Does your dog display destructive behavior? This is the page for you! Learn why your pet may be destroying things in the house, and what you can do to help remedy this.
- Primary destructive behavior:
- Chewing on small things left out in the house
- Chewing on furniture legs or edges
- Chewing on or eating house plants
- Digging holes in the yard
- Owner may or may not be around when symptoms first start
- Secondary destructive behavior:
- Things are destroyed to get the attention of the owner
- Owner is around to see things being destroyed
- Obsessive-Compulsive related destruction:
- Too much time spent licking or chewing on furniture, rugs, or other things
- Too much time spent licking or chewing on its own legs or feet
- Frequently eating non-food items
- Owner may or may not be around when behavior happens
- Separation anxiety related destruction:
- Chewing on furniture, rugs or other things around the house
- Chewing on owner’s personal items (shoes, etc.)
- Destroying doors or windows and window sills
- Going to the bathroom in the house when it has been house trained
- Owner is not around when destruction occurs
- Symptoms occur almost every time the owner is gone
- Fear (phobia) related destruction:
- Owner is around to see symptoms
- Symptoms may be more severe when owner is not around
- Fear sets off the symptoms (fear of storms, fear of loud noises, etc.)
- Pacing
- Panting
- Shivering
- Hiding
- Destruction of doors, windows, or window frames:
- Aggression related
- Usually the dog is protecting its territory
- Destruction happens when other people or animals approach the pet’s territory
- Doors, windows, window sills and window frames are damaged
- Owner is usually around to see the behavior
Causes
- Primary destructive behavior:
- Not enough supervision
- Not enough, or the wrong kind of chew toys
- Not enough exercise
- Not enough daily activity
- Secondary destructive behavior:
- No causes have been found
- Protecting territory may be both learned and inherited
In order to properly diagnose your dog and figure out what they may be going through physically or emotionally, bring them in to the vet! We offer services Monday-Saturday. It may be a problem with your pet’s thyroid, and it may be anxiety related. Either way, there are so many different ways we can treat behavioral issues.
