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Has this ever happened to you?  You come home to find that your dog has been chewing on your favorite shoes–again!  If you’re dealing with the headache of dog chewing problems, read on to discover the four big reasons for this bad dog behavior.   

A Bored Dog Is A Dog That Will Engage In Destructive Dog Behavior

Dogs tend to play rough.  They chew on things and pick them up in their mouths to shake them, thereby “killing” them.  Tearing their toys to shreds is all part of the game.  This is natural dog behavior.  The problem starts when it’s your things the dog is playing with, not his own.

If a bored dog is left by himself with nothing to do, he’ll usually find somethng to do.  Unfortunately, his idea of fun often involves destroying things, especially if he’s a puppy or adolescent, and he doesn’t have anything else to do to use up all his energy.

What’s the solution?Your dog needs lots of exercise.  Play fetch with him.  Go for long walks, and give your dog plenty of time to sniff at interesting things.Don’t forget that walks are great training opportunities, too.  They’re much more than just bathroom breaks for your dog.

Making sure your dog has plenty of toys is another way to avoid the problem of a bored dog.  Rotate them so he always has something new to interest him.A great way to keep a dog happy and entertained for a long time is to give him a toy stuffed with food.

Separation Anxiety In Dogs

This problem often shows up with dogs who are too attached to their owners.  Your dog has a panic attack whenever you leave him by himself.  A dog with canine anxiety will often chew on things to comfort and soothe himself when he’s alone.  It makes him feel better.

The important thing to remember is that your dog isn’t chewing on your belongings to get back at you for leaving him alone.  He’s doing it because he’s scared; punishing him will add to the problem.

Separation anxiety in dogs is a tough problem to solve, but with lots of time and patience, you can desensitize your dog so he doesn’t react so strongly to your leaving.

Your Dog Wants Your Attention…

And he will do anything to get it, even if the attention is bad.  A dog who doesn’t get much attention unless he misbehaves is a dog who’s being trained to misbehave.

It’s a hard thing to understand, but dogs are reward-based.  The best way to get a dog to stop doing something is to ignore him when he does it.  If he gets your attention, whether it’s good or bad, he’s been rewarded for what he’s been doing.

Give your dog lots of positive attention.  Play with him, take him for walks, just spend time with him.  If your dog is getting lots of good attention from you when he behaves well, he won’t resort to destructive chewing to get your attention.

Fearful Dogs

Canine anxiety is often a problem with a dog who’s scared of loud noises like thunder or fireworks.Because he’s trying to escape from whatever is frightening him, he’ll attack doors, door frames, window coverings, screens, and walls.

When your dog reacts fearfully to things, don’t comfort him.  You’re rewarding his behavior with your attention, which will only serve to reinforce it.  Play with him and reward him when he responds to you, instead of whatever is scaring him.

Provide a place where your dog feels safe during a scary situation.  This way he can retreat there when you’re absent.

To sum up, it’s important that you find and correct the reason for dog chewing problems.  A good dog training course is essential so that you can learn how to end destructive dog behavior without making the situation worse.

If you’re dealing with destructive dog behavior, a good dog training course is essential so you can  find out how to change your dog’s behavior, without making the situation worse.  Just click on any link in this article to learn about a well-recommended dog training course that may be the answer to your prayers.

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Is your canine friend showing signs of separation anxiety in dogs?  This type of destructive dog behavior can make life an absolute nightmare for a dog owner.In fact, it’s the second most common reason for people to give up their dogs or even have them put to sleep. 

You can improve your dog’s life by identifying the signs of the condition, and learning how to deal with it.

Signs Of Separation Anxiety In Dogs

The severity of bad behavior can vary widely in dogs with separation anxiety.  A dog with a mild case may pace around, pant, and over-groom himself. 

A dog with a more severe case may bark frantically for hours, driving the neighbors crazy.  He may display destructive dog behavior, tearing up whatever he can get a hold of.  Your dog may urinate or defecate inappropriately in the house.  He may go so far as to mutilate himself by chewing on his own tail, yanking out fur, and licking himself until he bleeds.

If you dread coming home because you don’t know what kind of mess is awaiting you, it’s time to take action to solve this problem.

Is Separation Anxiety Really The Problem, Or Is It Simply A Bored Dog?

Is your dog is bored, or does he really have a separation anxiety problem?  Here’s how you can tell:

• The destructive dog behavior occurs only when you leave him alone.If he’s amusing himself by destroying things, he’ll do it anytime, not just when he’s by himself.
• Your dog is “hyperattached” to you.Not only does he follow you all over the house, but he wants you to hold him all the time.  This is flattering for the owner, but it’s not healthy for your dog to be this attached to you.
• He’s learned what you do when you leave, and he starts getting distressed before you go.
• He begins destructive behavior within 30 minutes of your leaving home.
• He tries to destroy barriers, like a door.  A dog may go after the door he last saw you go out of.
• Your dog barks in repeated, high-pitched yips.  This is reminiscent of a puppy’s distress call when he or she is separated from mom.

If your pet does some, or all, of these things, his dog behavior problem is because of separation anxiety, not boredom.

How To Help Dogs With Separation Anxiety

You may be surprised to learn that separation anxiety in canines is related to dominance issues.  In a wild dog pack, the leader can leave.  The others, however, never go away from the leader on their own. 

If your dog thinks he’s the alpha dog, or pack leader, he’ll get very upset if you leave him, since you’re not supposed to do that.He feels responsible for his pack members, and if you go away, he thinks something might happen to you.  Many times, once you establish yourself as the pack leader, the separation anxiety goes away.

If you’re dealing with the problem of separation anxiety in dogs, click on any link in this article to learn more about a dog training resource that will help to solve your problem.

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