change parks when you take him for a walk. Find several where dogs are allowed and change routes every week, so you can go to different parks or gardens; in doing so, you both have new stimuli and can see and explore different places each time.
Step 2. Play more with your furry friend
In addition to walking, play is also an important aspect that fosters interaction between you.
- Play ball in the courtyard for 15 minutes a day. Better if in the morning, when you are more alert and the dog is generally more active; if you let it out immediately, you will notice that during the day it will be calmer.
- Set up meetings with other dogs. Find a few friends who have a dog like you and make appointments in public areas where the animals can play with each other. Of course, you first need to figure out if your faithful friend is capable of being with others of his kind.
- Buy a Frisbee and let the animal become familiar with the item; once he learns how to use it, let him play with you.
Step 3. Give him a space where he can dig a little
If you can't get rid of this habit, at least direct it to a place where it can do so without destroying the garden. Find a space, dig it up, and hide some items your dog will enjoy finding. Initially, bury elements just below the surface and then gradually deeper and deeper; in doing so, you help him maintain interest in this new space, as well as temporarily preventing him from digging elsewhere.
- If the dog digs out of boredom, it increases the moments of play and physical activity; don't leave it alone in the garden all day.
- If he digs because he wants to find a cool, pleasant and soft place to sleep, he finds a shaded space, placing some comfortable and cool element on which he can lie down.
Method 3 of 5: Enrich Your Environment
Step 1. Give him the right toys when you are away
Your dog is more likely to indulge in destructive behavior when you are at work or running errands outside the home. On these occasions, the animal feels alone, isolated and unloved; remember to give him some confirmations before leaving the house, giving him lots of attention, playing a little ball or taking him for a walk. Usually, dogs don't spend time with toys if the owner isn't there with them. Give your friend a Kong pillowcase or have him chew on an object that contains food to get his attention. you can also leave him a cardboard box with a chew toy inside, so he has to gnaw through the wrapper to get to the object of interest to him.
Step 2. Get a "food puzzle" to stimulate him mentally as well as physically
This toy is a great way to satisfy both needs. You can find an infinite number of solutions on the market that entertain the dog mentally, hiding delicious treats inside, but you can also build some objects at home. Put some treats in an empty muffin pan and place tennis balls on top. The dog must understand how to remove the balls in order to access the food; this is a good game to start with, but you can continue with something more complex, like sliding puzzles.
You can also come up with activities that stimulate him mentally, for example by hiding toys or treats in different areas of the house or in cardboard boxes
Step 3. Provide them with the right environment
Pay attention if he seems more nervous when there is a lot of stimuli, such as the TV on or other noises coming from another room. If you think these factors are responsible for its negative behavior, turn down the volume on the TV and close the doors of the rooms where the annoying noise is coming from. However, if he seems to like sound and feels comfortable, consider leaving the radio or television on while you are at work. this may possibly help him manage separation anxiety.
Step 4. Train it
By teaching him commands like "Sit", "Come here", "Go to bed", "Wait" and so on, you not only get used to good manners, but psychologically stimulate him. You can sign him up for obedience classes to help him learn basic commands and train him in short sessions every day. If your loyal friend already knows the basics, move on to more challenging things, like turning around or playing dead.
Step 5. Switch between toys
Don't always leave them the same. Dogs get tired and bored very quickly; be sure to hide them all in a closet and only give them two or three at a time; when you replace them, the dog is entertained more and when he finds an old item that has been hidden until now he considers it a reward. Plus, you also have the advantage of not spending a lot of money on new toys.
Step 6. Give him some chew sticks
That way, you avoid gnawing on other things. If you provide them with rawhide items and other organic material, know that they are not meant to last long, as they tend to crumble. The size of the toy depends on the size of the dog and its temperament; some can be sharp and cause severe damage to the mouth, throat and digestive tract.
- Never allow him to play with rawhide objects without a person's supervision, as it may choke.
- Do not constantly leave a chewable object available to him; take it away when it is not necessary, so that the dog does not get bored.
Method 4 of 5: Offer Him a Quiet Place
Step 1. Don't keep the dog in overcrowded places
If he feels oppressed because he is confined to a confined space or because he is forced to share his territory with other dogs without having enough for himself, he can develop abnormal behavior. In particular, males tend to fight when they feel oppressed by the excessive presence of other creatures.
Step 2. Create a suitable fence
If not built properly, the dog can run outside and start engaging in destructive behaviors, such as chasing cars, fighting other dogs, and even attacking people. In many locations, there is local or state legislation that requires owners to properly restrict and restrain the dog; moreover, the owner is legally responsible for any harmful behavior.
Step 3. Purchase a pet carrier and use it correctly
Get a cage where you can keep your dog when you are not at home and where he can sleep. To get him used to this "safe space", keep your pet inside during the day when you do your chores and at night to sleep. Your goal is to make him understand that the cage is a safe den in which he can calm down; remember that you must never use it as a tool of punishment.
This is a great way to train puppies and young dogs. You can teach them to spend time in their own small confined space so they can't do harm elsewhere. Over time they learn to appreciate this place, as long as you don't keep them inside for too long
Method 5 of 5: Train Your Dog Correctly
Step 1. Encourage him to chew only certain items
Your furry friend may appreciate toys like balls and Kongs, but make sure you choose the right size ones. He must be able to grasp and carry them, but at the same time they must be large enough so that he does not ingest them; praise him whenever he chooses a chew toy rather than another object not intended for this purpose.
Do not give him objects that look like others that he must not chew; for example, you don't have to leave him an old pair of shoes to chew on, because he can't tell the difference between those and new shoes
Step 2. Discourage him when he chews the wrong things
If you see that he is gnawing on an inappropriate object, correct him immediately by giving him something else; direct his attention to a suitable item and praise him when he grasps it. Gradually, the dog learns to distinguish what he can and what he cannot chew.
Step 3. To discourage him from chewing, spray prohibited items with a deterrent
When using it for the first time, apply a small amount to a piece of fabric or cotton wool and carefully place it directly into the dog's mouth. If the animal finds the taste unpleasant, it shakes its head, drools or vomits and will never want to grab the piece of fabric or cotton again. Ideally, he should learn to connect the unpleasant taste and smell of the deterrent; as a result, he should stop chewing on objects that give off the same odor.
- Spray the deterrent on any items you don't want him to gnaw on and reapply every day for 2-4 weeks; you can find this type of product available in different "flavors" at pet stores.
- Keep in mind, however, that to be able to prevent the dog from gnawing on the wrong objects it takes more than the simple use of the deterrent; the animal must learn that there are things that it can chew and others that are forbidden. If you want to know more about the use of deterrents, do some research online.
Advice
- If the dog continues to chew, you must not allow him to take any old personal items, such as socks, T-shirts or children's toys, otherwise you will confuse him and he is no longer able to understand what he is allowed to gnaw and what he is not. Get a dog-specific rope at the pet store and give it to him when you see him chewing.
- It is normal for dogs of different breeds to have different energy levels. For example, the Golden Retriever and the German Shepherd are more lively than the Poodle. Know how much vitality you should expect from your furry friend and don't be angry if the one you have chosen is particularly active: in most cases this is completely normal behavior.
- Always carry plastic bags with you when you go for a walk, in order to properly eliminate the excrement.
Warnings
- If your dog has bitten or injured someone, be sure to have them undergo some behavioral and character testing at the local authorities right away and seek advice from the relevant bodies, veterinarian or animal centers.
- Be careful when deciding to adopt a dog from a kennel or animal shelter; make sure he hasn't had any violent experiences and that he has received all necessary vaccines.
