Dogs destroying your house! Why???

I received a phone call the other day from a clients dog.  Yes, the dog.  I was in the middle of a session and let my voicemail pick it up as to not interrupt my clients time.  After 4 minutes the voicemail alert rang.  My first thought was that someone really needed to “talk” about their dog.  When I finished my session I immediately listened to the message.  I heard lots of growling, snorting, and chewing followed by an owner in the background yelling at their dog, who continued to leave me a very graphic message.  The client who owned this prank caller had contacted me about the destruction the dog is causing on a daily basis.  “If it is not tied down, he will steal it and chew it up”, is what I was told on the consult.  I hear this everyday, owners who are distraught by their dogs destructiveness. 

The reason for most destructive behavior is boredom and frustration! While anxious dogs will also destroy things, the simple fact of the matter is, a tired dog is a good dog! 

This is the result of a dog who works!

 

 

 

 

 

 Proper exercise and a crate solve 90 % of destructive behaviors for owners. If you have not read it yet please read my post ”is it mean to crate your dog”.  

 Most owners feel that having a backyard for their dog to run around in all day or playing fetch is appropriate exercise for their dogs.  While physical activity is required for your dog, mental stimulation and focus makes your dog tired.  I like to use the example of you going to a party or social event.  If you go on a picnic and play frisbee, or catch you may be physically tired when you get home, but you are still able to do your daily routines.  If you are working, however, and have a deadline to make or had a really mentally stimulating day, anything you normally do can wait until the next day because you are just too tired physically and mentally!  The same holds true with dogs!  Bored or frustrated dogs will find something to occupy their time, and normally it is something that is quite expensive to replace or remove form their bellies. 

Play is just that , play.  Dogs need to work to feel fulfilled, and by this I don’t mean you must become a search and rescue team.  You can “work” your dog by simply taking them on a “controlled” walk or practicing obedience commands with them on a daily basis.  If you have taken your dog to an obedience class, you know how tired they are when they come home.  I have many people who tell me after an hour session, whether it is a private session or class setting, their dog is exhuasted.  The reason is they were working! 

The majority of owners never really “walk” their dogs.  They may take them out on a leash but they still allow them to sniff around, and mark everything during the walk.  Again this is not a “controlled” walk, this is them passing notes in class!  Your dog marks to let others know he was there and this is his territory.  If you have a backyard, there is no reason for them to mark on a walk.  That is what their backyard is for, try playing fetch before you go on your walk to help them empty out before the walk. If your dog is marking on your walks they are actually making their territory larger and will “protect” it from other intruders.  If you live in an apartment building, make it a point to walk your dog to a designated area to potty.  Pick one spot, and one spot only.  Have them walk with you in a “controlled” manner to that spot and then allow them to sniff and potty.  Then have them walked a “controlled” walk back to your apartment. 

A good “military” style walk where your dog focuses on you and not the world around them, wears them out and strenghens your leadership.  If you need help teaching your dog to walk better on a leash or are having anxiety issues, contact us or a local trainer to help you teach them!  Enroll your dog in a class or set aside time everyday to practice the commands they know for at least 30-45 minutes, and walk your dog!  These are the best solutions to stopping the destruction and long distance calls your dog may make!

Tara, Brandie & the “pack”

Dog/dog aggression

Dog-dog aggression, misunderstanding the problem

I receive emails and phone calls regularly about dogs with dog-dog aggression.  In most cases, distraught owners are trying to “correct” an issue they do not fully understand.   You need to fully understand canine body language and aggression before you should try to correct dog-dog aggression. There are different reasons for dog-dog aggression; it is not just one simple cause.You have the dog that explosively reacts the second they see a dog (even if it is not in your sight yet), a dog that sometimes reacts then other times seems “friendly”, a dog that gets along fine with dogs off leash but not on leash, and the dog that approaches other dogs friendly then “becomes Cujo” in an instant.  These are only a few of the descriptions we hear everyday. 

Different issues cause each description above. Unlike most trainers out there, I do not blame dominance for everything.  Too many trainers are very quick to label dog-dog aggression as a dominance problem.  This is not always the case.  In most cases the dog is clearly displaying stress & fear, correcting bad manners from another dog, reacting to your anxiety, or trying to stop you from being angry.

I have been asked on occasion to go to a dog park with clients (and if you read my “dog parks & why I avoid them” article, you know how I feel during these appointments).  It is always the same scene, pent up dogs running around out of control trying to dominate each other while other dogs cower near their owners who are trying to “force” them to play with the other dogs. This in itself should explain why we have issues of dog-dog aggression.

  Dog parks aside, a dog that approaches another dog then becomes Cujo in an instant, tells me one of two things.  Either the dog approached stiffly and gave a challenging stare, or the dog rushed in and rudely tried to say hello.  Sadly too many dogs are taken from mom too early and do not learn the proper “greeting” skills they need to stay out of trouble. If your dog is approached or is approaching another dog by rushing in paws first with the explosiveness of a truck, it’s a good chance they will be bitten; not because the other dog doesn’t like dogs but because that behavior is rude.  Tell me, if a stranger came running at you with their hands extended and yelling excitedly; would you stay there and see what happened next or would you go on the defensive, maybe even run away?  Your dog makes these same decisions.  Fight or flight, it is instinctual. 

 Another issue is the dog that sees another dog on leash and reacts before they even get near.  Again, this could be a couple of different things.  One, the dog may have been severely scolded at one time for “correcting” rude behavior and now must keep them far away before it upsets you again.  Two, it may not understand how to play and greet a dog properly.  We have had a couple of clients dogs that were so unsocialized they just truly did not understand how to play, the excitement of being around another dog literally launched them into a frenzy.  These dogs can learn how to play appropriately if done correctly. 

Bonita, the overly excited pit, learned how to be calm around her biggest challenge, Chihuahuas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Then we do have dogs that have taken the lead role and will not allow another dog to come close to their pack members.   This is usually seen when a dog body blocks their owner and launches toward another dog with teeth bared and hair raised. Their bark is not anxious (high pitched and quick), but a deep threatening growl and bark.  Their bodies are very tense and their tails are held very high, some of these dogs will turn and snap at the owner if corrected (they are the leader after all and they say when aggression is allowed).  Picture yourself in a bar and an attractive young thing comes up to your significant other. While you may not show your teeth, you sure will stand in the way of their path, right?  And if your significant other tries to correct you, look out, the fight is on.  A dog that has the lead role in your pack will not chance another dog coming in to “take over”. 

  The last and worst misunderstood problem is fear.  A large majority of dogs out there have fear based dog-dog aggression.  Again, this is commonly mistaken for dominance.  They are sometimes called “insecure bullies”.  This is not an appropriate term for this problem.  Anxiety and fear will cause your dog to instinctually go into flight or fight mode.  While some dogs will try to run away, still others will put on an impressive screaming display while lunging at the other dogs because they feel they must “protect” themselves. We see this with leash aggression as well.  It only takes one time for a dog to feel unprotected by you while on leash to develop into a leash aggressive dog.

If you have a dog with dog-dog aggression, we recommend finding a trainer/behavior specialist who has experience working with all types of aggression, this way they can read the signs correctly and help you and your dog get through this properly.

 

Tara, Brandie & the Pack

www.trainingbytara.com