Mary Allen
“My dog nibbles on everything!” or “Help! My dog is ruining everything” can be read again and again by desperate dog owners in forums. The causes of “destructive rage” in dogs are just as diverse as the ways to break the habit of this behavior.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s furniture, blankets, carpets, or wallpaper: a dog will nibble on everything when it’s boring or when it feels abandoned. But it can also be that the “destructive rage” is just a phase, for example in the middle of the change of teeth or during puberty.
Dog Nibbles on Everything: Explore the Causes
Does your dog ruin everything? Then you should not only tinker with the symptoms but start looking for the causes. You may get help from a veterinarian, animal psychologist, and/or experienced dog trainer if you don’t know what to do.
Because only if you know why your four-legged friend repeatedly succumbs to “destruction rage” can you wean him off this undesirable behavior in the long term. And without accidentally scaring or unsettling your dog. After all, your four-legged friend doesn’t chew on your things to annoy you.
Make It Easier for Puppies to Change Teeth
A common cause of “destructive rage” in young dogs is the change of teeth. Depending on the breed of dog, this takes place between the third and seventh month of life – earlier for larger dogs and later for smaller dogs. The milk teeth then fall out and the adult dog teeth grow back.
This leads to itchy gums, and your puppy will nibble on anything that gets in his way to relieve the itch. The gums are massaged while chewing and that is good for your four-legged friend. During this time, try to offer your little bully chew toys and bones to let off steam.
“Destruction Rage” in Puberty: What To Do?
It’s not just human adolescents who hit puberty, but growing dogs as well. Meanwhile, all hell breaks loose in the brain. The brain structures are rearranged, new nerve cells are formed and, to make matters worse, your four-legged friend becomes mature during puberty and is therefore flooded with hormones. Even dogs quickly have the proverbial nonsense in their heads.
Your teenage dog will try out his powers and see how far he can push the boundaries and rules he learned as a puppy. A pubescent dog ruins everything because he doesn’t really know what to do with himself and his energy.
Only patience and loving consistency will help in this phase. When your dog is an adult, he will usually calm down. Nevertheless, during puberty, he can get used to undesirable behavior and develop quirks.
Stick to the rules you set when it was a puppy and be strict and consistent, but fair to your pet. However, if you notice that you are reaching your limits, get help, for example from a good dog trainer or an animal psychologist.
Dog Destroys Everything: Offer Alternatives
Does your dog nibble on everything as soon as he is alone and is he also overly clingy in other ways? It could possibly be an anxiety disorder that your four-legged friend cannot be alone with. This fear of abandonment can only be overcome with the professional help of an animal psychologist.
Otherwise, in most cases, boredom is behind it when your fur nose nibbles on everything. If your pet lacks daily activities and activities, they will start chewing on objects to pass the time.
Then take your dog to the dog school and register it for a suitable dog sport. In addition, a four-legged friend must not only be challenged physically but also mentally. In this case, games that promote his intelligence or new tricks are a great idea to distract him from his “destructiveness” and direct his energy into constructive channels.
Are There Home Remedies for “Destruction Rage” in Dogs?
Many owners hope to get help from home remedies when their beloved dog indulges in “destruction rage” again. In fact, there are numerous tips on various pet forums, but their effectiveness can be rated as low at best.
Especially when boredom or high spirits are involved in your dog’s “destructiveness”, special sprays are often recommended, which are sprayed on furniture, shoes, and the like. These sprays are non-toxic and are said to spoil dogs’ appetite for your wardrobe and furnishings thanks to their bitter substances. The effectiveness of such “nibble protection sprays” is also controversial. In some dogs they help against the “destructiveness”, others are not at all irritated by it.