Understanding how to deal with your destructive dog.
Playful biting and chewing are cute when your pet is a puppy, but what happens when they grow up to be destructive dogs? These behaviors can damage property and affect your ability to trust your dog at home. Also, know that this behavior comes from a place of unbridled energy levels or anxiety. So, parts of solving this behavior are understanding the why and taking the appropriate steps to deal with your destructive dog.
Teething Pets
Your young puppy might be teething if they are constantly chewing excessively. In addition, search for excessive drool or blood remaining on other items or toys. Young pets find some relief from teething pain from chewing. Although you can’t force those little teeth to come in faster, you can provide multiple options for puppy teething toys. Fortunately, this behavior should stop once your pet’s teeth come in. Otherwise, it’s time to explore other reasons for their destructive behavior.
Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Your dog may be attached to you that they don’t know how to be unattached when you leave. It’s nobody’s fault – sometimes we have to go to work and play! Moreover, look out for these signs of separation anxiety in other behaviors to deal with your destructive dog:
- Always following owners from one room to another
- Extreme reactions when the owner arrives
- Frantic behavior before the owner leaves
Fear Can Create a Destructive Dog
Dogs might be triggered to respond frantically out of fear. Extreme noises, such as fireworks and thunderstorms, can upset some dogs easily. And they may not know how else to react besides being destructive. Next time, observe the timing between the loud events and your pet’s destructive behavior.
Your Dog Might Be Bored and is Seeking Attention
Furthermore, dogs are naturally energetic, and owners should be responsible for finding ways to help their pets manage their energy. If they don’t have attention and an energy outlet, you will eventually see your dog finding one in your shoes or new couch. So, you can deal with your destructive dog by walking them or taking them to a park before or after your work. This playtime together can ease that tension that causes the destruction.
We Would Love the Opportunity to Care for Your Furry Friends!
Alexander Animal Hospital is a full-service animal hospital located in Severna Park, Maryland, serving the Severna Park, Pasadena, and Arnold Areas. Our goal is educating clients on the needs of their pets and understanding the importance of individualized veterinary care in order to strengthen the human-animal bond between owners and their pets.
We understand you have a choice when deciding on the care for your pets, and we strive to provide you with unparalleled services including wellness exams, vaccines, lost pet microchip ID, dental care, surgical services, digital radiography, and in-hospital laboratory services and diagnostics. Other highlights of Alexander Animal Hospital are the separate cat and dog waiting and exam rooms, as well as after-hours on-call emergency services.
Please take a look around our website and then give us a call at 410-777-8678 to set up an appointment.
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