Puppy Destructive Behavior: Pet Action Series 6

Puppy Destructive Behavior: Pet Action Series 6- Although no matter how “cute” as a puppy, damaging behaviors will increase in severity and become dangerous as your loved one grows.

Puppy Destructive Behavior Vs. Play Biting

• Play biting / mouthing on human skin should not aided.
  • Use the correct size pup toys instead of feet or hands to play with your best friend.
• Bites that cause injury or pain should never be tolerable behavior even when at play.
• If your pup starts to teeth a person, use a play toy instead. Be sure to reward your puppy for chewing the chew toy.
• Give your puppy plenty of exercise and consider a mid-day dog walker.
• If your loved one starts to play bite, avoid / ignore your puppy and leave the area.
• Do not abuse your dog. Grab the muzzle and do other activities such as an hour long dog running service.

Puppy Destructive Behavior- Digging

Reasons for digging:

• Boredom, play, exploration
  • Distract your beloved animal with social play, exercise, and toys. Consider providing your canine a specific space for him or her to dig. Perhaps loosen the dirt and bury the puppies favorite toys to promote digging only in that spot.
• Dog breeds that hunt
  • Set traps outside your gate and free those animals further away from your home. Avoid having prey burrow where your dog loves to play.

• Escape
  • Consider animal escape be a normal exploration / play behavior vs. behavior disorder. Be sure to micro-chip your pet. Keep all gates secured shut. For un-trained puppies, avoid doggie doors at all costs.
• Puppy body temperature. (Digs a hole to rest and keep cool)
  • Provide shady resting areas with water for your pet to rest.
• Separation anxiety vs. anxiety related disorder
  • Consider pet safe sedative to take pets edge off. You might want to plan this 1-2 months in advance for the medicine to kick and work.

Chewing: Puppy Destructive Behavior-

Chewing is a normal puppy behavior out of boredom and entertainment. However, destructive chewing can also be concerning of a behavioral issue. Any severe chewing problems should be discussed with your Veterinarian. You must train your puppy what is appropriate to chew vs. chew toys. The following are the best tips to control destructive chewing in your pup:

• Puppy proof your home, removing and storing household cleaning items your best friend is likely to target.
  • If you can not remove the chew target (e.g., furniture) you can try to use repellant spray safe to use on objects.
• Play with your pet and consider dog running exercises.
• Provide chew toys acceptable for your dogs age, size, and need.
• Supervise your dogs play time whenever possible. Keep them in a confined or safe place such as a crate.
• If you surprise your puppy chewing on an unacceptable object, try to replace it with a chew toy.
• Do not abuse or punish your puppy for chewing. This can lead to fear / aggression and you will not have a best friend.