Dogs are energetic and playful companions that can sometimes be a bit mischievous. While chewing on toys is perfectly normal, behaviors can turn destructive when dogs begin tearing up your belongings. If your pet spends their days at home alone instead of a dog day care, you might come back to ruined clothing, furniture, and flooring. The following guide will help you understand why your dog is displaying destructive behavior and how to put a stop to it.

What Counts as Destructive Behavior?

In many cases, destructive behavior occurs when dogs chew on items they shouldn’t, destroy doors or windows, and go to the bathroom indoors when they’re house trained. Even normally well-behaved dogs may act out. These behaviors can be frustrating and expensive, but they can also be dangerous for your dog’s health if they’re eating inedible substances.

Why Is My Dog Being This Way?

There are many reasons why your pet may be acting out. Separation anxiety is one of the most common causes, where dogs will only present destructive behaviors while their owners are gone. Other dogs destroy objects out of boredom, which may or may not happen while the owners are around. Dogs without enough enrichment might also be anxious or depressed. If your dog has recently been placed on a vet-recommended diet and is now chewing on your shoes and eating things they shouldn’t, they’re probably hungry. Some destructive tendencies come with health problems. If your pet has never acted out this way before and displays other changes in behavior, such as loss of appetite or chewing at their own fur, take your dog to a veterinarian for an evaluation.

How Can I Prevent These Issues?

The first step to eliminating destructive behaviors is finding solutions that tackle the root cause of the issue. If your dog is bored or has separation anxiety, for instance, they need company and stimulation. Try stopping by the house during breaks or working from home if possible or enroll them in a dog day care to provide them with consistent attention and socialization. For destructive dogs on diets, leave puzzle toys with low calorie treats to distract them and give them some satiation. If a health issue is the cause of their behavior, they should return to normal once the problem has been treated by a vet.

Is your dog bored or lonely while you’re away from home? Leave them with the dedicated dog lovers at Dogtopia of Highland Village in Denton County, TX. This dog day care offers a variety of pet services to suit your needs, including half-day and full-day options, dog boarding, and grooming and spa services. Your pup will have hours of supervised fun with staff members and other dogs in a secure, climate-controlled play area. Visit their website for more detailed information about their dog day care program. To find the package that works best for your family, call (972) 264-1178.