Assuming that all pet owners at some point have experienced or are still experiencing destructive pet behavior, Bored Panda reached out to animal behavior specialists to help you understand your animal's behavior and move towards a life where your pets are happy and your house and possessions are undamaged.
Before you take any measures to train your pet to get rid of unwanted behavior, it's important to understand why they act like that.
Certified animal behaviorist Yody Blass, the owner and director of Companion Animal Behavior in Northern Virginia, who is a pioneer in the field since 1990, told Bored Panda that there are three main reasons why pets are destructive: "Young pets who are either teething or are in need of training regarding appropriate chew items; pets who are bored; pets with anxiety issues, including separation anxiety, panic disorder, and OCD."
#2 My Dog Chewed A Hole Through His Towel And Stuck His Head Through It. Now He Wears It Around The House Like A Poncho
#3 She Looked Guilty For A Split Second, Then Continued With Her Rampage
We also talked to Wendy Kruger, dog behavior and training specialist and Samantha Prior, cat advisor at Wood Green, The Animals Charity in Godmanchester, that had its humble beginnings in 1924. It now has become one of the largest pet rehoming centers in Europe for the care of dogs, cats, and small pets, as well as offering dedicated support services to pet owners. They explained the roots of pets' behavior in more detail, highlighting that being "destructive" is completely natural.
"There are many different reasons why animals are destructive, rooted in their basic needs and their emotional state.
Often, it’s a totally natural behavior and is only considered ‘destructive’ because of what’s being ruined—for example, a puppy chewing a chair leg is just teething and doesn’t understand what they should or shouldn’t use their teeth on! Similarly, a cat scratching the sofa may simply be maintaining their claws or leaving an important territorial marker to give them reassurance, a scent that our noses cannot detect."
"It’s also very common for pets to be destructive when they’re bored. An under-exercised young dog can find immense entertainment shredding a sofa cushion, and a kitten who isn’t given appropriate toys for practicing its hunting skills may explore and damage the curtains. Cats who are kept as indoor-only pets will often show these behaviors more due to frustration.
The most challenging cause of destructiveness is when dogs are distressed due to being left at home alone. Luckily, separation anxiety isn’t as common as pet owners think. Emotions that drive dogs to chew things when left alone range from boredom, frustration, and a lack of guidance from the owner about what’s appropriate to chew and what’s not, to separation anxiety and even external triggers that stimulate the behavior like passers-by or the postman."
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Because of the lack of understanding about animal behavior, people often jump to conclusions about what might be causing that unwanted behavior. There are a few common stereotypes people have and you are probably familiar with them. Have you ever had a thought that your pet might hate you sometimes and is doing those 'crimes' on purpose? Yody Blass reveals that it's not true.
"Many people jump to conclusions that their pets are just being 'bad' or misbehaving because they are 'mad' at us. An example of this is the dog that has destroyed the couch when left alone. When the family gets home, they assume the pet is mad at them for leaving him alone, without realizing that the pet was anxious and possibly panicked at being alone and did not necessarily enjoy destroying the couch," Blass says.
#9 Lolly The Destroyer
Sometimes it seems that pets have unique behavioral patterns when it comes to items they prefer to destroy, but Yody Blass assures us that pets are not particularly picky and will destroy anything that's available."For the most part, pets will go after what is available to them. That is why it is so important to kitten or puppy-proof the home before bringing home a young animal, or pet-proof when bringing home any new pet. Put away breakables, cover valuable furniture, and provide a dog crate, close off rooms, or use a baby gate to prevent access to areas until you know the pet is able to handle being in the area without issues."
#13 He Looks So Innocent You'd Think The Vase Broke On Its Own
Once you've caught your cat, dog, or other pet red-handed ruining your stuff, it's important to keep your cool, interrupt the behavior, and offer a fun alternative.
"I caution people often not to get angry or punish the pet after the fact. Pets need to be taught in the moment as much as possible for training to be effective, not hours later when they can't understand the connections between what happened and why you are now upset. The key is to interrupt the behavior whenever possible, and then immediately redirect the pet onto an appropriate item," says Yody Blass, who has successfully treated thousands of pet behavior problems over the past 26 years.
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The next step in correcting the unwanted behavior is actually devoting your time and effort to educate yourself and train your pet from a young age.
"It is very important to train your pet and manage the environment they are in from the very beginning whenever possible. Avoid giving a puppy or kitten too much freedom until they can handle it. Some pets are more destructive and more persistent than others. These pets may need a trainer or behavior expert early on to get ahead of the problem. Also, any pet with separation anxiety or other fear/anxiety issues should get the help of a pet behaviorist," Yody Blass advises.
There is plenty of information online about pet behavior and useful tips on how to fix it, but most importantly, you have to analyze your own pet to figure out what's best for it.
"All owners should research their pet’s basic needs, taking into consideration the age of the pet, and make some changes to ensure these needs are being more than met," Wendy Kruger and Samantha Prior at Wood Green point out.
"If you believe you are meeting your pet’s needs and the destructive behavior is still happening, it’s time to reach out and ask for help."
These days, there is no shame in asking for help and using all the tools provided to improve your own and your animal's well-being. For example, Wood Green, The Animals Charity can provide free advice to anyone who needs it.