Although chewing things and digging in the garden are inappropriate behaviors for humans, they are also very natural behaviors for dogs and, therefore, it is not convenient to try to eradicate them.The best thing you can do to prevent and solve destruction problems it is to redirect destructive behaviors towards resistant objects or suitable places.That is to say, more than canine 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 dogs whenever they start one of the destructive behaviors.The problem with that approach is that It usually causes more problems than providing solutions.Most dogs develop other inappropriate behaviors in response to these "treatments" and can even increase intensity and frequency of destructive behaviors.Therefore, in this article you will find solutions through the redirection of destructive behaviors, and not through punishment .That is, instead of teaching your dog not to chew and not dig, you will teach him to chew only his toys and dig only in a specific place built specifically for that.
The strategy of redirecting inappropriate behaviors is equivalent to environmental enrichment that is done in modern zoos.It not only serves to solve the problem in question, but also to maintain the psychological and emotional health of animals (and often improve physical health through exercise).
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 p But they are captive animals.Pet dogs do not have the freedom to move where they want when they want to.In addition, they must remain home alone for many hours, without having anything to do or have any way to control their environment.That brings out behaviors that are natural for them and have nothing wrong, but that we consider behavioral problems because they have negative effects on our belongings.
It is not surprising, therefore, that dogs they destroy things when they are left alone and without an activity to perform in an environment that, although familiar to them, is artificial.You cannot know all the reasons why dogs destroy things, but the five most common causes are the ones you see next:
Personality
Some dogs are simply more destructive than others.Although you can't completely blame genetics, inheritance has undoubtedly an im agreement on the frequency and intensity of destructive behaviors of dogs.
For example, terriers are usually dogs that enjoy digging in the garden, looking for burrowing animals, instead, the Pekinese or the Bulldog have less tendency to dig and usually enjoy chewing something until they break it up.
Boredom
Dogs often destroy things when their owners are not there.they have nothing else to do and they need to take off boredom, many dogs get some activity that keeps them entertained.How can they not play with the console or watch TV, chew the furniture, dig in the garden or bark (lastly it doesn't have do with the destruction but it can be very annoying for the neighbors).
It is logical that any animal that stays alone for many hours every day gets bored and looks for a way to overcome boredom, although it happens especially in Breed dogs developed for hunting or work (protection dogs), the truth is that it is a state of mind that happens frequently in all breeds of dogs.
Anxiety
Dogs are social animals that need contact with other beings, even those that do not form a jauria.Masticar and dig are activities that help them reduce the anxiety they feel when they are left alone.
This anxiety is normal and you should not confuse it with the 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 destroyer dog, produces extreme behaviors because dogs panic when they are left alone.
Frustration
When a dog is locked in the house alone, he has no control over his environment.He can't get anything he wants, he can't go investigate the strange noises he hears outside , can not open the doors to go to play, etc.This inability to manipulate the environment creates a lot of frustration in any animal, frustration that can be reduced or eliminated by certain activities that may be fun or not, but keep the animal active.
Have you ever seen a lion or a circus tiger in those small cages in which they are transported? Or maybe some big cat in an "old" zoo locked in those Victorian cages so small in that the animal has nothing what to do? These animals usually develop stereotypical behaviors, such as walking from one place to another time and again.These behaviors help the animal to relax and reduce frustration.
In this way, chewing things and digging are two behaviors that they can become stereotypes for dogs that are left alone for many hours day after day.Chewing and digging for dogs has a relaxing effect that helps them hang out.It's kind of like blowing up the plastic balls that come in the sheets that cover fragile products.Have you ever busted those 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 would say: "If the dog destroys things, it's because it's impolite! "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 will It cheers and congratulates the cute puppies for almost any nonsense they do, even if those things are inappropriate.For example, the three-month-old puppy carries a shoe bigger than hers (or any other object that looks funny in his mouth) and family members laugh at their behavior and caress it, instead of correcting it.
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 the approval does not come in Cani language no, dogs are very observant and their evolution with humans has led them to understand many of the attitudes and body language of our species, so that their behaviors can be socially reinforced by ours.
Three years later, the family that encouraged the puppy to be destructive will be asking why his dog is so mean and impolite, and will begin to seek the help of a trainer.
The best way to prevent and solve the destructive behavior of dogs is to teach them to chew only their toys and dig only in appropriate places.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 it does it because of boredom or anxiety, one of the most effective solutions is to get an adapted kong to your size and offer it 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 the different behaviors of our dog influence.Therefore, as funny as it seems to you that your three-month-old Chihuahua is capable of transporting an object that weighs more than it, you must correct this behavior by removing the object in question, saying a blunt "NO", offering one of his toys in return and caressing him to interpret that object if he can take it.Remember that positive reinforcement is always the best way to educate an animal.
Instead If your dog destroys things only when walking because it is a pit bull of almost 30 kilos and you live in a small apartment crammed with ornaments, maybe 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 it spends too many hours a day Only at home and, therefore, the kong does not manage to entertain him during this entire period of time, you should try to adapt your schedules to devote 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 veterinarian when they get their vaccinations and take them for a walk for 10 minutes to make their needs.You must devote time to play with him, take walks longer so that you can release all the accumulated energy and, why not, relax with it so that you notice that you are there.
For more information on how to correct the destructive behavior of your can, do not miss the articles in which We advise you to prevent your dog from biting the furniture and how to avoid eating everything he finds.
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